Who was Jean-Pierre Lèvy? Let me tell you a story about this place. Place Jean-Pierre Lèvy is located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It sits at the intersection of the streets Andrieux Bernoulli and de Constantinople. This place pays homage to a remarkable man.
Jean-Pierre Lèvy was a French resistance fighter. He founded the Franc-Tireur movement in 1941. He also served as administrator of the Franc-Tireur newspaper until 1954. He was born in Strasbourg in 1911.
Lèvy entered the Resistance in Lyon in 1940. He co-founded the Franc-Tireur movement with others in 1941. Lèvy became its national leader under the alias Gilles. The underground newspaper Franc-Tireur was created. Its circulation grew from 5000 copies to 150000.
Jean-Pierre Lèvy organized the movement into services. These included intelligence parachuting and combat groups. He created a social service. He contacted representatives of Free France. He contacted British agents. He contacted other Resistance movements in the southern zone.
Lèvy was first questioned by police in 1941. He was arrested in Lyon but freed. A colleague took responsibility. He was arrested again in Lyon in 1942. He was released by mistake. He went into hiding.
In 1943 Lèvy helped create the United Resistance Movements. These were with Combat and Liberation-South movements. He twice tried to reach London but failed. He finally reached Great Britain in April 1943. He returned to Lyon in July 1943.
Lèvy was arrested a third time in Paris in October 1943. He was jailed for eight months. A MUR group freed him in June 1944. He resumed his Resistance work. He represented Franc-Tireur in the National Resistance Council.
After the war Jean-Pierre Lèvy had a distinguished career. He worked in the leather and textile industries. He served as an industry inspector. He held administrative positions at Renault. He was president of the ocean exploitation center.
Jean-Pierre Lèvy was also involved in social causes. He helped orphans of the Resistance. He supported organizations against racism. He was a member of human rights groups.
France recognized Jean-Pierre Lèvy’s contributions. He received many honors including Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. He was a Companion of the Liberation.
Jean-Pierre Lèvy died in Paris in 1996. Place Jean-Pierre Lèvy was created in 2006. It was created on the tenth anniversary of his death. It is a fitting tribute to a courageous man. The square also forms the southwest corner of the Lycée Chaptal. Jean-Pierre Lèvy lived in a building opposite the square.