Augustin Malroux
Encyclopedia
Augustin Malroux was a French socialist
politician and member of the French Resistance
, a teacher by profession.
, Tarn, as the son of a miner and a laundress, Augustin Malroux studied at the École normale
for teachers at Toulouse
. After his military service, from 1920 to 1922, he was assigned to Provence
, then being sent to teach in Tarn département in 1927, with his wife, herself a teacher.
Although the precise date of his entrance in the Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière (SFIO, French Section of the Second International) remains unknown, he founded the socialist section of Lafenasse and became its secretary. He took part in all the congresses of his federation, as well as at the national congress at Paris
, in July 1933, where he supported Léon Blum
and opposed Adrien Marquet
. On 4 February 1934, he became secretary of the Tarn socialist federation. In this capacity, he took a firm stand against the neo-socialists.
In 1935, he was elected mayor of his native commune
. The following year, he became a deputy in the National Assembly of France and a member of the Permanent Administrative Commission, at the time the decision-making organ of the SFIO. He made several visits to the départements of Aveyron
, Haute-Garonne
and Hérault
, also visiting the French Algeria
département of Oran, in April 1937, to support local socialists. His trip to Algeria
was sharply criticised by certain newspapers, as he manifested his anti-colonialism.
In December 1938, he presented an amendment to exempt wheat headed to the Spanish Republic
from export duties. In February 1940, he denounced the partiality of the censors — who permitted the publication of explicit appeals to murder Léon Blum
— and outrages committed against the principle of laïcité
. He was thus attacked by certain deputies of the right and of the extreme right, notably Philippe Henriot
.
to Marshal Pétain
. He wrote to his wife and children: "I was raised with a love of the Republic. Today, they intend to crucify her. I do not associate myself with this assassin's gesture." Having returned to the Tarn département, he secretly put back together the socialist federation. In September 1940, he participated in the founding of the Comité d'action socialiste (CAS, Socialist Action Committee) for the zone occupée
, offered his Parisian residence for clandestine meetings, and then assured the link between CAS Nord and CAS Sud (Southern Zone), the latter founded by Daniel Mayer
. In May, and then in December 1941, he participated in the meetings of CAS Sud. He worked actively with Suzanne Buisson and Edouard Froment. From 1941, he was a member of the Confrérie Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame Brotherhood) and of the Organisation civile et militaire
(Civil and Military Organisation).
With equal vigour, Augustin Malroux made efforts to maintain contact with those Socialist deputies who had been interned or imprisoned. One man whom he kept abreast of his activities was Louis Noguères
, another SFIO deputy who had voted against granting full powers and was placed under house arrest for this by the Vichy regime
.
From 1940, he was also charged with establishing a link between Libération-sud
and Libération Nord. In 1942, this movement asked him to create a combat group. Finally, he participated in the clandestine rebuilding of the Syndicat national des instituteurs (National Teachers' Union).
Arrested on 2 March 1942 in Paris, Augustin Malroux was then imprisoned in Fresnes
. On 15 September 1943, he was deported to Germany
. First imprisoned in the camp at , he was then transferred to prisons at Frankfurt am Main, Kassel
, Halle
and Berlin
in September-October 1943, then to the camp at Bad Saarow
, from October 1943 to February 1945, and finally to the camp at Bergen-Belsen
, where he died.
News of his death only emerged several months later. The Tarn SFIO had placed him at the head of their list for the municipal elections in Carmaux
in May 1945.
.
Streets in several towns of Tarn département bear his name, as does the collège
of Blaye-les-Mines, opened in 1990 by Lionel Jospin
, then Minister of National Education
.
History of the Left in France
The Left in France at the beginning of the 20th century was represented by two main political parties, the Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Party and the French Section of the Workers' International , created in 1905 as a merger of various Marxist parties...
politician 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...
, a teacher by profession.
Political ascent
Born in Blaye-les-MinesBlaye-les-Mines
Blaye-les-Mines is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.-References:*...
, Tarn, as the son of a miner and a laundress, Augustin Malroux studied at the École normale
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
for teachers at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. After his military service, from 1920 to 1922, he was assigned to Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, then being sent to teach in Tarn département in 1927, with his wife, herself a teacher.
Although the precise date of his entrance in the Section française de l'Internationale ouvrière (SFIO, French Section of the Second International) remains unknown, he founded the socialist section of Lafenasse and became its secretary. He took part in all the congresses of his federation, as well as at the national congress at 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...
, in July 1933, where he supported Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
and opposed Adrien Marquet
Adrien Marquet
Adrien Marquet was a socialist mayor of Bordeaux who turned to the far right.-Career:...
. On 4 February 1934, he became secretary of the Tarn socialist federation. In this capacity, he took a firm stand against the neo-socialists.
In 1935, he was elected mayor of his native commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
. The following year, he became a deputy in the National Assembly of France and a member of the Permanent Administrative Commission, at the time the decision-making organ of the SFIO. He made several visits to the départements of Aveyron
Aveyron
Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
, Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Garonne river. Its main city is Toulouse.-History:Haute-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Languedoc.The...
and Hérault
Hérault
Hérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, also visiting the French Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
département of Oran, in April 1937, to support local socialists. His trip to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
was sharply criticised by certain newspapers, as he manifested his anti-colonialism.
In December 1938, he presented an amendment to exempt wheat headed to the Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
from export duties. In February 1940, he denounced the partiality of the censors — who permitted the publication of explicit appeals to murder Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
— and outrages committed against the principle of laïcité
Laïcité
French secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
. He was thus attacked by certain deputies of the right and of the extreme right, notably Philippe Henriot
Philippe Henriot
Philippe Henriot was a French politician.Moving to the far right after beginnings in Roman Catholic conservatism in the Republican Federation, Henriot was elected to the Third Republic's Chamber of Deputies for the Gironde département in 1932 and 1936...
