Jean Pierre-Bloch
Encyclopedia
Jean Pierre-Bloch (14 April 1905 – 17 March 1999) was a French Resistant
of the Second World War
as an activist, being a former president of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism
.
. He joined the SFIO
at the end of the 1920s and became a journalist for Populaire, the daily newspaper of the socialist party. His political career began in 1934, when he was elected general councilor for the Aisne
département (a post he would hold until 1967). He shored up his local base by becoming adjunct to the mayor of Laon
the following year. In 1936 he became, with the victory of the Popular Front
, the youngest deputy in the French National Assembly
. In 1938, Jean Pierre-Bloch was one of few parliamentarians to oppose the Munich Agreement
. As a Jew, he was particularly concerned by the fate in store for the Jews of Adolf Hitler
's Germany
.
Having enlisted voluntarily in 1939, he was made prisoner on 23 June 1940. While in prison he re-arranged the hyphen in his name. He escaped, joined the internal Resistance in Dordogne and helped arrange (along with his wife Gaby Pierre-Bloch (d. 1996)) some of the first parachute drops into France of agents, arms and equipment sent by de Gaulle's headquarters in London. Again arrested with his wife (in Marseille
) and imprisoned in October 1941 on treason charges, he escaped in July 1942 courtesy of saws, keys and money his wife (released after three months) had hidded in parcels she sent him. He then joined General de Gaulle
in London
, heading the civilian section of the central bureau of intelligence and action (BCRA or secret services of Free France
) from 1942 to 1943. In this capacity he saw the names of all resistants. He was thus a key witness at Maurice Papon
's trial, at which he participated at the age of 93.
In 1943, Jean Pierre-Bloch became assistant commissioner at the Ministry of the Interior. In this function, he secured the re-establishment of the Crémieux decree of 1871, which had naturalized Algerian Jews as French citizens and which the Vichy
regime had abrogated. He vainly proposed a similar legislative text for Muslim Algerians.
, instigators of the events of 6 February 1934; the General's nephew, Michel Cailliau). According to Jean Pierre-Bloch the alignment of General de Gaulle with the Republican cause was purely tactical and the Resistance had been usurped by de Gaulle. In Pierre-Bloch's view the Gaullists held a distorted view of the resistance, presenting themselves as the only great force of the Resistance, along with the Communists, forgetting the Socialists and Christian Democrats.
In 1945, Jean Pierre-Bloch easily regained his seat in parliament, favoring an alliance with the French Communist Party
and supporting Maurice Thorez
as prime minister the following year. He resigned in 1947 in order to direct (until 1953) the SNEP
, a society charged with liquidating the assets of collaborationist newspapers outlawed after the Liberation. He was a juror at the trial of Philippe Pétain
. Meanwhile, he headed the commission of the National Assembly for the coordination of Muslim affairs. In this capacity, he tried to ameliorate the lot of Algerians and participated in the preparation of the statute of 1947, which was not applied.
In the 1950s and 1960s, he participated in the peace movement.
In 1956 and 1967, he failed to win back his parliamentary seat. He supported de Gaulle's return to power in 1958.
(LICRA) for 24 years, from 1968 to 1992, and finally honorary president from 1992 to his death. He became president of LICA after the death of its founder Bernard Lecache and directed its journal, The Right to Live. It was at his urging that mention of the fight against racism was added to the name of LICA, which became LICRA in 1979. His activism had begun in 1934, when he investigated the pogrom
s committed at Constantine, Algeria
.
From 1987 to 1989, he presided over the Consultative Commission on Human Rights by the side of the Prime Minister.
) in the 18th arrondissement
. His grandson David Pierre-Bloch is a producer and a Nouveau Centre party's member.
In March 2003, rue Alexis Carrel
in Paris
was rechristened with Jean Pierre-Bloch's name.
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...
of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as an activist, being a former president of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism
International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism
The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism – or Ligue Internationale Contre le Racisme et l'Antisémitisme in French— was established in 1926, and is opposed to intolerance, xenophobia and exclusion....
.
