Henri Amouroux
Encyclopedia
Henri Amouroux was a French historian
and journalist
.
on 1 July 1920. After studying at the ECJ
, he began his career as a journalist
during World War II and joined a French Resistance
group based in Bordeaux
(group Jade-Amicol). He was awarded Croix de guerre 1939-1945
.
Amouroux wrote several books on the German occupation of France during his life, especially a ten-volume La Grande Histoire des Français sous l'Occupation (The Full History of the French under the Occupation), published from 1976 to 1993. He later worked for several French newspaper (France Soir
) radio (France Inter
) and television (TF1
) stations. Amouroux was called to testify on behalf of Maurice Papon
in 1997, who was on trial in France for his role in the deportation
of Jews
during the German occupation of France and Vichy
collaboration. His testimony was used to counter the testimony American historian
Robert O. Paxton's version of the Vichy France
period during World War II. His testimony was criticized mostly by lawyers representing Jewish Holocaust victims who accused Amouroux of being an apologist for Papon and Vichy France's collaboration with the Nazis. Amouroux denied all charges and MRAP's lawyer, Gérard Boulanger, was convicted for defamation in 1997.
Amouroux was a member of the Institut de France
and served as president of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. He died in 2007 in Normandy
at the age of 87, and was buried in the Gironde
region of France.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
.
Life and career
Henri Amouroux was born in the French city of PérigueuxPérigueux
Périgueux is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Périgueux is the prefecture of the department and the capital of the region...
on 1 July 1920. After studying at the ECJ
Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris
The Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme is an institution of higher education, a French Grande École in Paris dedicated to journalism and related studies...
, he began his career as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
during World War II and joined a French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
group based in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
(group Jade-Amicol). He was awarded Croix de guerre 1939-1945
Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France)
The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II.-Recipients:...
.
Amouroux wrote several books on the German occupation of France during his life, especially a ten-volume La Grande Histoire des Français sous l'Occupation (The Full History of the French under the Occupation), published from 1976 to 1993. He later worked for several French newspaper (France Soir
France Soir
France Soir is a French daily newspaper that prospered during the 1950s and 1960s, but it has declined since then under various owners. It was re-launched as a populist tabloid in 2006.-History:...
) radio (France Inter
France Inter
France Inter is a major French public radio channel and part of Radio France. It is a "generalist" station, aiming to provide a wide national audience with a full service of news and intelligent spoken-word programming, both serious and entertaining, liberally punctuated with an eclectic mix of...
) and television (TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
) stations. Amouroux was called to testify on behalf of Maurice Papon
Maurice Papon
Maurice Papon was a French civil servant, industrial leader and Gaullist politician, who was convicted for crimes against humanity for his participation in the deportation of over 1600 Jews during World War II when he was secretary general for police of the Prefecture of Bordeaux.Papon also...
in 1997, who was on trial in France for his role in the deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
of Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
during the German occupation of France and Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
collaboration. His testimony was used to counter the testimony American historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Robert O. Paxton's version of the Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
period during World War II. His testimony was criticized mostly by lawyers representing Jewish Holocaust victims who accused Amouroux of being an apologist for Papon and Vichy France's collaboration with the Nazis. Amouroux denied all charges and MRAP's lawyer, Gérard Boulanger, was convicted for defamation in 1997.
Amouroux was a member of the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
and served as president of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. He died in 2007 in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
at the age of 87, and was buried in the Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
region of France.