During World War II, much of Europe was living under the occupation of Nazi Germany. One woman was a leading member of the French Resistance against the Nazis and pulled off a daring rescue when her husband was captured. Lucie Aubrac was clever and determined, always refusing to accept defeat.
Lucie was born on June 29, 1912, in Châtenay-sur-Seine, located southeast of Paris. In 1937, she was admitted to Sorbonne University and graduated as a history teacher in just a year.
In 1939, she met and married an engineering student named Raymond Aubrac. She won a scholarship grant and was prepared to leave for New York. But four days before she was to set sail, German troops invaded Poland.
Germany attacked France in the spring of 1940. After a few weeks of fighting, nearly two million French soldiers were captured, including Raymond.
Lucie knew she needed to rescue her husband before he was taken to a Nazi POW camp. She put together a risky plan that involved deception and disguises.
She made the perilous journey across France to where he was being held in Sarrebourg. She was able to discreetly give him a drug that would cause a fever, triggering a transfer to the hospital.
At the hospital, she smuggled in a disguise for him so that he could escape. The couple stayed in a hotel, where most of the guests were German officers. Then, they caught a train and fled to Lyon.
Lucie was one of the earliest members of the French Resistance. She and her husband delivered packages, passed out anti-Nazi flyers and helped imprisoned resisters escape. Raymond was in charge of recruiting and training soldiers for the Resistance.
The Aubracs even published an underground newspaper called Libération. In July 1941, 10,000 copies were produced and distributed to the French people.
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The Gestapo arrested Raymond in March 1943. He convinced the Germans that he was only selling things on the black market, so they released him.
But then, he was arrested again on June 21, along with the chief Resistance leader, Jean Moulin. They were tortured and beaten. Moulin later died from his injuries.
Lucie cooked up another plan to save Raymond. At the time, she was pregnant with their second child and claimed that Raymond was her fiancé. She requested that he be released due to his poor health. But she was told that Raymond had been sentenced to death.
Engaged couples were allowed to marry if one of them was going to die soon, according to French law. She pleaded with the Gestapo to allow her to marry Raymond before his execution. Her plan worked, and the sham wedding took place on October 21.
While the Gestapo were transporting Raymond back to prison after the ceremony, Lucie and members of the Resistance attacked and killed several German officers. They freed Raymond and 15 other prisoners.
The Aubracs went into hiding, moving from one safe house to another. In February 1944, they were evacuated to Britain. Days later, Lucie gave birth to their second child.
British and U.S. troops landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Soon after, Lucie traveled back to France and became the first woman to sit in a French parliamentary assembly. She was in Paris on August 25, when the Germans surrendered to Allied troops.
Lucie began teaching history again and educated thousands of students on the Resistance. In 1984, she published a book called Outwitting the Gestapo after Klaus Barbie accused Raymond of betraying the Resistance. A group of Resistance survivors condemned the accusations in support of the Aubracs.
In 1996, Lucie was presented with the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, for the role she played in the Resistance. She was no doubt a brave heroine who fought against fascism and put her life on the line to rescue her husband. She died in 2007 at the age of 94. Raymond passed away five years later.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
