Lucie Aubrac, French educator and activist (b. 1912)

The story of Lucie Aubrac, born Lucie Bernard on June 29, 1912, is a remarkable testament to courage, intellect, and unwavering determination in the face of immense danger. A French history teacher by profession, she became one of the most iconic figures of the French Resistance during World War II, her legendary exploits echoing through history as symbols of defiance against Nazi occupation and Vichy collaboration.

Early Life and Formative Years

Lucie's intellectual prowess was evident early on. In 1938, she achieved the prestigious *agrégation* of history, a competitive examination for teaching in secondary and higher education. This was a significant accomplishment, especially for a woman at that time, highlighting her exceptional academic capabilities. The following year, 1939, she married Raymond Samuel, who would later adopt the surname Aubrac for his Resistance activities, a name Lucie would also carry, becoming forever known as Lucie Aubrac. Their union formed a formidable partnership that would define their lives and impact the course of French history.

Forging the Resistance: Libération-Sud

As the shadows of World War II enveloped France following the 1940 armistice, Lucie and Raymond did not hesitate. In 1940, among the very first in Clermont-Ferrand, they plunged into the nascent French Resistance movement. Alongside Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie and Jean Cavaillès, they co-founded the Resistance group initially known as *La Dernière Colonne*, which soon evolved into the powerful network known as Libération-Sud. This organization quickly became a vital part of the underground struggle against the German occupiers and the collaborationist Vichy regime.

Their early efforts in 1941 included two successful sabotage attacks on train stations in Perpignan and Cannes, disrupting enemy logistics. That same year, the group orchestrated the clandestine distribution of 10,000 propaganda flyers, a dangerous endeavor aimed at galvanizing public opinion against the occupation. However, such operations were fraught with peril; one distributor's capture led to the arrest of d'Astier's niece and uncle. During this intense period, Lucie gave birth to her first child, forcing the group to temporarily go into hiding for the safety of its members. After a brief hiatus, they re-emerged with a new, equally perilous project: the creation of an underground newspaper, aptly named *Libération*. The inaugural edition, a testament to the resourcefulness of the Resistance, was painstakingly assembled with the help of typographers from a local newspaper and printed on paper generously supplied by local trade-unionists. Ten thousand copies of this vital publication were produced in July 1941, disseminating truth and hope amidst censorship and despair.

Audacious Rescues and Unforgettable Courage

Lucie Aubrac's name became synonymous with daring escapes and an unyielding will, particularly in 1943, a pivotal year for the Resistance. In March, Raymond Aubrac was arrested. However, Lucie, displaying incredible presence of mind and courage, intervened directly with the local Vichy public prosecutor. In a breathtaking bluff, she claimed they were Resistance members and threatened the prosecutor with execution by the Resistance if Raymond was not released within 24 hours. Her audacious gamble paid off, and Raymond was released in May. Following this, the couple orchestrated the clever evasion of three other vital group members, preventing their capture.

The dangers, however, were relentless. In June of the same year, Raymond was arrested again, this time falling into the clutches of the Gestapo in Lyon, led by the infamous "Butcher of Lyon," Klaus Barbie. What followed was an act of legendary bravery that cemented Lucie's place in Resistance lore. Pretending to be Raymond's fiancée, and heavily pregnant, Lucie confronted Barbie directly. She gave his alias, "Ermelin," and fabricated a story that he had been innocently visiting a doctor when caught in a raid. When informed that "Ermelin" was to be executed for Resistance activities, Lucie begged to marry him, feigning desperation and using her pregnancy as leverage. Barbie, possibly relishing the theatricality or seeking to demoralize, granted a "marriage" in a cynical display of power.

However, this was all part of Lucie's meticulously planned rescue. As Raymond, along with fifteen other prisoners, was being transported back to Montluc prison after the supposed marriage, a commando unit led by Lucie Aubrac herself launched a sudden, brutal attack on the vehicle. In a hail of gunfire, they killed the six guards and successfully liberated all sixteen prisoners, including Raymond. This daring daylight raid became one of the most celebrated and iconic acts of the French Resistance, a story whispered in hushed tones of admiration and awe.

