Drawn into the quiet charm of this Parisian street, do you know who Serge Ravanel was? Rue Serge Ravanel is more than just a street name. It is a tribute to a remarkable French Resistance fighter.
Serge Asher was born in Paris in 1920. His mother was involved in fashion. His stepfather worked in Africa. Serge studied at Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Later, he attended École Polytechnique.
In 1940, Serge joined the artillery officers’ school. After France’s defeat, he was sent to a youth camp in Savoie. In Lyon, he re-enrolled at École Polytechnique.
Serge contacted General Cochet in 1941. He joined the Resistance. He distributed the clandestine newspaper Le Franc-Tireur. By 1942, he was a key member of Libération-Sud.
Arrested in Marseille in November 1942, he escaped. He was arrested again in Lyon in March 1943. He was imprisoned at Saint-Paul. Feigning illness, he was transferred to Antiquaille hospital. A commando freed him and two comrades.
The resistance movements merged. They formed the Mouvements Unis de la Résistance. Serge took the name Ravanel. He became the national head of the Groupes Francs. His mission was to create and lead resistance groups.
After Jean Moulin’s arrest, Ravanel tried to free him. But Moulin was moved to Paris. Ravanel’s groups could not intervene. In October 1943, Ravanel was arrested again. He escaped by jumping from a window and diving into the Ain river.
The Groupes Francs carried out many operations. They freed Raymond Aubrac. They destroyed a German ammunition depot in Grenoble. In 1944, Ravanel became head of the 3rd Bureau. This bureau was part of the Corps Francs de la Libération.
General Koenig appointed Ravanel head of the Forces Françaises de l’Intérieur. He was the youngest colonel in France. He helped liberate the Toulouse region. Over 13,000 prisoners were captured.
After the war, Ravanel left his command. He became an engineer. He later worked for the Ministry of Research and Industry. Serge Ravanel retired in 1985. He remained active in Resistance memorial organizations.
Serge Ravanel died in Paris in 2009. He was buried in Montmartre Cemetery. He was a Grand Officer of the Légion d’Honneur. He was also a Companion of the Liberation. He received the Croix de Guerre and the Bronze Star Medal.
This street, Rue Serge Ravanel, commemorates his bravery. It reminds us of his dedication to freedom. It honors his vital role in the French Resistance.