Brutus Network
Encyclopedia
The Brutus Network was a French Resistant
movement during World War II
. It was founded in 1941 by Pierre Fourcaud, parachuted in France with instructions from Charles de Gaulle
to set up an intelligence network , and other socialist members of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), from the Bouches-du-Rhône
department in the Southern Zone
, and led by Félix Gouin
. As soon as July 1941, the network almost became the armed wing of the Comité d'action socialiste (CAS - Socialist Action Committee), of which Félix Gouin had been a co-founder, along with Daniel Mayer
. The CAS delegate Eugène Thomas
became the leader of the Brutus Network after the arrest of Pierre Fourcaud and his brother, Jean Fourcaud, departure for London.
Extending itself in 1942-43, Brutus became a national Resistant network in February 1943, in particular through the impulsion of André Boyer. Boasting more than a 1,000 agents , its headquarters were based in Lyon
, with Pierre Sudreau
as responsible of the Northern Zone and Jean-Maurice Hermann of the Southern Zone. André Boyer entered the directing committee of the Mouvements unis de Résistance (United Movements of Resistance) in November 1943. At the end of this year, the network was strongly affected by the arrest of Boyer, Sudreau and Hermann. Gaston Defferre
, later mayor of Marseilles for years, succeeded to André Boyer (he was previously his deputy) as national chief.
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...
movement 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...
. It was founded in 1941 by Pierre Fourcaud, parachuted in France with instructions from 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....
to set up an intelligence network , and other socialist members of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), from the Bouches-du-Rhône
Bouches-du-Rhône
Bouches-du-Rhône is a department in the south of France named after the mouth of the Rhône River. It is the most populous department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Its INSEE and postal code is 13.-History of the department:...
department in the Southern Zone
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...
, and led by Félix Gouin
Félix Gouin
Félix Gouin was a French Socialist politician, member of the French Section of the Workers' International .-Personal life:Félix Gouin was born in Peypin, Bouches-du-Rhône, the son of school teachers...
. As soon as July 1941, the network almost became the armed wing of the Comité d'action socialiste (CAS - Socialist Action Committee), of which Félix Gouin had been a co-founder, along with 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...
. The CAS delegate Eugène Thomas
Eugene Thomas
Eugene Thomas is an African-American martial artist and B-movie actor, who went to Taiwan and Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he made about a dozen movies, mostly about Ninjas, like Mafia vs. Ninja or USA Ninja, where he frequently collaborated with the tae kwon do specialist Alexander Lou...
became the leader of the Brutus Network after the arrest of Pierre Fourcaud and his brother, Jean Fourcaud, departure for London.
Extending itself in 1942-43, Brutus became a national Resistant network in February 1943, in particular through the impulsion of André Boyer. Boasting more than a 1,000 agents , its headquarters were based 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....
, with Pierre Sudreau
Pierre Sudreau
Pierre Sudreau is a former French politician. He was born in Paris.He announced his resignation as education minister in October 1962 to protest a proposal by Charles de Gaulle to amend the constitution.-References:...
as responsible of the Northern Zone and Jean-Maurice Hermann of the Southern Zone. André Boyer entered the directing committee of the Mouvements unis de Résistance (United Movements of Resistance) in November 1943. At the end of this year, the network was strongly affected by the arrest of Boyer, Sudreau and Hermann. Gaston Defferre
Gaston Defferre
Gaston Defferre was a French socialist politician.-Biography:Lawyer and member of the French Section of the Workers' International political party, he was a member of the Brutus Network, a Resistance Socialist group during World War II...
, later mayor of Marseilles for years, succeeded to André Boyer (he was previously his deputy) as national chief.
Some members
- Pierre Bourthoumieux
- Jean BiondiJean BiondiJean Dominique Biondi was French politician.Jean Biondi was born on the island of Corsica in the village of Sari-d'Orcino...
- André Boyer
- André Clavé
- Gaston DefferreGaston DefferreGaston Defferre was a French socialist politician.-Biography:Lawyer and member of the French Section of the Workers' International political party, he was a member of the Brutus Network, a Resistance Socialist group during World War II...
- Pierre Fourcaud
- Raymond Gernez
- Félix GouinFélix GouinFélix Gouin was a French Socialist politician, member of the French Section of the Workers' International .-Personal life:Félix Gouin was born in Peypin, Bouches-du-Rhône, the son of school teachers...
- Ginette Kahn Bernheim
- Jean-Maurice Hermann
- Pierre Malafosse
- Daniel MayerDaniel MayerDaniel 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...
- Émilienne Moreau
- Jacques Poupault
- Georges Ronceray
- Pierre SudreauPierre SudreauPierre Sudreau is a former French politician. He was born in Paris.He announced his resignation as education minister in October 1962 to protest a proposal by Charles de Gaulle to amend the constitution.-References:...
- Eugène ThomasEugene ThomasEugene Thomas is an African-American martial artist and B-movie actor, who went to Taiwan and Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he made about a dozen movies, mostly about Ninjas, like Mafia vs. Ninja or USA Ninja, where he frequently collaborated with the tae kwon do specialist Alexander Lou...
- Jean Valnet
- Gaston Vedel
External links
- Témoignage, video testimony of a Brutus member in AnnecyAnnecyAnnecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...