Paul Chenailler
Encyclopedia
Paul Chenailler, better known under the pseudonym
Colonel Morice, was in charge of the French resistance
in the Morbihan
region Brittany
during World War II
.
In 1940, at the beginning of the war, he was a "capitaine au long cours" and "lieutenant de vaisseau de réserve". After some reconnaissance missions at Le Havre
, he relocated to Cherbourg, where he took command of the Marie-Gilberte and sailed from Casablanca
in Morocco
. In 1941, he was demobilised and relocated to the city. He immediately involved himself in the resistance, dealing with the general resupply of Morbihan. Chenailler took the name Colonel Morice after the arrest by the Germans of the commander Maurice Guillaudot, whose responsibilities he then assumed. As the regional commander of the Armée secrète
, he assembled and organised different forces, and achieved the amalgamation of the Armée secrète and the Francs-tireurs et partisans into the Forces françaises de l'intérieur
. He became commander of an army which would number as many as 12,000 fighters.
Throughout the winter of 1943-1944 Chenailler took delivery of numerous arms drops. From 6 June 1944, at the time of the Normandy landings the arms drops increased at Saint-Marcel
, near Malestroit
, and soldiers from the 4eme bataillon d’Infanterie de l’Air (2eme RCP / 4eme SAS) were also parachuted in. On 18 June, the maquis de Saint-Marcel
was attacked by the Germans, but the parachutists of the SAS
and the maquis fighters succeeded in containing the attack and retaliating after nightfall. In August, after linking up with the allied forces
, Chenailler was at the front line at Lorient
and at la Vilaine with general Borgnis-Desborde.
At the end of the war, Chenailler was promoted to the rank of Frigate captain, while still remaining lieutenant-colonel of the Armée de terre. He was the founder and director of the daily newspaper La Liberté du Morbihan, which had a circulation of 22,000 in 1954, and was distributed in Lorient
at the surrounding area.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Colonel Morice, was in charge of the French 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...
in the Morbihan
Morbihan
Morbihan is a department in Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan , the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.-History:...
region 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...
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...
.
In 1940, at the beginning of the war, he was a "capitaine au long cours" and "lieutenant de vaisseau de réserve". After some reconnaissance missions at Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, he relocated to Cherbourg, where he took command of the Marie-Gilberte and sailed from Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. In 1941, he was demobilised and relocated to the city. He immediately involved himself in the resistance, dealing with the general resupply of Morbihan. Chenailler took the name Colonel Morice after the arrest by the Germans of the commander Maurice Guillaudot, whose responsibilities he then assumed. As the regional commander of the Armée secrète
Armée secrète
The Armée secrète, created in 1943, was an organisation of French resistance fighters during World War II set up by Jean Moulin. It resulted from an amalgamation of three smaller resistance groups:*Combat*Libération-Sud*Franc-Tireur...
, he assembled and organised different forces, and achieved the amalgamation of the Armée secrète and the Francs-tireurs et partisans into the Forces françaises de l'intérieur
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...
. He became commander of an army which would number as many as 12,000 fighters.
Throughout the winter of 1943-1944 Chenailler took delivery of numerous arms drops. From 6 June 1944, at the time of the Normandy landings the arms drops increased at Saint-Marcel
Saint-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:* *...
, near Malestroit
Malestroit
Malestroit is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-Tourism:The canal is a delightful place to spend a little time, and you can watch the barges as they moor up near the centre of Malestroit. It is possible to hire a boat yourself to explore the waterway, and...
, and soldiers from the 4eme bataillon d’Infanterie de l’Air (2eme RCP / 4eme SAS) were also parachuted in. On 18 June, the maquis de Saint-Marcel
Maquis de Saint-Marcel
The Maquis de Saint-Marcel was a force of French resistance fighters, 3000 men with 200 Free French SAS , during World War II operating in Brittany, Morbihan...
was attacked by the Germans, but the parachutists of 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...
and the maquis fighters succeeded in containing the attack and retaliating after nightfall. In August, after linking up with the allied forces
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
, Chenailler was at the front line at Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
and at la Vilaine with general Borgnis-Desborde.
At the end of the war, Chenailler was promoted to the rank of Frigate captain, while still remaining lieutenant-colonel of the Armée de terre. He was the founder and director of the daily newspaper La Liberté du Morbihan, which had a circulation of 22,000 in 1954, and was distributed in Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
at the surrounding area.
Distinctions
- Officier de la Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Croix de la LibérationOrdre de la LibérationThe 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...
- Croix de guerreCroix de guerreThe 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...
1939-1945 - Médaille de la RésistanceMédaille de la RésistanceThe French Médaille de la Résistance was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle "to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18,...
- Médaille commémorative 1939-1945
- Médaille commémorative des services volontaires dans la France libre
- Bronze Star
- Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- Étoile Noire du Bénin
Sources and Bibliography (French)
- Jean-Loup Avril, Mille Bretons, dictionnaire biographique, Éditions Les Portes du large, Saint-Jacques-de-la-LandeSaint-Jacques-de-la-LandeSaint-Jacques-de-la-Lande is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in north-western France.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande are called Jacquolandins or Jacolandins.-References:* * -External links:*...
, 2002. ISBN 2914612109 - Roger Leroux, Le Morbihan en guerre (7e édition), Ero, Éditions régionales de l’Ouest, Mayenne, 2000. ISBN 2855540429
- Jacqueline Sainclivier, La Bretagne de 1939 à nos jours, Éditions Ouest-France, Rennes, 1989, ISBN 2737304881