Post-War Life, Political Involvement, and Literary Contributions

With the liberation of France, Lucie Aubrac continued to contribute to the nation she had fought so fiercely to save. In 1944, she was appointed by General Charles de Gaulle to the Provisional Consultative Assembly as a Resistance representative. This historic appointment made her the first woman ever to sit in a French parliamentary assembly, a groundbreaking achievement that underscored her significant role in shaping post-war France and challenging traditional gender roles.

In 1945, she published the first short history of the French Resistance, offering an early, vital account of the clandestine struggle. Her home also became a place of significant historical encounter. In 1946, Lucie and Raymond famously hosted Ho Chi Minh in France, who had come on an unsuccessful mission to secure independence for the then-French colony of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh developed a strong friendship with Raymond, a testament to the Aubracs' international connections and their commitment to principles of freedom and self-determination.

Decades later, in 1984, Lucie published a semi-fictionalized version of her wartime diaries, an evocative account known in English as *Outwitting the Gestapo*. Her motivation to share her story was deeply personal, spurred by Klaus Barbie's outrageous and false claims, made after his capture and trial, that Raymond Aubrac had been an informer and had betrayed Resistance leader Jean Moulin after his own arrest. This egregious lie compelled Lucie to ensure her true narrative was told, not only for posterity but also to defend her husband's honor.

The Barbie Controversy and Historical Scrutiny

The late 1980s and 1990s brought renewed attention and controversy to the French Resistance, particularly regarding the events surrounding Jean Moulin's arrest. Lucie Aubrac found herself at the center of a historical storm when, in April 1997, Jacques Vergès, Klaus Barbie's defense lawyer, produced a so-called "Barbie testament." Vergès claimed Barbie had given him this document ten years prior, purporting to show that the Aubracs had tipped off Barbie about Moulin's fateful meeting at Caluire in 1943. This "testament" was strategically timed for the publication of Gérard Chauvy's book, *Aubrac Lyon 1943*, which aimed to prove the Aubracs' alleged treachery.

The accusations were baseless and deeply offensive to the Aubracs. On April 2, 1998, following a civil suit launched by Lucie and Raymond, a Paris court fined Chauvy and his publisher, Albin Michel, for "public defamation." Despite this legal victory, other historical theories emerged. In 1998, French historian Jacques Baynac, in his book *Les Secrets de l'affaire Jean Moulin*, suggested that Moulin was planning to break with de Gaulle to recognize General Giraud, leading some Gaullists to potentially inform Barbie to prevent this. Later, Patrick Marnham's biographies, *The Death of Jean Moulin: Biography of a Ghost* (2001) and *Resistance and Betrayal: The Death and Life of the Greatest Hero of the French Resistance* (2002), regrettably suggested Raymond, and possibly Lucie, might have betrayed Moulin. Marnham even controversially claimed that Raymond's "overriding allegiance to communism" would have meant he didn't consider himself a traitor if he had betrayed Moulin, further implying that French Communists sometimes sacrificed non-Communists to the Gestapo.

However, these claims about the Aubracs were vehemently refuted and largely dismissed by the historical community. It's crucial to note that Raymond Aubrac was never a member of the Communist Party, making the allegations of "communist betrayal" entirely unfounded. Furthermore, betraying a figure with Moulin's extensive knowledge of Resistance networks would have been an incomprehensible act for any Resistance group. Twenty leading Resistance survivors publicly protested the accusations against the Aubracs. The Aubracs themselves requested to appear before a panel of leading French historians, which they did in a discussion organized by the newspaper *Libération*. While historians noted some inconsistencies in Lucie's accounts of the exact circumstances of Raymond's arrests and rescues, none believed there was any credible evidence that Raymond was an informer. The consensus among serious historians remains that the allegations against the Aubracs were unfounded and designed to discredit genuine heroes of the French Resistance.

Legacy and Tributes

Lucie Aubrac's life was also rich with personal connections. She had three children with Raymond. Notably, General Charles de Gaulle was godfather to their second child, Catherine, and remarkably, Ho Chi Minh was godfather to their third child, Elizabeth, highlighting the extraordinary and diverse friendships forged through their unique lives.

