France, Nov. 11 -- French President Emmanuel Macron, marking the anniversary of the 1918 Armistice, paid tribute to men in Moselle and Alsace who were forcibly conscripted into the German army during the Second World War.

As part of the annual ceremony marking the end of the First World War, Macron and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, unveiled a plaque in memory of the men, who have been called malgre-nous (despite ourselves), at the Hotel des Invalides.

Alsace and Moselle

Men from Alsace and Moselle were forcibly conscripted into the German army in 1942, following the introduction of compulsory military service for residents of these territories that were annexed in 1940.

Although many tried to escape, most were compelled to serve, ...