Georges Durand

Georges Durand, nicknamed Doris or Dubreuil, born on September 9, 1917, in La Tronche, and died on February 15, 1997, in Die was a French Resistance fighter during World War II. He distinguished himself by organizing numerous maquis in the Isère region, primarily the maquis of Grésivaudan, of which he was one of the leaders. Along with his wife Ginette, who was also a resistance fighter, he hid many draft dodgers from the Service du travail obligatoire (STO, Compulsory Work Service).

Georges Durand
BornSeptember 9, 1917
La Tronche, France
DiedFebruary 15, 1997
Die, Drôme, France
Other namesDoris or Dubreuil
SpouseGinette Durand
AwardsOfficer of the Legion of Honour

Croix de Guerre with palm

Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

Arrested on October 23, 1943, he was deported to Buchenwald but managed to escape and join the Allied forces two days before his group was almost entirely executed.

He passed away in Die on February 15, 1997.

Biography

Birth and Youth

Georges Durand was born in La Tronche on September 9, 1917,[1] into a family originally from Voreppe.[2] His first cousin, André Buissière, would later join the Resistance as well and die during the destruction of the Maquis du Vercors by the Germans.[2] After studying at the Grenoble Institute of Technology, he was employed by the Papeteries de Lancey (papermills) in Villard-Bonnot starting in 1939.[2] He married Ginette Morel-Derocle, a native of Voreppe, in 1940.[3]

Letter from Georges Durand to Djaafar Khemdoudi, providing information about their connection during the war.

Involvement in the Resistance and Deportation

Georges Durand joined the Resistance and Combat in May 1942, and towards the end of that year, he began organizing the maquis of Grésivaudan.[2] He provided employment to the maquisards at the Papeteries de Lancey to hide them more effectively.[4]

From January 1943, he was in charge of the United Movements of the Resistance (Mouvements unis de la Résistance, M.U.R) in the region. With the doctor Gaston Valois, which he knew through the sportive world, particularly rugby, he created the organization of the Maquis.[5] With the help of vehicles from the Papeteries (paper mills), including trucks, he was able to hide draft dodgers from the Compulsory Work Service in training camps and farms in the region.[2] He played a central role in the creation of several maquis in the Grésivaudan area, including the maquis of Brignoud, Souillière, La Combe-de-Lancey, La Tençon, and Trièves. He took command of "Sector II/Chartreuse" centered around the Grande Chartreuse.[5] His codenames in the Resistance were "Doris" and "Dubreuil".[2]

As part of these operations to smuggle draft dodgers, he was in contact with the Lyon Resistance, particularly Djaafar Khemdoudi, who likely sent him draft dodgers that he managed to hide.[6] He also participated in the military training of draft dodgers and maquis members and engaged in acts of sabotage against regional infrastructure.[2]

While staying at the Hôtel des Alpes in Lancey,[7] he was betrayed by an Englishwoman and arrested on October 23, 1943.[2] He was imprisoned in Grenoble and Fresnes before being deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp.[2]

He managed to escape from a Kommando on April 15, 1945, two days before all the members of his group were executed. He returned to France on May 23, 1945.[2]

After the war

After the war, Georges Durand became a judge at the military tribunal in Grenoble during the period of the Epuration.[6] He later settled in Lyon, on Rue de Fleurieu in the 2nd arrondissement.[6] He was awarded the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour, and also received the Croix de Guerre with a palm and became Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.[8]

He passed away on February 15, 1997, in Die.[1][3]

Legacy

On May 18, 2018, a park was named in honor of Ginette and Georges Durand in Voreppe.[3][9] The Isère region organizes a "Resistance Race" in the vicinity of Voreppe, featuring educational panels to explain the role of different maquis groups, including the role of Georges Durand.[10]

Decorations

References
  1. "Acte de décès à Die (26150) pour l'année 1997". www.acte-deces.fr. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  2. "m_chappays". sf.38340.free.fr. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  3. "Voreppe. Le parcours de résistants de Ginette et Georges Durand". www.ledauphine.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  4. "G l'info - le journal N°41 Décembre 2019". calameo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  5. Guillon, Julien (2011-11-04). Dessiner le territoire de la Résistance : Essai sur la dissidence en Isère (1934-1944) (PDF) (phdthesis thesis) (in French). Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Etienne.
  6. Khemdoudi, J. (1947-12-11), English: Certificate of membership in the resistance of Djaafar Khemdoudi, retrieved 2023-05-28
  7. "Villard-Bonnot. Georges Durand, ce héros de la Résistance si discret". www.ledauphine.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  8. "Voreppe emoi n°138 mars 2018". calameo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  9. "Voreppe emoi n°140 mai 2018". calameo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  10. "VOREPPE EMOI N°195 MAI 2023". calameo.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
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