Émile Fouchard
Encyclopedia
Émile Fouchard was a French politician.
Born in Bannay
in the Cher
department, in 1906 he moved with his family to Chelles
in the Seine-et-Marne
department. He became a carpenter and joined the Young Socialists in 1918. After the Tours Congress
of 1920, Fouchard left the Socialists and joined the French Communist Party
.
He first stood in the 1929 municipal elections in Chelles unsuccessfully for the Communists, but in 1935 was elected mayor of Chelles on a joint Socialist-Communist ticket. In 1936 he was elected to the French Chamber of Deputies to represent the Meaux
district.
In September 1939, following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
, Fouchard left the Communists. The French Communist Party was banned following this but Fouchard, who had distanced himself from the Party, was not investigated. He asked to be allowed to rejoin the French Army
and became one of the leading members in the new Union populaire française
. Following France's defeat in the battle of France
and the armistice
with Nazi Germany
, Fouchard was one of the 80 members of parliament
who voted against granting extraordinary powers to Marshal Philippe Petain
on 10 July 1940.
Fouchard was removed from his post as mayor of Chelles in 1941. He moved to the Lot department in Vichy France
where he became involved with the French Resistance
in the left-wing, Communist-dominated FTP (Francs Tireurs et Partisans). Fouchard was arrested by the Vichy government in August 1942 and spent the remainder of the occupation imprisoned, first at Cahors
and then at Saint-Sulpice-la-Pointe.
Freed at the liberation of France in 1944, Fouchard served in the reconstituted French National Assembly
but did not seek election in 1945. He returned to local government politics in 1953, elected on a non-Communist left-wing ticket, but retired for a second and final time from politics in 1959.
He died at Montfermeil
near Paris
aged 94. A memorial to Fouchard exists in the public park in Chelles named after him.
Born in Bannay
Bannay, Cher
Bannay is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:An area of forestry and farming comprising the village and several hamlets situated by the banks of the river Loire, some northeast of Bourges at the junction of the D86 with the D955 road.-Population:-Places of...
in the Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
department, in 1906 he moved with his family to Chelles
Chelles
Chelles is the name of two communes of France:*Chelles, Oise in the Oise département*Chelles, Seine-et-Marne in the Seine-et-Marne département, 18 km east of ParisIt may also refer to:*Chelles Abbey...
in the Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
department. He became a carpenter and joined the Young Socialists in 1918. After the Tours Congress
Tours Congress
The Tours Congress was the 18th National Congress of the French Section of the Workers' International, or SFIO, which took place in Tours on 25—30 December 1920...
of 1920, Fouchard left the Socialists and joined the French 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...
.
He first stood in the 1929 municipal elections in Chelles unsuccessfully for the Communists, but in 1935 was elected mayor of Chelles on a joint Socialist-Communist ticket. In 1936 he was elected to the French Chamber of Deputies to represent the Meaux
Meaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
district.
In September 1939, following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, named after the Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov and the German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, was an agreement officially titled the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union and signed in Moscow in the late hours of 23 August 1939...
, Fouchard left the Communists. The French Communist Party was banned following this but Fouchard, who had distanced himself from the Party, was not investigated. He asked to be allowed to rejoin 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...
and became one of the leading members in the new Union populaire française
Union populaire française
The Union populaire française was a parliamentary group in the French Parliament formed in 1939 by breakaway members of the French Communist Party who opposed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Prominent members included Émile Fouchard, Eugène Jardon and René Nicod....
. Following France's defeat in the battle of France
Battle 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...
and the armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
with Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, Fouchard was one of the 80 members of parliament
The Vichy 80
The Vichy 80 were a group of elected French parliamentarians who, on 10 July 1940, voted against the constitutional change that dissolved the Third Republic and established an authoritarian regime known as Vichy France....
who voted against granting extraordinary powers to Marshal Philippe Petain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
on 10 July 1940.
Fouchard was removed from his post as mayor of Chelles in 1941. He moved to the Lot department in Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
where he became involved with 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 left-wing, Communist-dominated FTP (Francs Tireurs et Partisans). Fouchard was arrested by the Vichy government in August 1942 and spent the remainder of the occupation imprisoned, first at Cahors
Cahors
Cahors is the capital of the Lot department in south-western France.Its site is dramatic being contained on three sides within an udder shaped twist in the river Lot known as a 'presqu'île' or peninsula...
and then at Saint-Sulpice-la-Pointe.
Freed at the liberation of France in 1944, Fouchard served in the reconstituted French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
but did not seek election in 1945. He returned to local government politics in 1953, elected on a non-Communist left-wing ticket, but retired for a second and final time from politics in 1959.
He died at Montfermeil
Montfermeil
Montfermeil is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Montfermeil is famous as the location of Thénardier's inn in Les Misérables. It has made the headlines due to troubles in its social estate called "les...
near Paris
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...
aged 94. A memorial to Fouchard exists in the public park in Chelles named after him.