Marcel Pourchier
Encyclopedia
André Eugène Marcel Pourchier (June 1, 1897 – September 1, 1944) was a French
military officer whose last rank was Lieutenant-Colonel.
. He was a chasseurs alpins soldier and a member of his hometown's winter sports club, which was founded in 1924. As a Lieutenant
, he was the leader of the national military patrol
team at the 1928 Winter Olympics
(demonstration event), which finished last.
In 1930 he designed the first ski jumping hill
in Beuil. Because of his expertise, he was made the first commander and captain of the newly founded French mountain warfare school École de Haute Montagne (EHM) in Chamonix
in 1932. The school was founded for the special training of the ski reconnaissance platoons, which were founded in 1930. During his time at the EHM, he created new techniques of ski warfare, methods of training, and clothing for mountain warfare.. He recruited Pierre Dalloz, an engineer who supported his drawings of detailed alpine maps after 1941.. During World War II
he was captured by the Germans. He was transferred to the concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof
where he died.
In his hometown, his name is listed on a war memorial and a street is named Boulevard Marcel Pourchier.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
military officer whose last rank was Lieutenant-Colonel.
Biography
Pourchier was born in BeuilBeuil
Beuil is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Beuil is a picturesque village located in the Maritime Alps, away from Nice. It is the gateway to the Mercantour National Park. A stop-off in the Red-rocked Gorges of the Cians and Daluis.The commune is...
. He was a chasseurs alpins soldier and a member of his hometown's winter sports club, which was founded in 1924. As a 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...
, he was the leader of the national military patrol
Military patrol at the 1928 Winter Olympics
At the 1928 Winter Olympics, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928, a military patrol competition was held. Because of a snowstorm the night before the competition, the start of the event was delayed 45 minutes to the cleaning up of the track. The competition was contested over a 30 km distance...
team at the 1928 Winter Olympics
1928 Winter Olympics
The 1928 Winter Olympics, officially known as the II Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 11–19, 1928 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The 1928 Games were the first true Winter Olympics held on its own as they were not in conjunction with a Summer Olympics...
(demonstration event), which finished last.
In 1930 he designed the first ski jumping hill
Ski jumping hill
A ski jumping hill is a sports venue used for ski jumping. They vary in size from temporary hand-made snow structures to permanent competition venues. At the top is an in-run where the jumper runs down to generate sufficient speed, before reaching the jump. The skier is then airborne until landing...
in Beuil. Because of his expertise, he was made the first commander and captain of the newly founded French mountain warfare school École de Haute Montagne (EHM) in Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
in 1932. The school was founded for the special training of the ski reconnaissance platoons, which were founded in 1930. During his time at the EHM, he created new techniques of ski warfare, methods of training, and clothing for mountain warfare.. He recruited Pierre Dalloz, an engineer who supported his drawings of detailed alpine maps after 1941.. 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...
he was captured by the Germans. He was transferred to the concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof
Natzweiler-Struthof
Natzweiler-Struthof was a German concentration camp located in the Vosges Mountains close to the Alsatian village of Natzwiller in France, and the town of Schirmeck, about 50 km south west from the city of Strasbourg....
where he died.
In his hometown, his name is listed on a war memorial and a street is named Boulevard Marcel Pourchier.