Jacques Decour
Encyclopedia
Jacques Decour, real name Daniel Decourdemanche, born 21 February 1910 in Paris
, died 30 May 1942 in Fort Mont-Valérien
, was a French writer
and resistant
, killed by the Nazis.
in Paris and the Lycée Pasteur
in Neuilly-sur-Seine
. He began his studies in law, but, after a few years changed his orientation and studied German literature
and obtained his degree in this topic.
In 1932, he was named professor of French in Prussia
at a school in Magdeburg
. There, he wrote his first book, Philisterburg, which described the risks of nationalism and the "inadmissible myth of race". This book caused scandal in France, and public opinion refused to take account of the menacing signs coming from Germany.
He then moved to a school in Reims
and joined a movement of young Communists
. He then moved to Tours
and joined the Communist Party
.
In 1937, he became professor of German in Paris at the lycée Rollin (the school which, after Liberation, would become the lycée Jacques-Decour in his honour). Due to demobilisation, he joined the resistance
and created the magazines L'université libre in 1940 and La Pensée libre in 1941 which became the most important publications in occupied France.
In 1941, Decour became responsible for the Comité national des écrivains which published a new magazine the Lettres françaises but never got to see it, due to his arrest by the French police on 17 February 1942. Taken by the Germans, he was killed on 30 May 1942, one week after Georges Politzer
and Solomon. In the prison where he was waiting for his execution, he wrote a touching letter to his family. It was a letter saying goodbye to those he loved. Resigned to his forthcoming death, he expressed the confidence of his youth, and hoped that his sacrifice would not have been in vain.
Paris
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...
, died 30 May 1942 in Fort Mont-Valérien
Fort Mont-Valérien
Fort Mont-Valérien is a fortress in Suresnes a western Paris suburb, built in 1841 as part of the city's ring of modern fortifications...
, was a French writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and resistant
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
, killed by the Nazis.
Biography
Jacques Decour studied at the Lycée CarnotLycée Carnot
The Lycée Carnot is a public secondary and higher education school located at 145 Boulevard Malesherbes in the 17th arrondissement, Paris, France. A prestigious Parisian high school, it is also known as one the best classe préparatoire aux écoles de commerce...
in Paris and the Lycée Pasteur
Lycée Pasteur
The Lycée Pasteur is a French state-run secondary school in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the outskirts of Paris. It accept students from collège through to classes préparatoires .Built in the grounds of the former chateau de Neuilly, the lycée is named in...
in Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
. He began his studies in law, but, after a few years changed his orientation and studied German literature
German literature
German literature comprises those literary texts written in the German language. This includes literature written in Germany, Austria, the German part of Switzerland, and to a lesser extent works of the German diaspora. German literature of the modern period is mostly in Standard German, but there...
and obtained his degree in this topic.
In 1932, he was named professor of French in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
at a school in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
. There, he wrote his first book, Philisterburg, which described the risks of nationalism and the "inadmissible myth of race". This book caused scandal in France, and public opinion refused to take account of the menacing signs coming from Germany.
He then moved to a school in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
and joined a movement of young Communists
Young Communists
Young Communists can refer to:* Young Communists * Mouvement Jeunes Communistes de France* Young Communists * Young Communists in NorwaySee also:* Young Communist League...
. He then moved to Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
and joined the Communist Party
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...
.
In 1937, he became professor of German in Paris at the lycée Rollin (the school which, after Liberation, would become the lycée Jacques-Decour in his honour). Due to demobilisation, he joined the 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...
and created the magazines L'université libre in 1940 and La Pensée libre in 1941 which became the most important publications in occupied France.
In 1941, Decour became responsible for the Comité national des écrivains which published a new magazine the Lettres françaises but never got to see it, due to his arrest by the French police on 17 February 1942. Taken by the Germans, he was killed on 30 May 1942, one week after Georges Politzer
Georges Politzer
Georges Politzer was a French philosopher and Marxist theoretician of Hungarian origin, affectionately referred to by some as the "red-headed philosopher" . He was a native of Oradea, a city in present-day Romania.-Biography:Politzer was already a militant by the time of his involvement in the...
and Solomon. In the prison where he was waiting for his execution, he wrote a touching letter to his family. It was a letter saying goodbye to those he loved. Resigned to his forthcoming death, he expressed the confidence of his youth, and hoped that his sacrifice would not have been in vain.
Publications
- Philisterburg (NRFNouvelle Revue FrançaiseLa Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals, including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger...
, 1932) - Le Sage et le Caporal (Gallimard Collection blanche, 1930)
- La révolte (NRFNouvelle Revue FrançaiseLa Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals, including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger...
, 1934) - Les Pères (NRFNouvelle Revue FrançaiseLa Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine founded in 1909 by a group of intellectuals, including André Gide, Jacques Copeau, and Jean Schlumberger...
, 1936) - Comme je vous en donne l'exemple... (Éditions Sociales, 1945, Texts by Jacques Decour published by AragonAragonAragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
)