Jacques Bingen
Encyclopedia
Jacques Bingen was a high-ranking member of the French Resistance
during World War II
who, when captured by the Gestapo
, chose to commit suicide rather than risk divulging what he knew under torture.
in a Jewish family with Italian roots. He was the stepbrother of André Citroën
.
After graduating from the Lycée Janson de Sailly
in 1924, he entered the École des mines de Paris
in 1926 and studied to became an engineer.
In 1930-1931, he served in the artillery branch of the French Army
.
From 1935 he was director of the French Shipping company, Société Anonyme de Gérance et d'Armement
.
, he was wounded on 12 June 1940 at Saint-Valery-en-Caux
. After France surrendered, he made his way to British-held Gibraltar
, and from there to England, arriving in July.
He joined the Free French under General Charles de Gaulle
, and was put in charge of its merchant marine
, the little there was of it. However, Bingen longed to fight more actively for his country. He resigned on 1 October 1941 and signed up with the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action
, the Free French intelligence service, in 1942.
On 16 August 1943, he parachuted into France to help organize and unite the various disparate groups that comprised the Resistance. He played an important role in the creation of the French Forces of the Interior
in February 1944.
On 12 May, Bingen was betrayed by Belgian double agent
Alfred Dormal and captured at Clermont-Ferrand
. He committed suicide at Chamalières
by swallowing a capsule of cyanide
rather than risk breaking under torture.
posthumously.
Rue Jacques Bingen, a street in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, is named after him. The cargo ship Empire Scepter was given by the British government to the French and renamed Jacques Bingen.
On 21 April 1958, the French post office issued a postage stamp bearing his likeness.
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...
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...
who, when captured by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, chose to commit suicide rather than risk divulging what he knew under torture.
Early life
Bingen was born in ParisParis
Paris 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...
in a Jewish family with Italian roots. He was the stepbrother of André Citroën
André Citroën
André-Gustave Citroën was a French industrialist. He is remembered chiefly for the make of car named after him, but also for his application of double helical gears.- Life and career :...
.
After graduating from the Lycée Janson de Sailly
Lycée Janson de Sailly
Lycée Janson de Sailly is a lycée located in the XVIe arrondissement of Paris, France. It is generally considered as one of the most prestigious lycées in Paris...
in 1924, he entered the École des mines de Paris
École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris
The École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris was created in 1783 by King Louis XVI in order to train intelligent directors of mines. It is one of the most prominent French engineering schoolsThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (also known as Mines ParisTech, École des Mines de...
in 1926 and studied to became an engineer.
In 1930-1931, he served in the artillery branch of the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
.
From 1935 he was director of the French Shipping company, Société Anonyme de Gérance et d'Armement
Société Anonyme de Gérance et d'Armement
The Rothschild Bank founded the Société Anonyme de Gérance et d'Armement in 1919 for the management of French state-owned ships.-History:...
.
World War II
He was drafted in 1939 for World War II. During the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, he was wounded on 12 June 1940 at Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small fishing port and light industrial town situated in the Pays de Caux, some west of Dieppe at the junction of the D53, D20, D79 and the D925 roads...
. After France surrendered, he made his way to British-held Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, and from there to England, arriving in July.
He joined the Free French under General 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....
, and was put in charge of its merchant marine
Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
, the little there was of it. However, Bingen longed to fight more actively for his country. He resigned on 1 October 1941 and signed up with the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action
Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action
The Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action , commonly referred as the BCRA was the World War II-era forerunner of the SDECE, the French intelligence service...
, the Free French intelligence service, in 1942.
On 16 August 1943, he parachuted into France to help organize and unite the various disparate groups that comprised the Resistance. He played an important role in the creation of the French Forces of the Interior
French Forces of the Interior
The French Forces of the Interior refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation...
in February 1944.
On 12 May, Bingen was betrayed by Belgian double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
Alfred Dormal and captured at Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
. He committed suicide at Chamalières
Chamalières
Chamalières is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.Chamalières is the third-largest town in the department and lies about from Lyon.-History:...
by swallowing a capsule of cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
rather than risk breaking under torture.
Honors
Bingen was awarded the Ordre de la LibérationOrdre de la Libération
The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
posthumously.
Rue Jacques Bingen, a street in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, is named after him. The cargo ship Empire Scepter was given by the British government to the French and renamed Jacques Bingen.
On 21 April 1958, the French post office issued a postage stamp bearing his likeness.