Socialism and resistance
Jean Pierre-Bloch was the son of an industrialist and received a law degree from the SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. He joined the SFIO
Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière
The French Section of the Workers' International , founded in 1905, was a French socialist political party, designed as the local section of the Second International...
at the end of the 1920s and became a journalist for Populaire, the daily newspaper of the socialist party. His political career began in 1934, when he was elected general councilor for the Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
département (a post he would hold until 1967). He shored up his local base by becoming adjunct to the mayor of Laon
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
the following year. In 1936 he became, with the victory of the Popular Front
Popular Front (France)
The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing movements, including the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party, during the interwar period...
, the youngest deputy in the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
. In 1938, Jean Pierre-Bloch was one of few parliamentarians to oppose the Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement
The Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
. As a Jew, he was particularly concerned by the fate in store for the Jews of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Having enlisted voluntarily in 1939, he was made prisoner on 23 June 1940. While in prison he re-arranged the hyphen in his name. He escaped, joined the internal Resistance in Dordogne and helped arrange (along with his wife Gaby Pierre-Bloch (d. 1996)) some of the first parachute drops into France of agents, arms and equipment sent by de Gaulle's headquarters in London. Again arrested with his wife (in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
) and imprisoned in October 1941 on treason charges, he escaped in July 1942 courtesy of saws, keys and money his wife (released after three months) had hidded in parcels she sent him. He then joined General de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
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...
, heading the civilian section of the central bureau of intelligence and action (BCRA or secret services of Free France
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
) from 1942 to 1943. In this capacity he saw the names of all resistants. He was thus a key witness at 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...
's trial, at which he participated at the age of 93.
In 1943, Jean Pierre-Bloch became assistant commissioner at the Ministry of the Interior. In this function, he secured the re-establishment of the Crémieux decree of 1871, which had naturalized Algerian Jews as French citizens and which the Vichy
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...
regime had abrogated. He vainly proposed a similar legislative text for Muslim Algerians.
A Resistant critical of de Gaulle
An avid follower of General De Gaulle during the war, he nevertheless denounced, in De Gaulle or the Time of Contempts, the presence within the General's entourage, at least in 1942, of royalists or people closely linked to extreme-right pre-war leagues (Claude Hettier de Boislambert, admirer of Cagoule; colonel Pierre Fourcade, former member of this organization; Pierre Guillain de Bénouville, former member of Action FrançaiseAction Française
The Action Française , founded in 1898, is a French Monarchist counter-revolutionary movement and periodical founded by Maurice Pujo and Henri Vaugeois and whose principal ideologist was Charles Maurras...
, instigators of the events of 6 February 1934; the General's nephew, Michel Cailliau). According to Jean Pierre-Bloch the alignment of General de Gaulle with the Republican cause was purely tactical and the Resistance had been usurped by de Gaulle. In Pierre-Bloch's view the Gaullists held a distorted view of the resistance, presenting themselves as the only great force of the Resistance, along with the Communists, forgetting the Socialists and Christian Democrats.
In 1945, Jean Pierre-Bloch easily regained his seat in parliament, favoring an alliance with the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
and supporting Maurice Thorez
Maurice Thorez
thumb|A Soviet stamp depicting Maurice Thorez.Maurice Thorez was a French politician and longtime leader of the French Communist Party from 1930 until his death. He also served as vice premier of France from 1946 to 1947....
as prime minister the following year. He resigned in 1947 in order to direct (until 1953) the SNEP
Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique
The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry...
, a society charged with liquidating the assets of collaborationist newspapers outlawed after the Liberation. He was a juror at the trial of Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
. Meanwhile, he headed the commission of the National Assembly for the coordination of Muslim affairs. In this capacity, he tried to ameliorate the lot of Algerians and participated in the preparation of the statute of 1947, which was not applied.
In the 1950s and 1960s, he participated in the peace movement.
In 1956 and 1967, he failed to win back his parliamentary seat. He supported de Gaulle's return to power in 1958.
Anti-racism activity
Jean Pierre-Bloch was also a director of the International League against Anti-Semitism (LICA): he was a member of the executive committee from 1937 to 1968 and then president of the International League against Racism and Anti-SemitismInternational League against Racism and Anti-Semitism
The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism – or Ligue Internationale Contre le Racisme et l'Antisémitisme in French— was established in 1926, and is opposed to intolerance, xenophobia and exclusion....
