They shall not pass

"They shall not pass" (French: Ils ne passeront pas and French: On ne passe pas; Romanian: Pe aici nu se trece; Spanish: No pasarán) is a slogan, notably used by France in World War I, to express a determination to defend a position against an enemy.

The widespread use of the slogan originates from the 1916 Battle of Verdun in the First World War when French Army General Robert Nivelle urged his troops not to let the enemy pass.

It was also used during the Spanish Civil War, this time at the siege of Madrid by Dolores Ibárruri Gómez ("Pasionaria"), a member of the Communist Party of Spain, in her famous "No pasarán" speech.

[4] The leader of the Nationalist forces, Generalísimo Francisco Franco, upon gaining Madrid, responded to this slogan by declaring "Hemos pasado" ("We have passed").

[citation needed] The phrase was brought to the public consciousness again following action in December 1943 by French-Canadian officer Paul Triquet of the Royal 22e Regiment; his action included his use of Nivelle's phrase "to win a key objective at Ortona, Italy, in the face of overwhelming German opposition.

On ne passe pas! . The 1918 French propaganda poster by Maurice Neumont that reads: "Twice I have stood and vanquished on the Marne. Brother civilian, the underhand offensive of 'white peace' will attack you in turn; and like me you must stand firm and vanquish. Be strong and shrewd. Beware of Boche hypocrisy." [ 1 ]
Halte la! On ne passe pas!
French card, 1915