France Mourns Nazi Resistance Hero Raymond Aubrac
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French
World War Two hero Raymond Aubrac is dead at age 97. He was one of the
last surviving senior leaders of the French Resistance.
TRANSCRIPT
BY KEVIN DUBOUIS
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
French Resistance hero Raymond Aubrac died Wednesday in France at the age of 97. He was one of the last surviving senior leaders of the Resistance, which fought against the occupying Germans during World War II. Euronews reports...
“He and his wife Lucie, who died five years ago, joined the underground Resistance movement in 1941 after France fell to the Nazis.”
The New York Times has more of the Aubrac’s backstory, and why they were such heralded figures in French society, beginning with Raymond’s capture.
“The couple were at the center of one of the most dramatic episodes in wartime France. Mr. Aubrac had been captured in June 1943 with Jean Moulin, a revered Resistance leader, and six other operatives. Tortured by Klaus Barbie, the notorious Gestapo officer known as the Butcher of Lyon, Mr. Aubrac was sentenced to death.”
Lucie Aubrac, who was pregnant at the time, lied to Barbie telling him the child wasn’t legitimate — and for that reason, she needed to marry Mr. Aubrac. Barbie rebuffed her, but a bribed Nazi officer allowed the marriage ceremony. Mrs. Aubrac used the occasion to tell her husband they would be rescued. (image: Wikimedia Commons)
The BBC reports the couple’s exploits became the stuff of legend.
“More drama awaited. A few weeks later, Raymond Aubrac was able to escape from the Germans thanks to a daring attack mounted by his wife (Lucie) on the convoy carrying him to jail.”
And France 24 has the rest of the story...
“The couple then escaped to London where they joined Charles de Gaulle’s government in exile. Upon his return to France, Aubrac worked for the new government. He also took on several international roles...”
The Guardian reports, Raymond Aubrac became a Grand Officer of the Légion d'Honneur and held several high military decorations. He contributed to keep the memoirs of the WWII alive.
“He remained politically active to the end, visiting schools and colleges to talk about his wartime experiences.”
A communist militant for many years later in life, Aubrac openly supported the socialist candidate François Hollande (o-LOND) for the now upcoming French presidential elections. JTA has Hollande’s comment.
“In our darkest times, he was, with Lucie Aubrac, among the righteous, who found, in themselves and in the universal values of our Republic, the strength to resist Nazi barbarism.”
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