Pierre Georges
Encyclopedia
Pierre Georges better known as Colonel Fabien, was one of the two members of the French Communist Party
who perpetrated the first assassination
s of German personnel during the Occupation of France during the Second World War.
Born to a baker's family, Georges fought for the Republican
side during the Spanish Civil War
until the end of the International Brigades
in 1939.
In 1940, he joined the French Resistance
in the Franc Tireurs Partisans, at the time still largely operating by sabotage
ing German equipment in France. In 1943, he was captured and tortured but escaped.
Pierre Georges was killed in Alsace
while he was manipulating a landmine.
Likewise, many streets in towns with communist mayors are named Colonel Fabien.
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...
who perpetrated the first assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
s of German personnel during the Occupation of France during the Second World War.
Born to a baker's family, Georges fought for the Republican
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....
side during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
until the end of the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
in 1939.
In 1940, he joined 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...
in the Franc Tireurs Partisans, at the time still largely operating by sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
ing German equipment in France. In 1943, he was captured and tortured but escaped.
Pierre Georges was killed in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
while he was manipulating a landmine.
Honours
- The former Place du Combat in ParisParisParis 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 renamed Place du Colonel FabienPlace du Colonel FabienBefore the liberation of Paris, the square was called the Place du Combat and was renamed in honour of the French communist resistance hero, Pierre Georges, whose nom-de-guerre was Colonel Fabien....
in honour of Pierre Georges. - The Paris MétroParis MétroThe Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
station Combat was also renamed Colonel Fabien - The French Communist PartyFrench Communist PartyThe 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...
headquarters, located at the Place du Colonel Fabien, is often so called.
Likewise, many streets in towns with communist mayors are named Colonel Fabien.