| Moïse Bebel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 May 1898 |
| Died | 10 June 1940 (aged 42) |
| Place of birth | Trois-Rivières, Guadeloupe |
| Place of death | Erquinvillers, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/branch | French Army |
| Years of service | –1940 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | 24th regiment of Senegalese skirmishers |
| Battles/wars | |
Hospice Moïse Jean Louis Victor Gilles Bebel (21 May 1898 – 10 June 1940)[1] was a French Army officer, born in Guadeloupe, who served during the Second World War. He was executed along with his men in a massacre of tirailleurs during the Battle of France.
Life[]
Born in 1898 in Trois-Rivières, Guadeloupe, Bebel aspired to be a soldier from a young age.[2] He graduated from the Saint-Maxient non-commissioned officer school and quickly rose through the ranks, from second lieutenant to captain.[2] By the time of the Second World War, Bebel was an acting commandant in the 24th regiment of Senegalese skirmishers.[2] He fought in the Battle of France and was taken prisoner on 9 June 1940 while fighting near Erquinvillers.[2] The following day, Bebel was executed by German soldiers along with fifty of his men, becoming one of the 150 tirailleurs massacred in Erquinvillers and its surrounding villages between 9 and 10 June.[2][3] The murder of Bebel and his men has been compared to the death of fellow tirailleur Charles N'Tchoréré.[4]
Bebel's remains, as well as those of several other Guadeloupean soldiers, were repatriated to Guadeloupe in 1950, with large numbers of people arriving to honor them.[2][4] In 2016, on the 76th anniversary of his death, Bebel was honored in a ceremony.[5] The main square of Trois-Rivières is named after him.[5]
References[]
- ↑ "Hospice Moïse Jean Louis Victor Gilles Bebel". https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/ark:/40699/m00523b65db853d8.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Bebel Hospice Moïse Jean Louis Victor Gilles". www.memoires-de-guadeloupe.com. http://www.memoires-de-guadeloupe.com/patrimoine/fiche/63.
- ↑ "Erquinvillers (Oise), 9 - 10 juin 1940 - Maitron". https://fusilles-40-44.maitron.fr/spip.php?article198404.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Moïse Bébel (1898-1940)" (in fr-FR). 13 December 2013. http://une-autre-histoire.org/moise-bebel-biographie/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nivel, Dominique (12 June 2016). "Cérémonie commémorative de la mort du capitaine Moïse Bébél". FranceAntilles.fr. https://www.guadeloupe.franceantilles.fr/actualite/societe/ceremonie-commemorative-de-la-mort-du-capitaine-moise-bebel-265599.php.
The original article can be found at Moïse Bebel and the edit history here.