“Who was Marcel Cachin?” I ask. Place Marcel Cachin is not just another Parisian square. It holds a story. It’s a story of a man who dedicated his life to politics and journalism. Marcel Cachin was a prominent French Communist politician. He was also the editor of the newspaper L’Humanité.
Let’s step back in time. Marcel Cachin was born in 1869. He started his political journey with the French Workers’ Party. Later he joined the French Section of the Workers’ International. In 1914, he won election to the Chamber of Deputies. During World War I, Cachin supported the Union sacrée. He was even sent to Russia on a mission in 1917. Interestingly he initially supported Kerensky’s Provisional Government. He denounced Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
However, things changed after the war. There was growing support for the October Revolution. In 1920, at the Tours Congress, Cachin became a founder of the French Communist Party. He joined the Third International. His dedication to his beliefs led him to jail in 1923. He was arrested for denouncing the French Occupation of the Ruhr and Morocco. Despite facing challenges, Cachin remained a strong supporter of the Communist Party. He even refused to disavow the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This led to his removal from elected office in 1940.
After France’s liberation, Marcel Cachin returned to the National Assembly. He served until his death in 1958. For forty years, from 1918 to 1958, he was the editor of L’Humanité.
Marcel Cachin’s contributions were recognized internationally. At the age of 88, he received the Order of Lenin. He became known as the “Grandfather of the Communist Party”. Even his family had connections to the arts. His granddaughter, Françoise Cachin, was an art historian.
Marcel Cachin ran for President of France four times. In 1931, he got 1.11% of the vote in the first round. He obtained 1.23% in the second round. In 1932, he secured 0.97% in the first round. By 1939, his support grew to 8.13% in the first round. His final run in 1953 saw him achieve 12.18% in the first round.
So, as we stand here in Place Marcel Cachin. Remember the man who stood for his convictions. He shaped French politics and journalism for decades. The square is a tribute to Marcel Cachin’s enduring legacy.