French Resistance heroes inducted into Pantheon in Paris

French President Francois Hollande (C) stands with family members as they pay their respects in front of four flag-draped coffins inside the Pantheon 27 May 2015 — French President Francois Hollande praised the spirit of Resistance fighters at a ceremony in the Pantheon

France has honoured four members of the French Resistance with a ceremony at the Pantheon mausoleum in Paris.

Coffins representing two men and two women who resisted the Nazis in World War Two were carried through the French capital before being interred.

The coffins contained only soil from the fighters' graves as their relatives did not want their bodies disturbed.

French President Francois Hollande said the group "embodied the spirit of the Resistance".

A ceremony was held at the Pantheon alongside the coffins of Germaine Tillion, Genevieve de Gaulle-Anthonioz, Pierre Brossolette and Jean Zay.

Coffins of four Resistance fighters at the Pantheon - May 26, 2015 — The coffins were carried through the streets of Paris before arriving at the Pantheon

French President Francois Hollande (C) stands on the steps in front of the flag-draped coffins of French Resistance figures — Mr Hollande said the four fighters 'said no - immediately, firmly, clearly'

A combination of file pictures made on February 20, 2014 shows (from L) French resistant Genevieve de Gaulle-Anthonioz in 1987, resistant fighter during World War II Germaine Tillion in 1972, an undated portrait of French politician Jean Zay, and an undated portrait of French resistant and politician Pierre Brossolette — The ceremony honoured (from top left) Genevieve de Gaulle-Anthonioz, Germaine Tillion, Jean Zay and Pierre Brossolette

Tillion, who died in 2008, and de Gaulle-Anthonioz, a niece of former French leader Charles de Gaulle who died in 2002, were caught and deported to the Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany.

Brossolette, a radio journalist who broadcast on the BBC during the war, committed suicide after being arrested and tortured in 1944.

Zay, who was minister of education before the war, was killed in 1944, having tried to set up a government-in-exile in north Africa.

"Faced with the occupation, with submission, they gave the same response," Mr Hollande said. "They said 'no', immediately, firmly, clearly."

Mr Hollande drew parallels with those who marched in French cities on January 11 this year, days after terror attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a kosher supermarket.

The induction now sees three women interred at the Pantheon, after the scientist Marie Curie. There are now 74 men interred at the mausoleum, the first being the writer Victor Hugo.