1914-1945: Two World Wars (20th century)

The particular history of the 20 ^th century, after several hundred years of prior conflict , has meant that the links between the two sides of the Channel are now much more than just those of commerce and trade, as important as the latter have rapidly become. In this, the trauma and shared memory of two world wars occupy a special place. Those who survived, and gave so much of themselves on these coasts of the old continent, have returned frequently, reviving and maintaining the memory. It does not end with those veterans, whose children and grandchildren keep coming; and it would be wrong to underestimate this continuing engagement. Since the Second World War, cross-Channel relations have multiplied for a huge number of people with the proliferation of town-twinnings, leading in turn to the establishment of more formal accords between towns, counties and departments.