Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was an Austrian politician and military leader who founded the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) and became dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945. His totalitarian regime, built on Nazi ideology, was responsible for World War II and the Holocaust, a genocide that killed six million Jews.

British mathematician and cryptologist (1912-1954), Alan Turing is the founder of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. He contributed to the decryption of the Enigma machine during the Second World War and formalized the concepts of computability and algorithm.

French writer, philosopher, and journalist (1913–1960), Albert Camus is one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. Author of The Stranger and The Plague, he developed a philosophy of the absurd and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957.

German-born physicist who became Swiss and later American (1879–1955), Albert Einstein revolutionized physics by developing the theories of special and general relativity. He is the author of the famous equation E=mc² and received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his work on the photoelectric effect.

Anne Frank (1929-1945) was a young Dutch-Jewish girl whose diary, written in hiding during the Nazi occupation, became a poignant testimony of the Holocaust. She died in deportation at Bergen-Belsen, and her work remains a major source for understanding persecution and humanity in the face of horror.

French writer and aviator (1900–1944), Antoine de Saint-Exupéry left a lasting mark on 20th-century literature through his poetic and philosophical works. Author of the celebrated The Little Prince, he also explored themes of commitment, friendship, and self-transcendence through his tales of aerial adventure.

French military officer and statesman (1890–1970), leader of the French Resistance during World War II and founder of the Fifth Republic. A defining figure of the 20th century, he shaped French history through his unwavering commitment to national independence and the greatness of France.

British actor, director and composer (1889-1977), pioneer of silent cinema. Creator of the iconic Tramp character, he shaped film history through his comedic genius and social commentary, most notably in The Great Dictator (1940).

President of the United States from 1933 to 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. He implemented the New Deal, a sweeping program of social and economic reforms, and played a decisive role in the Allied victory.

German-born American philosopher (1906–1975), Hannah Arendt is one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. A refugee in the United States after fleeing Nazism, she developed a critical analysis of totalitarianism, political violence, and the human condition in the modern world.

French playwright (1910–1987), Jean Anouilh wrote modern plays that reinterpret ancient myths. His 1944 adaptation of Antigone became a landmark work of 20th-century French theatre.

French statesman (1888–1979), Jean Monnet is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the European Union. He played a decisive role in the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and championed the economic and political integration of Europe.

French senior civil servant (1899–1943), Jean Moulin is one of the most prominent figures of the French Resistance. He unified the resistance movements and created the National Council of the Resistance (CNR) before being arrested and tortured to death by the Nazis.

French philosopher, writer, and playwright (1905–1980), founder of existentialism. He explored human freedom, responsibility, and commitment through his major philosophical and literary works.

Hungarian-American mathematician and physicist (1903–1957), pioneer of modern computing and game theory. He is the founding architect of the programmable digital computer and contributed to the development of nuclear energy.

Soviet dictator from 1922 to 1953, Joseph Stalin established a totalitarian regime characterized by massive political repression and forced industrialization. His leadership transformed the USSR into a superpower, but at the cost of millions of lives.

Léon Blum (1872–1950) was a French politician and intellectual, leader of the French Socialist Party and a major figure of the left in the 20th century. He is best known for leading the Popular Front government in 1936, which marked the first time the left came to power in France.

French poet and novelist (1897-1982), Louis Aragon is a major figure of committed poetry in the 20th century. A founding member of Surrealism alongside André Breton, he became one of the greatest poets of the French Resistance during the Second World War, blending lyricism with political engagement.

French writer, playwright, screenwriter, and filmmaker (1914–1996), Marguerite Duras is a major figure in contemporary literature. Author of The Lover, she revolutionized the novel form by exploring psychological introspection and the formal ruptures of the Nouveau Roman.

German physicist (1858–1947) who revolutionized physics by discovering quantum theory in 1900. He established that energy is emitted in small discrete portions called quanta, laying the foundations of quantum mechanics. His work marked the transition from classical physics to modern physics.

Spanish painter, sculptor and printmaker (1881-1973), Pablo Picasso was the co-founder of Cubism and one of the most influential figures in modern art. His work revolutionized artistic representation in the 20th century through radical formal innovations and political engagement, particularly against war.

French poet (1895-1952), a major figure of Surrealism and committed poetry. Author of 'Liberty' (1942), he joined the Resistance during World War II and became a symbol of militant poetry against oppression.

Marshal of France and celebrated military commander known for his victory at Verdun in 1916, Philippe Pétain became head of the French government in 1940 and established the authoritarian French State of Vichy. A collaborator during the German occupation, he remains one of the most controversial figures in French history.

Écrivain et chimiste italien (1919-1987), Primo Levi est l'auteur de témoignages majeurs sur la Shoah. Arrêté en 1943 comme partisan antifasciste, il est déporté à Auschwitz où il survit grâce à ses compétences de chimiste. Après la guerre, il devient une voix essentielle de la littérature de témoignage.

Poète français majeur du XXe siècle, René Char est connu pour sa poésie moderne et son engagement dans la Résistance française pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Ses œuvres allient innovation poétique et engagement politique, explorant les thèmes de la liberté et de la révolte.

Poète français (1900-1945) figure majeure du surréalisme, connu pour ses jeux de langage et sa poésie novatrice. Engagé dans la Résistance durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, il a été déporté et meurt au camp de Terezín en 1945.

Homme d'État français (1886-1963), Robert Schuman est l'un des principaux fondateurs de l'Union européenne. Ministre des Affaires étrangères, il a proposé en 1950 le plan de création de la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier (CECA), jetant les bases de l'intégration européenne.

Femme politique française (1927-2017), survivante de la Shoah et ministre de la Santé sous Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Elle est célèbre pour avoir fait adopter la loi dépénalisant l'interruption volontaire de grossesse (IVG) en 1975, un combat majeur pour les droits des femmes.

Philosophe française (1909-1943) engagée socialement et spirituellement. Elle a combiné la réflexion philosophique avec l'action directe auprès des ouvriers et des opprimés, tout en développant une pensée mystique originale. Son œuvre, publiée après sa mort, explore les rapports entre le travail, la justice et la transcendance.

Écrivain et illustrateur français (1902-1991), Vercors est l'auteur du roman de Résistance « Le Silence de la mer » (1942), publié clandestinement pendant l'Occupation. Fondateur des Éditions de Minuit, il s'engage dans la lutte contre le nazisme par l'écriture.

Homme d'État et écrivain britannique (1874-1965), Winston Churchill est surtout connu pour son rôle de Premier ministre du Royaume-Uni pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Chef de la résistance britannique face au nazisme, il a incarné la détermination alliée jusqu'à la victoire en 1945.