Charles N'Tchoréré
Encyclopedia
Charles N'Tchoréré was a French
(naturalized
in 1940) military commander who was shot by Germans
in World War II
.
Born in Libreville
to a notable Mpongwe
family, he was a top student at the École Montfort, but had to abandon his studies at age 16 to work with his father in German Cameroon
. In 1914, Charles took up a post in the governor's cabinet, then in 1916 enlisted in the Tirailleurs Sénégalais
and fought in World War I
, earning a promotion to sergeant
.
After further training during the 1920s, in 1927 he became one of few Africans to receive an officer's commission. As commander of the Tirailleurs in the French Sudan
(present-day Mali), he improved the military training for the sons of African soldiers. In 1937 N'Tchoréré became a battalion chief, and after serving as commandant of École des Enfants de Troupe at Saint-Louis
in Senegal
, he retired, with the rank of lieutenant
.
When World War II
broke out, he came out of retirement and took command of a battalion of Gabonese volunteers at Bordeaux
, then later was captain of a company in the Infanterie Coloniale Mixte Sénégalaise, which fought Germans on the Somme River
. After three days of resistance, the company was left with only ten Africans and five Europeans, and they surrendered near Amiens
. But the German officer would not treat N'Tchoréré as an officer, and when N'Tchoréré refused to fall in line with the black enlisted soldiers, the German shot him.
N'Tchoréré's son Jean-Baptiste was killed in action in the same area a week later.
Charles N'Tchoréré has a memorial in Airaines
, and in 1962 he was honored on a postage stamp
of Gabon.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(naturalized
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
in 1940) military commander who was shot by Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 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...
.
Born in Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
to a notable Mpongwe
Mpongwe
The Mpongwe are an ethnic group in Gabon, notable as the earliest known dwellers around the Estuary, where Libreville is now located.The Mpongwe language identifies them as a subgroup of the Myènè people of the Bantus, who are believed to have been in the area for some 2,000 years, although the...
family, he was a top student at the École Montfort, but had to abandon his studies at age 16 to work with his father in German Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
. In 1914, Charles took up a post in the governor's cabinet, then in 1916 enlisted in the Tirailleurs Sénégalais
Tirailleur
Tirailleur literally means a shooting skirmisher in French from tir—shot. The term dates back to the Napoleonic period where it was used to designate light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns...
and fought in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, earning a promotion to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
.
After further training during the 1920s, in 1927 he became one of few Africans to receive an officer's commission. As commander of the Tirailleurs in the French Sudan
French Sudan
French Sudan was a colony in French West Africa that had two separate periods of existence, first from 1890 to 1899, then from 1920 to 1960, when the territory became the independent nation of Mali.-Colonial establishment:...
(present-day Mali), he improved the military training for the sons of African soldiers. In 1937 N'Tchoréré became a battalion chief, and after serving as commandant of École des Enfants de Troupe at Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, he retired, with the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
When 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...
broke out, he came out of retirement and took command of a battalion of Gabonese volunteers at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, then later was captain of a company in the Infanterie Coloniale Mixte Sénégalaise, which fought Germans on the Somme River
Somme River
The Somme is a river in Picardy, northern France. The name Somme comes from a Celtic word meaning tranquility. The department Somme was named after this river....
. After three days of resistance, the company was left with only ten Africans and five Europeans, and they surrendered near Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
. But the German officer would not treat N'Tchoréré as an officer, and when N'Tchoréré refused to fall in line with the black enlisted soldiers, the German shot him.
N'Tchoréré's son Jean-Baptiste was killed in action in the same area a week later.
Charles N'Tchoréré has a memorial in Airaines
Airaines
Airaines is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated south of Amiens, at the junction of the D901 and D936 roads.-Hamlets and neighbourhoods:...
, and in 1962 he was honored on a postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
of Gabon.