Her heroism was formally recognized in 1996 when the French government awarded her the prestigious Legion of Honor. Her story has also been immortalized on screen. The 1992 film *Boulevard des hirondelles* chronicled her and Raymond's life during the French Resistance. The 1997 film *Lucie Aubrac*, directed by Claude Berri and starring Carole Bouquet in the titular role, specifically focused on her heroic efforts to rescue her husband, a film that Lucie herself endorsed.

Upon Raymond Aubrac's death in 2012, both he and Lucie were profoundly celebrated. President Nicolas Sarkozy stated that Raymond's escape from the Nazis, masterminded by Lucie in 1943, had "become a legend in the history of the Resistance" and praised them as "heroes of the shadows who saved France's honor, at a time when it seemed lost." Serge Klarsfeld, president of the Sons and Daughters of Jewish Deportees from France, lauded them as "a legendary couple" and "exceptional people." President François Hollande echoed these sentiments, declaring that in France's "darkest times," Raymond, "with Lucie Aubrac, [was] among the righteous, who found, in themselves and in the universal values of our Republic, the strength to resist Nazi barbarism." Lucie's ashes now rest beside Raymond's in the family tomb within the cemetery of Salornay-sur-Guye, a small Burgundian village, a final resting place for two of France's most cherished heroes. Her legacy endures as a powerful symbol of resistance, courage, and the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lucie Aubrac

Who was Lucie Aubrac?

Lucie Aubrac, born Lucie Bernard, was a celebrated French history teacher and an iconic figure of the French Resistance during World War II. She is renowned for her extraordinary courage, intelligence, and leadership in the fight against Nazi occupation and the Vichy regime, particularly for orchestrating daring escapes and rescues.

What was her main role in the French Resistance?

Lucie Aubrac, alongside her husband Raymond Aubrac, was a co-founder of *La Dernière Colonne*, which evolved into Libération-Sud, one of the most significant Resistance groups. She was involved in sabotage, the distribution of propaganda, and the creation of the underground newspaper *Libération*. She is most famous for her audacious planning and execution of her husband Raymond Aubrac's rescue from the Gestapo in 1943.

What was the significance of her *agrégation* in history?

Earning the *agrégation* in 1938 was a remarkable academic achievement, especially for a woman at that time in France. It demonstrated her exceptional intellectual capabilities and commitment to education, which she later channeled into her strategic and leadership roles within the Resistance.

Who was Klaus Barbie and what was his connection to Lucie Aubrac?

Klaus Barbie was a notorious Gestapo chief in Lyon, known as the "Butcher of Lyon" for his brutality. Lucie Aubrac famously confronted Barbie in 1943, using a clever ruse pretending to be Raymond Aubrac's fiancée to secure his "marriage" and then staging a dramatic commando rescue of Raymond from Barbie's custody.

What was the "Barbie testament" controversy?

In 1997, Klaus Barbie's lawyer, Jacques Vergès, produced a supposed "Barbie testament" claiming the Aubracs had betrayed Jean Moulin, a revered Resistance leader, to the Gestapo. These allegations were later propagated in a book by Gérard Chauvy. The Aubracs successfully sued for defamation, and the claims were largely dismissed by historians as unfounded and disproven.

Was Lucie Aubrac a Communist?

No, neither Lucie Aubrac nor Raymond Aubrac were members of the Communist Party. Claims that Raymond's alleged "communist allegiance" led to betrayal were baseless and historically inaccurate.

What was her political involvement after the war?

After the liberation of France, Lucie Aubrac was appointed by Charles de Gaulle to the Provisional Consultative Assembly in 1944. This made her the first woman to ever sit in a French parliamentary assembly, marking a significant step for women in French politics.

What films have been made about her life?

Two notable films depict her life during the Resistance: *Boulevard des hirondelles* (1992) and *Lucie Aubrac* (1997), with the latter focusing specifically on her efforts to rescue her husband Raymond. She personally endorsed the 1997 film.

How is Lucie Aubrac remembered in France today?

Lucie Aubrac is remembered as a national heroine, a symbol of courage, intelligence, and an unwavering spirit of resistance. Her legendary acts, particularly the rescue of her husband from the Gestapo, are celebrated in French history, and she is lauded for her contributions to saving France's honor during its darkest hours.