Born on November 25 1917 Madeleine Dissoubray lived a life far beyond the ordinary. Avenue Madeleine Odru in Les Lilas stands as a testament to her extraordinary courage. This avenue remembers a woman who fought for freedom during the darkest hours of World War II. Madeleine’s journey began not here but in Sainte-Marguerite-les-Aumale. She became a teacher a profession she briefly pursued.
Her true calling however lay in activism and resistance. In 1940 Madeleine joined the clandestine Communist Party in Rouen. Along with her siblings she risked everything to oppose the Nazi occupation. She became a member of the street group leadership. Then she joined the Special Organization of the Rouen region. She went underground in November 1941 using the alias Marcelle Duteurtre or Jacqueline. Madeleine participated in early acts of sabotage. She even worked alongside the philosopher Valentin Feldman. She introduced him to direct action.
Her bravery did not go unnoticed. On February 20 1942 she was arrested by the Special Brigade. The Gestapo imprisoned her for six months in the hostage division of La Santé prison. She then endured transfer to the Fort de Romainville. On January 24 1943 her ordeal escalated. She was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. She joined the convoy of 31000. Her group of women resistors entered the camp singing La Marseillaise a defiant act of courage.
Later Madeleine was transferred to Ravensbrück and finally to Mauthausen. The International Red Cross liberated her. She was recognized as a deported resistance fighter. She was also honored as a FFI second lieutenant. Avenue Madeleine Odru honors her resilience.
After the war Madeleine returned to Rouen. She did not resume teaching. Instead she dedicated her life to the Communist Federation. She became a writer for the Communist weekly L’Avenir Normand. She held various positions within the Union of French Women. She married Louis Odru a fellow communist teacher. They had two children. Avenue Madeleine Odru serves as a constant reminder of her legacy. It is a tribute to her perseverance and commitment to justice. Her life a remarkable story of resistance resilience and unwavering hope. It echoes through the streets of Les Lilas. It inspires us to remember the sacrifices made for freedom.