Lucie Aubrac
Encyclopedia
Lucie Samuel born Lucie Bernard (b. June 29, 1912 in Mâcon
; d. March 14, 2007 in Issy-les-Moulineaux
, France
), and better known as Lucie Aubrac, was a French
history teacher and member of the French Resistance
during World War II
.
(born July 31, 1914), a Jew, whom she met in Strasbourg
. Raymond Samuel would later come to be known as Raymond Aubrac, having had to change his surname due to open anti-Semitism and persecution of Jews in France at the time.
resistance group in Lyon
after its formation by her husband. Later, she followed him to the Charles Delestraint
's group. In 1941 they joined forces with Emmanuel d'Astier
to run the underground newspaper, Libération.
On June 21, 1943, the Gestapo
captured Raymond alongside high-ranking Resistance member Jean Moulin
(under the alias "Max") and many others. They were taken to Montluc
prison, located near Lyon. The Nazis sought Jean Moulin in particular as he was General Charles de Gaulle
's top representative in the French Resistance.
Lucie was able to talk face to face with Klaus Barbie
, Lyon's Gestapo chief. Her alias was "Ghislaine de Barbentane", a name of high-standing, noble origin. Because of her pregnancy and a specific provision of French law called "marriage in extremis," under which a person condemned to death can marry civilly, Lucie managed to convince Barbie that a person in her situation could not be a mother without being married (known as a "fille-mère"). He unwisely allowed Raymond to be released for the wedding, which gave Lucie and the Resistance a fortunate opportunity.
On the day of their marriage, October 21, 1943, Lucie and her comrades attacked the German truck that was transporting the prisoners back to German command, and released Raymond along with the thirteen other members of the Resistance being held. Six Germans, including the truck driver and five guards, were killed during the attack and escape.
Having had their true identities revealed, Lucie, Raymond and their child left for London
in February 1944. As it was the last alias they had used in France, Aubrac remained as their name in the United Kingdom
. Their daughter Catherine, born on February 12, became de Gaulle's goddaughter.
.
In 1984 Lucie Aubrac published her memoirs under the title Ils partiront dans l'ivresse (best translated as "They will leave with elation"). The French title refers to the radio code phrase the Aubracs listened for to know it was safe for them to leave for London. (The book was translated into English as Outwitting the Gestapo). The film Lucie Aubrac
is loosely based on the events surrounding her husband's escape.
Lucie Aubrac died in Issy-les-Moulineaux
, near Paris, on March 14, 2007.
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
; d. March 14, 2007 in Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), and better known as Lucie Aubrac, was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
history teacher and member of the 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...
during World War II
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...
.
Meeting Raymond Samuel
In 1939, Lucie Bernard, the daughter of modest Burgundy winegrowers, married Raymond SamuelRaymond Aubrac
Raymond Aubrac is a French engineer, and was a member of the French Resistance.Born Raymond Samuel in Vesoul, Haute-Saône in a Jewish family, Aubrac and wife, Lucie in 1940 were in the Resistance in Lyon and took pseudonym Aubrac to escape the persecution of the occupation...
(born July 31, 1914), a Jew, whom she met in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Raymond Samuel would later come to be known as Raymond Aubrac, having had to change his surname due to open anti-Semitism and persecution of Jews in France at the time.
Joining the Resistance
After the fall of France, Lucie joined the Libération-sudLibération-sud
The Libération-sud resistance group was established by a group of French people, including Emmanuel d'Astier, Lucie Aubrac and Raymond Aubrac. The first important Resistant group to emerge after the German occupation, it began publishing Libération in July 1941...
resistance group in 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....
after its formation by her husband. Later, she followed him to the Charles Delestraint
Charles Delestraint
Charles Delestraint was a French Army general and member of the French Resistance during World War II.He was born in Biache Saint-Waast, Pas-de-Calais....
's group. In 1941 they joined forces with Emmanuel d'Astier
Emmanuel d'Astier
Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie was a French journalist, politician and member of the French Resistance.-Biography:Born in Paris, he attended the Naval Academy, but resigned from the French Navy in 1923...
to run the underground newspaper, Libération.
On June 21, 1943, the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
captured Raymond alongside high-ranking Resistance member Jean Moulin
Jean Moulin
Jean Moulin was a high-profile member of the French Resistance during World War II. He is remembered today as an emblem of the Resistance primarily due to his role in unifying the French resistance under de Gaulle and his courage and death at the hands of the Germans.-Before the war:Moulin was...
(under the alias "Max") and many others. They were taken to Montluc
Fort Montluc
Fort Montluc is a former prison located on rue Jeanne Hachette in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon, France.Built between 1831 and 1835 for use as a military prison, after the invasion of the unoccupied zone of Vichy France in November 1942, the Gestapo used it as a prison, interrogation centre and...
prison, located near Lyon. The Nazis sought Jean Moulin in particular as he was General Charles 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....
's top representative in the French Resistance.
Lucie was able to talk face to face with Klaus Barbie
Klaus Barbie
Nikolaus 'Klaus' Barbie was an SS-Hauptsturmführer , Gestapo member and war criminal. He was known as the Butcher of Lyon.- Early life :...
, Lyon's Gestapo chief. Her alias was "Ghislaine de Barbentane", a name of high-standing, noble origin. Because of her pregnancy and a specific provision of French law called "marriage in extremis," under which a person condemned to death can marry civilly, Lucie managed to convince Barbie that a person in her situation could not be a mother without being married (known as a "fille-mère"). He unwisely allowed Raymond to be released for the wedding, which gave Lucie and the Resistance a fortunate opportunity.
On the day of their marriage, October 21, 1943, Lucie and her comrades attacked the German truck that was transporting the prisoners back to German command, and released Raymond along with the thirteen other members of the Resistance being held. Six Germans, including the truck driver and five guards, were killed during the attack and escape.
Having had their true identities revealed, Lucie, Raymond and their child left for 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...
in February 1944. As it was the last alias they had used in France, Aubrac remained as their name in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Their daughter Catherine, born on February 12, became de Gaulle's goddaughter.
After the war
After the war, Lucie Aubrac served on the consultative committees of the French Republic Provisional Government (GPRF). Her teaching degree was also restored, and she eventually returned to teaching. She was also active in the campaign for human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
In 1984 Lucie Aubrac published her memoirs under the title Ils partiront dans l'ivresse (best translated as "They will leave with elation"). The French title refers to the radio code phrase the Aubracs listened for to know it was safe for them to leave for London. (The book was translated into English as Outwitting the Gestapo). The film Lucie Aubrac
Lucie Aubrac (film)
Lucie Aubrac is a 1997 French biopic of the World War II French Resistance member Lucie Aubrac. The film starred Carole Bouquet in the title role...
is loosely based on the events surrounding her husband's escape.
Lucie Aubrac died in Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
, near Paris, on March 14, 2007.