Rue Kléber-Albouy

Hidden within the bustling city of Stains lies Rue Kléber-Albouy, a seemingly ordinary street with an extraordinary story. Rue Kléber-Albouy isn’t just a street name; it’s a tribute to a local hero. Kléber Albouy, born in Stains in 1896, lived at 32 rue de la République. He worked as a storekeeper and was a dedicated communist and member of the Association of Friends of the USSR. Even before World War II, he was on a list of “undesirables” due to his political beliefs. During the war, Rue Kléber-Albouy, then simply a man named Kléber Albouy, became a pivotal figure in the French Resistance. He joined the clandestine Communist Party, working with comrades like Marcel Pointet and Pierre Pierron to distribute anti-Nazi tracts. This bravery led to his arrest in 1941. He was imprisoned for his activism, eventually being deported to Mauthausen and then to the Melk kommando, a subcamp of Mauthausen. At Melk, prisoners like Kléber Albouy were forced to work on a secret underground factory for Steyr, Daimler, and Puch, intended to produce ball bearings for the war effort. The factory, a testament to the futility of forced labor, never produced a single ball bearing. Tragically, Kléber Albouy succumbed to typhus in Melk in January 1945. After the war, his sacrifice was recognized. He was posthumously awarded the title of second lieutenant in the French Resistance and declared “Mort pour la France” (Died for France). Rue Kléber-Albouy, once known as rue de la Petite Fontaine, now serves as a constant reminder of his courage and commitment to freedom. There’s also a plaque commemorating him on rue de l’Égalité, near his former home. Another plaque can be found at the former Binoche factory, now located on Avenue de Stalingrad, where he once worked. So, as you walk along Rue Kléber-Albouy, remember the man behind the name. Remember his fight for liberty. Remember his sacrifice.