Jacques Lemaigre-Dubreuil
Encyclopedia
Jacques Lemaigre Dubreuil (1894–1955) was a businessman and activist, born in Solignac
on October 30, 1894 and murdered in Casablanca
on June 11, 1955.
He married Simone Lesieur, daughter of Georges Lesieur
- founder of the brand of edible oils of the same name (Huiles Lesieur). Having joined its Board of Directors in 1926, he directed and developed the company until his death. He owned the Maroc-Presse newspaper and had interests in the Printemps department store chain.
A militant of the extreme right, he was one of the funders of La Cagoule
in the late 1930s.
During the Second World War, he was very active in the underground. He was one of those who favoured the Allied landings in North Africa, on 8 November 1942, Operation Torch
. He was a link between Robert Murphy
and Henri Giraud
; when the latter arrived in Algeria, he was accommodated in Lemaigre-Dubreuil's house
Later, Lemaigre Dubreuil was very active in supporting Moroccan claims for autonomy, for which he drew fierce hatred from movements supporting the retention of Morocco as a French protectorate. These movements, described at the time as terrorist-cons had many accomplices in European circles, including the French administration. It is suspected the French secret service were closely related to some of them, such as La Main rouge (Red Hand).
Lemaigre-Dubreuil was assassinated in Casablanca on the evening of June 11, 1955, in the square that later bore his name, at the foot of the "Liberté" building where he lived. His funeral took place on June 14 in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Casablanca.
Solignac
Solignac is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France.-Geography:The village lies on the right bank of the Briance, which flows westward through the commune.Inhabitants are known as Solignacois....
on October 30, 1894 and murdered in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
on June 11, 1955.
He married Simone Lesieur, daughter of Georges Lesieur
Georges Lesieur
Georges Lesieur , born in Paris , was a French businessman and founder of the brand of edible oils of the same name...
- founder of the brand of edible oils of the same name (Huiles Lesieur). Having joined its Board of Directors in 1926, he directed and developed the company until his death. He owned the Maroc-Presse newspaper and had interests in the Printemps department store chain.
A militant of the extreme right, he was one of the funders of La Cagoule
La Cagoule
La Cagoule , officially called Comité secret d'action révolutionnaire , was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group, active in the 1930s, and designed to attempt the overthrow of the French Third Republic...
in the late 1930s.
During the Second World War, he was very active in the underground. He was one of those who favoured the Allied landings in North Africa, on 8 November 1942, Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
. He was a link between Robert Murphy
Robert Daniel Murphy
Robert Daniel Murphy was an American diplomat.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Murphy had begun his diplomatic career in 1917 as a member of the American Legation in Bern, Switzerland. Among the several posts he held were Vice-Consul in Zurich and Munich, American Consul in Paris from 1930 to 1936,...
and Henri Giraud
Henri Giraud
Henri Honoré Giraud was a French general who fought in World War I and World War II. Captured in both wars, he escaped each time....
; when the latter arrived in Algeria, he was accommodated in Lemaigre-Dubreuil's house
Later, Lemaigre Dubreuil was very active in supporting Moroccan claims for autonomy, for which he drew fierce hatred from movements supporting the retention of Morocco as a French protectorate. These movements, described at the time as terrorist-cons had many accomplices in European circles, including the French administration. It is suspected the French secret service were closely related to some of them, such as La Main rouge (Red Hand).
Lemaigre-Dubreuil was assassinated in Casablanca on the evening of June 11, 1955, in the square that later bore his name, at the foot of the "Liberté" building where he lived. His funeral took place on June 14 in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Casablanca.