Date of birth:

January 12th, 1911 (Maghnia, Algeria)

Date of death:

December 10th, 1991 (Paris, France)

Nationality:

French

Industrial in Oran, he was mobilized on site in 1939 and served as a second lieutenant in the 8e Regiment du Train. Sent to Tunisia, he appeared before military justice for having displayed and distributed the text of General de Gaulle's appeal of June 18.

Finally repatriated with his unit to Oran, he was demobilized on August 28 and immediately sought with his brother Pierre to reach England via Gibraltar, in vain.

He organizes, always with his brother and some friends including Captain Louis Jobelot, a group which engages in discreet propaganda and tries to bring together as many people as possible.

In March 1941, in Oran, Captain Jobelot introduced him to Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie with whom he immediately sympathized. After several interviews, the two men decide to create a movement, which will bring together all those who want to continue the fight against the Germans. Roger Carcassonne takes care with his brother of the recruitment and control of shock groups and intelligence agents.

In August 1941, in Algiers, he met José Aboulker, a medical student and son of Professor Henri Aboulker, who also joined the resistance. The two men decide to keep abreast of their activities, without however federating their respective organizations.

Carcassonne in Oran, Aboulker in Algiers will each continue their activities centered on the operations of armed groups and on intelligence (creation of a civil and military information center).

In 1942, Carcassonne sent his brother to Algiers to put José Aboulker in touch with Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie. In addition, he takes care of the expenses of the Oran group and also finances the organization for all of North Africa.

In November 1942, during the Allied landing in North Africa, as regional leader of the resistance in Oranie, Carcassonne gave its group leaders the following missions, which were established in conjunction with the Allied command:

- Neutralize the transmissions of the Vichy authorities, arrest the prefect.

- Establish radio links with the allied fleet.

- Prepare the landing zones for paratroopers, send guides to meet disembarked troops.

- Prevent sabotage of the port.

Under fire, he established links with the command posts of the Allied forces, which greatly contributed to the success of the operations.

Roger Carcassonne therefore played a decisive role in the preparation of the landing plan, working in close collaboration with special envoys from the Allied armies. A disembarkation plan whose execution was crowned with success.

Roger Carcassonne was then sent to Great Britain, he was assigned to the General Staff and participated in the organization of special missions in occupied territory.

At the end of the war, he brought together in the "Association of November 8, 1942" his comrades who had resisted in North Africa.

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• - Roger CARCASSONNE-LEDUC | L'Ordre de la Libération et son Musée