How often does a street echo with tales of love and loss? Here on the Rue Joseph et Marie Hackin, we remember a remarkable couple. Their lives were intertwined with adventure. Their names are forever etched in Parisian history.
This street in the 16th arrondissement remembers Joseph and Marie Hackin. They were two archaeologists. They were also both members of the French Resistance. This street is a public road in Paris. It starts at 2 Boulevard André-Maurois. It ends at 23 Avenue de Neuilly.
Joseph Hackin was born in 1886. Marie Hackin was born in 1905. Their shared passion was archaeology. Their specialty was Afghanistan. They made major contributions to the field. Their partnership extended beyond their work. They were deeply in love.
Their story is one of dedication. It is also a story of tragic fate. They shared a life. They shared a destiny. Their motto could have been: “Until death do us part.”
Joseph became assistant curator at the Musée Guimet in 1913. He adopted French nationality the same year. During World War I, he rose from private to lieutenant. He was wounded three times. He received the Croix de Guerre. He also received the Legion of Honour.
In 1928, Joseph married Marie Parmentier. She was his colleague and student. They married in Ars-sur-Moselle. From 1930 to 1933, he directed the Maison Franco-Japonaise in Tokyo. Simultaneously he participated in the Yellow Cruise. This was a Citroën expedition.
From 1923, Joseph led archaeological expeditions to Afghanistan. These sites included Bâmiyân and Begram. In 1934, he became director of the French Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan. Marie discovered a treasure in Begram in 1937. Part of this treasure is now at the Musée Guimet.
During World War II, Joseph and Marie joined the Free French Forces. In February 1941, de Gaulle appointed Joseph as Delegate of Free France to India. Marie became a Lieutenant in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps.
They booked passage on the cargo ship SS Jonathan Holt. They set sail from Liverpool on February 20, 1941. The ship was part of Convoy OB-289. It was bound for West Africa. On February 24, 1941, a German U-boat torpedoed their ship. It sank near the Faroe Islands. Joseph and Marie perished together.
The Rue Joseph et Marie Hackin is a testament to their lives. It is a reminder of their dedication to France. It is a tribute to their contribution to archaeology. As you walk along this street remember their sacrifice. Think of their shared love. Remember their devotion to their work.