.
Hero and martyr of the Resistance
On 10 July 1940, he was one of the parliamentarians voting not to grant full powersThe Vichy 80
The Vichy 80 were a group of elected French parliamentarians who, on 10 July 1940, voted against the constitutional change that dissolved the Third Republic and established an authoritarian regime known as Vichy France....
to Marshal 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...
. He wrote to his wife and children: "I was raised with a love of the Republic. Today, they intend to crucify her. I do not associate myself with this assassin's gesture." Having returned to the Tarn département, he secretly put back together the socialist federation. In September 1940, he participated in the founding of the Comité d'action socialiste (CAS, Socialist Action Committee) for the zone occupée
Zone occupée
The zone occupée was the area of France where German occupying troops were deployed during the Second World War after the signature of the Second Armistice at Compiègne...
, offered his Parisian residence for clandestine meetings, and then assured the link between CAS Nord and CAS Sud (Southern Zone), the latter founded by Daniel Mayer
Daniel Mayer
Daniel William Mayer was a member of the French Section of the Workers' International , a socialist party in France, president of the Ligue des droits de l'homme from 1958 to 1975. He founded the Comité d'Action Socialiste in 1941 and was a member of the Brutus Network, a Resistant Socialist group...
. In May, and then in December 1941, he participated in the meetings of CAS Sud. He worked actively with Suzanne Buisson and Edouard Froment. From 1941, he was a member of the Confrérie Notre-Dame (Notre-Dame Brotherhood) and of the Organisation civile et militaire
Organisation civile et militaire
The Organisation civile et militaire was one of the great movements of the French Resistance in the zone occupée, the northern German-occupied region of France, during the Second World War....
(Civil and Military Organisation).
With equal vigour, Augustin Malroux made efforts to maintain contact with those Socialist deputies who had been interned or imprisoned. One man whom he kept abreast of his activities was Louis Noguères
Louis Noguères
Louis Noguères was a French politician and member of the French Resistance.Son of a magistrate, Louis Noguères was born at Laval, Mayenne. His family moved frequently and Louis attended schools in Laval, Angers, Chambéry, and Le Havre. He studied law and history at the Sorbonne in Paris...
, another SFIO deputy who had voted against granting full powers and was placed under house arrest for this by the Vichy regime
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...
.
From 1940, he was also charged with establishing a link between Libération-sud
Libération-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...
and Libération Nord. In 1942, this movement asked him to create a combat group. Finally, he participated in the clandestine rebuilding of the Syndicat national des instituteurs (National Teachers' Union).
Arrested on 2 March 1942 in Paris, Augustin Malroux was then imprisoned in Fresnes
Fresnes Prison
Fresnes Prison is the second largest prison in France, located in the town of Fresnes, Val-de-Marne South of Paris...
. On 15 September 1943, he was deported to Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. First imprisoned in the camp at , he was then transferred to prisons at Frankfurt am Main, Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, Halle
Halle concentration camp
The Halle concentration camp was a Nazi Germany Buchenwald subcamp that provided forced labor for the Siebel aircraft manufacturer in July 1944 under agreement with the SS-Wirtschafts-Verwaltungshauptamt...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in September-October 1943, then to the camp at Bad Saarow
Bad Saarow
Bad Saarow is a municipality in the Oder-Spree district, in Brandenburg, Germany....
, from October 1943 to February 1945, and finally to the camp at Bergen-Belsen
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
, where he died.
News of his death only emerged several months later. The Tarn SFIO had placed him at the head of their list for the municipal elections in Carmaux
Carmaux
Carmaux is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.Carmaux was famous for its important coal mining and its glassworks . "In 1892, Jean Jaurès supported the miners of Carmaux when they went on strike over the dismissal of their leader, Jean Baptiste Calvignac."...
in May 1945.
Tributes
In April 1946, a plaque was engraved in front of his Paris house. Robert Verdier delivered a speech on this occasion. A monument was then unveiled at Albi in the presence of Jean BiondiJean Biondi
Jean Dominique Biondi was French politician.Jean Biondi was born on the island of Corsica in the village of Sari-d'Orcino...
.
Streets in several towns of Tarn département bear his name, as does the collège
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
of Blaye-les-Mines, opened in 1990 by Lionel Jospin
Lionel Jospin
Lionel Jospin is a French politician, who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997 to 2002.Jospin was the Socialist Party candidate for President of France in the elections of 1995 and 2002. He was narrowly defeated in the final runoff election by Jacques Chirac in 1995...
, then Minister of National Education
Minister of National Education (France)
The Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sport , or simply "Minister of National Education," as the title has changed no small number of times in the course of the Fifth Republic) is the French government cabinet member charged with running France's public educational system and with the...
.
Sources
- Jean MaitronJean MaitronJean Maitron was a French historian specialist of the labour movement. A pioneer of such historical studies in France, he introduced it to University and gave it its archives base, by creating in 1949 the Centre d'histoire du syndicalisme in the Sorbonne, which received important archives from...
(head), The Biographical Dictionary of the French Workers' Movement, CD-ROM, l'Atelier, 1997 - Louis MexandeauLouis MexandeauLouis Mexandeau is a French politician. He served as Minister of the Postal Services from 1981 to 1986 under François Mitterand, and as Secretary for Veteran Affairs from 1991 to 1993.-Biography:...
, Histoire du Parti socialiste (1905-2005) (History of the Socialist Party (1905-2005)), Tallandier, 2005