Here on Avenue Bertie-Albrecht, we remember a remarkable woman. This avenue in the 8th arrondissement honors Bertie Albrecht. It stretches from 14, Rue Beaujon, to 29, Avenue Hoche. Originally, it was named Avenue du Parc-Monceau in 1908. But in 1944, it was renamed to honor Bertie Albrecht.
Bertie Albrecht was a French feminist and resistance fighter. She was born Berthe Wild in 1893 in Marseille. Her family was Protestant and of Swiss origin. Bertie studied nursing and worked in a military hospital during World War I. In 1919, she married Fréderic Albrecht, a Dutch financier. They had two children. The couple lived in the Netherlands and then London. In London, she became involved with English feminists. She worked to improve women’s conditions.
After her husband’s business failed, Bertie returned to France. She became friends with Victor Basch. He was a teacher and president of the Human Rights League. Bertie was a strong advocate for women’s rights. She founded a feminist journal called “Le Problème Sexuel.” It campaigned for contraception and abortion rights.
In the 1930s, Bertie became aware of the dangers of Nazism. She welcomed German refugees to her home. There, she met Captain Henri Frenay. He became a key figure in the French Resistance. Despite their different political views, they became lovers and resistance co-organizers.
During World War II, Bertie joined the Resistance. She worked with Frenay to produce resistance journals. These journals included “Bulletins d’informations et de propagande,” “Les Petites Ailes,” and “Vérités.” Later, they became directors of the “Combat” network. This was a major resistance organization. Bertie also helped imprisoned activists and their families.
Bertie was arrested several times. In 1942, she was arrested by the French police. Later, she was arrested by the Vichy government. She went on a hunger strike to demand a trial. After being transferred to Saint-Joseph prison, she was sentenced to spend the rest of the war in an internment camp.
In November 1942, the Germans invaded the Free Zone. Bertie faked madness to avoid deportation. She was interned in a psychiatric hospital. She escaped in December 1942 with the help of commandos and her daughter.
Refusing to leave France, Bertie went into hiding. In April 1943, she attended a meeting in Marseilles. There, she revealed a contact in Mâcon. This mistake proved fatal.
Klaus Barbie used Bertie as bait to trap Henri Frenay. Bertie was arrested by the Gestapo in Mâcon on May 28, 1943. While being arrested, she warned fellow resistance operatives. She was tortured and transferred to Fresnes prison near Paris. On May 31, 1943, she was found hanged in her cell. It was likely a suicide to avoid revealing information.
Bertie Albrecht was posthumously honored as a Companion of the Liberation. Her remains were discovered in 1945. She was reburied at Fort Mont Valérien. This avenue, Avenue Bertie-Albrecht, keeps her memory alive. It reminds us of her courage, her feminism and her sacrifice for France.