(LICRA) for 24 years, from 1968 to 1992, and finally honorary president from 1992 to his death. He became president of LICA after the death of its founder Bernard Lecache and directed its journal, The Right to Live. It was at his urging that mention of the fight against racism was added to the name of LICA, which became LICRA in 1979. His activism had begun in 1934, when he investigated the pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s committed at Constantine, Algeria
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
.
From 1987 to 1989, he presided over the Consultative Commission on Human Rights by the side of the Prime Minister.
Family
Pierre-Bloch had with Gabrielle Sadourny, three children : Michèle, Claude Pierre-Bloch, former producer and political adviser and Jean-Pierre Pierre-Bloch, former deputy (UDF-PSD) for Paris and municipal councilor (DLLiberal Democracy (France)
Liberal Democracy was a French political party that advocated conservative liberalism and liberal conservatism, headed by Alain Madelin. The party replaced in 1997 the Republican Party, which was the classical liberal component of the Union for French Democracy .It became independent in 1998,...
) in the 18th arrondissement
XVIIIe arrondissement
The 18th arrondissement , located on the Rive Droite , is one of the 20 arrondissements of Paris, France...
. His grandson David Pierre-Bloch is a producer and a Nouveau Centre party's member.
Awards
- Grand Cross, grand officer 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 LibérationOrdre de la LibérationThe Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
- Medal of the King of the United Kingdom
- Six Croix de guerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
citations - Resistance Medal with RosetteRosette (decoration)A rosette is a small, circular device that is presented with a medal. The rosettes are primarily for situations where wearing the medal is deemed inappropriate. Rosettes are issued in nations such as France, Italy and Japan...
- Polish Croix de Guerre
- Croix of Voluntary Combatants
- Medal of the Escapees
- Medal of the Supreme Soviet
- Croix du combattant volontaire de la résistance
- Grand Office of the State Benin
- Medal of Free France
- "Nicham Ephticar" Grand Cordon
- VermeilVermeilVermeil is a combination of sterling silver, gold, and other precious metals, commonly used as a component in jewelry. A typical example is sterling silver coated with 14 carat gold. To be considered vermeil, the gold must be at least 10 carat and be at least 2.5 micrometres thick...
medal of the local collectivities - Commandr of Public Health
- Knight of Academic Palms
- Millennium plaque from the city of Paris
In March 2003, rue Alexis Carrel
Alexis Carrel
Alexis Carrel was a French surgeon and biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1912 for pioneering vascular suturing techniques. He invented the first perfusion pump with Charles A. Lindbergh opening the way to organ transplantation...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
was rechristened with Jean Pierre-Bloch's name.
Works
- Charles De Gaulle - Premier Ouvrier de France vu par un socialiste (Charles De Gaulle - First Worker of France as Seen by a Socialist) Éditions Fasquelles (Paris), 1945, 115 p.
- Mes jours heureux (My Happy Days) Ed. du Bateau Ivre 1947 294 p.
- Liberté et servitude de la presse en France : morceaux choisis (Freedom and Servitude of the Press in France: Selected Fragments) Éditions du Livre (Monte-Carlo), 1952, 292 p.
- Le vent souffle sur l'histoire. témoignages et documents inédits (The Wind Blows on History. Testimony and Previously Unpublished Documents) Éditions S.I.E.P. 1956. 332 p.
- Khroutchev en France. essai biographique. (Krushchev in France. Biographic essay) Éditions S.I.E.P. 1960, 46pp
- Algérie - Terre des occasions perdues. (Algeria - Land of Lost Chances) Deux Rives, 1961 111 p.
- De Gaulle ou le temps des méprises (De Gaulle or the Time of Contempt) éd. La Table ronde, 1969, 230 pp.
- Jusqu'au dernier jour (To the Last Day) Albin Michel, 1983, 280 p. ISBN 2-226-01920-0
External links (in French)
- His testimony in the trial of Maurice Papon archives de lHumanité
- L'Remembrance by LICRA
- The streets of Paris: the Alexis Carrel affair