Maria Justeau
Encyclopedia
Born in 1912, Maria Justeau was a member of the French Resistance
during World War II
. Along with her husband, Eugene Justeau, she saved the lives of many American and French soldiers in the area of Saint-Seglin
, Brittany
, France
. She is among the few women to have received the "Croix de Guerre
". She was also awarded an official recognition from the SAS
parachutists. Maria Justeau died in 2008.
and Pipriac
and is still standing today. Eugene had been injured and captured by the Germans. He was able to escape back to his home. When the Germans came to look for him, Maria pretended that she didn't know where her husband was, and introduced her husband as a day laborer.
Eugene instead participated in the Resistance. Capitaine Toqué, Louis Nadan, Louis Bourgeais, SAS parachutists and Eugene took part in many sabotages in the region. After the war, he was awarded the "Legion d'Honneur" and a "Lieutenant" grade for his heroic actions.
. The pilot, Elton Hoyt, and 9 other Americans escaped from the plane before it crashed. Hoyt and 3 comrades were hidden by Justeau at the mill for 3 weeks. In September 2002, he came back to the mill to thank the local population, including Maria Justeau.
(18 June 1944), which involved 200 Free French SAS parachutists
and 3,000 fighters from the Maquis
, more than 20 parachutists were hidden at the mill during the battle. Maria and Eugene Justeau kept the mill running while feeding the French soldiers and taking care of 3 children.
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...
. Along with her husband, Eugene Justeau, she saved the lives of many American and French soldiers in the area of Saint-Seglin
Saint-Séglin
Saint-Séglin is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Saint-Séglin are called Séglinois.-References:* ;* -External links:*...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France
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...
. She is among the few women to have received the "Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
". She was also awarded an official recognition from the SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
parachutists. Maria Justeau died in 2008.
Eugene Justeau
Maria and Eugene had a mill at the location called "Le Pont" (the Bridge). The mill was located between Saint-SeglinSaint-Séglin
Saint-Séglin is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Saint-Séglin are called Séglinois.-References:* ;* -External links:*...
and Pipriac
Pipriac
Pipriac is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in north-western France.It lies southwest of Rennes.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Pipriac are called in French Pipriatains.-Twin town:...
and is still standing today. Eugene had been injured and captured by the Germans. He was able to escape back to his home. When the Germans came to look for him, Maria pretended that she didn't know where her husband was, and introduced her husband as a day laborer.
Eugene instead participated in the Resistance. Capitaine Toqué, Louis Nadan, Louis Bourgeais, SAS parachutists and Eugene took part in many sabotages in the region. After the war, he was awarded the "Legion d'Honneur" and a "Lieutenant" grade for his heroic actions.
Battlin Bobbie
Battlin Bobbie was an American B-17 bomber that had been shot down in September 1943 by the Germans at MessacMessac, Ille-et-Vilaine
Messac is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Messac are called Messacois.-References:* ;* -External links:*...
. The pilot, Elton Hoyt, and 9 other Americans escaped from the plane before it crashed. Hoyt and 3 comrades were hidden by Justeau at the mill for 3 weeks. In September 2002, he came back to the mill to thank the local population, including Maria Justeau.
General Allard
General Jean-Claude Allard was the subdivision chief of the secret army. He escaped the Gestapo on November 30, 1943 and had a brief stay at the mill.Saint Marcel Fighters
During the Battle of Saint MarcelSaint-Marcel, Morbihan
Saint-Marcel is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.Saint-Marcel houses the Museum of the Breton Resistance which commemorates the uprising of the Maquis of Saint-Marcel and 200 Free French SAS parachutists in June 1944. .-References:* * -External links:* *...
(18 June 1944), which involved 200 Free French SAS parachutists
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
and 3,000 fighters from the Maquis
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
, more than 20 parachutists were hidden at the mill during the battle. Maria and Eugene Justeau kept the mill running while feeding the French soldiers and taking care of 3 children.