Henri Romans-Petit
Encyclopedia
Henri Romans-Petit was a member of the French Resistance
during the Second World War. He organised several maquis
, notably the maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
and the maquis de Haute-Savoie
.
in the Loire département. He was mobilized in 1938. After the armistice, he failed in his attempt to join Free France in London
. At Saint-Étienne
, he connected up with the L'Espoir network affiliated to Franc-Tireur. He was involved in preparing areas for parachute drops around Lyon
.
In 1942 Romans-Petit organised the maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
, and on 11 November he marched in the town of Oyonnax
at the head of his maquisards. This fact was said to have decided the English and French forces in London to send arms drops to the French maquisards who were in desperate need of them.
Romans-Petit was involved in starting maquis in Haute-Savoie, before he passed over his responsibilities to Tom Morel so that he could dedicate himself completely to the Maquis de L'Ain. Over the summer of 1944 Romans-Petit set up a full civil administration at Nantua
, and brought La voix du maquis into being. On the liberation of France, he was imprisoned for several weeks at Fort Lamothe at Lyon
by the new commissaire de la République, Yves Farge
.
Romans-Petit died on the 1 November 1980 at Ceignes
in the Ain département.
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...
during the Second World War. He organised several maquis
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
, notably the maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
The Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura were a group of maquis fighters in the French resistance during World War II.On 11 November 1943, the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura, on orders from Colonel Henri Romans-Petit, took possession of the town of Oyonnax in the Ain departement, and paraded up to the...
and the maquis de Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
.
Biography
Romans-Petit was born on the 13 February 1897 at FirminyFirminy
Firminy is a commune in the Loire department in central France.It lies on the Ondaine River 8 mi. S.W. of Saint-Étienne by rail.-Sights:Two historic churches from the 12th and 16th centuries are located here...
in the Loire département. He was mobilized in 1938. After the armistice, he failed in his attempt to join Free France in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. At Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
, he connected up with the L'Espoir network affiliated to Franc-Tireur. He was involved in preparing areas for parachute drops around Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
.
In 1942 Romans-Petit organised the maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura
The Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura were a group of maquis fighters in the French resistance during World War II.On 11 November 1943, the Maquis de l'Ain et du Haut-Jura, on orders from Colonel Henri Romans-Petit, took possession of the town of Oyonnax in the Ain departement, and paraded up to the...
, and on 11 November he marched in the town of Oyonnax
Oyonnax
Oyonnax is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France.It is the second largest commune in the department. Its residents are known as Oyonnaxiens.-Population:-Miscellaneous:...
at the head of his maquisards. This fact was said to have decided the English and French forces in London to send arms drops to the French maquisards who were in desperate need of them.
Romans-Petit was involved in starting maquis in Haute-Savoie, before he passed over his responsibilities to Tom Morel so that he could dedicate himself completely to the Maquis de L'Ain. Over the summer of 1944 Romans-Petit set up a full civil administration at Nantua
Nantua
Nantua is a commune and subprefecture in the Ain department in eastern France.-History:The town grew up around a Benedictine Monastery founded in 671 by St...
, and brought La voix du maquis into being. On the liberation of France, he was imprisoned for several weeks at Fort Lamothe at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
by the new commissaire de la République, Yves Farge
Yves Farge
Yves Farge was a French journalist and politician.- Biography :...
.
Romans-Petit died on the 1 November 1980 at Ceignes
Ceignes
Ceignes is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:...
in the Ain département.
Works
- Les Obstinés, Janicot, Lille, 1945.
- L’Appel de l’aventure, Dorian, Saint-Etienne, 1947.
- Les Maquis de l'Ain, Hachette, 1974.
Recognition
- France: Grand Officier of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, Compagnon de la Libération, Croix de guerre 1914-1918Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 is a French military decoration.-Creation:Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created...
, Croix de guerre 1939-1945, Médaille de la RésistanceMédaille de la RésistanceThe French Médaille de la Résistance was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle "to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18,... - United Kingdom: Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
- United States of America: Officer of the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
- Belgium: Officier of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
- Congo: Commander of the Order of Merit
- Cameroon: Officer of the Order of Merit
- Tunisia: Grand Officier of the Nichan IftikharNichan IftikharNichan Iftikhar or Atiq Nishan-i-Iftikhar or Nişan-i İftihar , was an Ottoman and Tunisian honorary order founded in 1835 by Al-Mustafa ibn Mahmud...
(order of glory)
Sources and external links
- Portrait of Henri Romans-Petit on the Ordre de la Libération site (French)
- Raymond Ruffin, Ces chefs du Maquis qui gênaient, Presses de la Cité, 1980.