Louise Magadur (21 April 1899 - 12 May 1992) was a French resistance fighter, Communist and Holocaust survivor.
Louise Magadur | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 21 April 1899 |
| Died | 12 May 1992 (aged 93) Pont-Croix |
| Citizenship | France |
| Occupation | Hairdresser |
| Organization(s) | Communist Party; French Resistance |
Biography
editMagadur was born on 21 April 1899 in Pont-Croix in Finistère, France.[1] Her father was a miller and she was the fourth child of a family of six.[1] She learnt to be a seamstress and moved to Paris in 1924, where she offered hairdressings lessons.[1] In 1942 she opened a hairdressing salon in the 12th arrondissement.[1]
Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Magadur was active in the Communist Party.[1] She became a member of the National Front for the Fight for the Liberation and Independence of France (Front National) and was an active member of the Resistance.[2] Her salon became the respectable cover for activities including leaflet distribution, letter exchange and the creation of disguises for members.[2] She also encouraged others to join the fight, including Suzanne Lasne.[3]
On 9 March 1942, she was arrested by the French police and was held in solitary confinement until 24 August 1942.[1] She was then sent to Fort Romainville, which was under German administration; there she discovered the news that both her mother and sister had died.[2] From Romainville she was transported on 24 January 1943 in what became known as the convoi des 31,000 (Convoy 31000) - all of whom were sent to Auschwitz.[1] Many of those in the convoy were Communist Party members.[2] On 4 August 1944 she was deported to Ravensbrück.[1] On 5 March 1945 she was moved to Mauthausen.[1]
Magadur was released from Mauthausen on 22 April 1945.[1] Six months after her release, Magadur was able to reopen her hair salon, despite the fact that she found readjusting to life difficult.[1] By the time of her death, she was the oldest survivor of 'Convoy 31,000' and was the only woman who was transported on it, born before 1900, to return.[1]
Legacy
editThere is a playground dedicated to Louise Magadur in her hometown of Pont-Croix, which was named as a tribute to her.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Charlotte Delbo, Le Convoi du 24 janvier, p.188-189.
- ^ a b c d "Mémoire Vive – Louise MAGADUR – 31673". www.memoirevive.org. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ^ "Musée de la résistance en ligne". museedelaresistanceenligne.org. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
- ^ "Pont-Croix. The children of the exodus". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.