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In Memoriam

We Remember What They Did

By on 4.25.12 @ 6:07AM

Three World War II veterans died this April.

They were escape artists, in several senses, and they were old men, well into their 90s, and they are remembered.

Raymond Samuel, born July 31, 1914, was on his way to a fine career in civil engineering in the late 1930s, a graduate of the elite Ponts et Chaussées school in Paris and the recipient of scholarships for post-graduate work at MIT and Harvard, when war broke out — resumed. Serving on the Maginot Line, he made his way home to nearby Haute-Saône after the debacle of June 1940 and with Lucie, Lucie Bernard by her maiden name, his wife of only one year, organized one of the first Resistance networks, Libération-Sud. France stayed in the war thanks to a few souls like these, like Captain Henri Frenay, like Brig. Gen. Charles de Gaulle.

Alex Cassie, born in South Africa on December 22, 1916, flew a RAF fighter in a successful attack against a U-boat in September 1942 but was hit by return fire and forced to land off the coast of Brittany, where he and his crew were picked up by a German patrol. He found himself at Stalag Luft III in Poland, where he promptly got to work in the forgery section, called Dean & Dawson after a famous London travel agency, of one of the most famous POW escape schemes of all time. Due to his skill as an artist (his degree from Aberdeen University was in psychology), he helped produce the essential false documents, ranging from ID cards to “letters” from “girlfriends,” that his fellow-escapees would carry for authenticity while making their way across Europe back to their units and squadrons. But finding that his claustrophobia endangered the plan during the trip through the tunnel to the other side of the barbed wire, Lt. Cassie gave his place to another and immediately got to work forging more papers for the next group. (This follows excellent obit in the Telegraph of April 13.)

Ahmed Ben Bella, born December 25, 1918 in a small town near Tlemcen, the scholarly city of Algeria’s west that produced many of the country’s patriot leaders, was a decorated hero of the total hell of Monte Cassino. The French Expeditionary Corps under Gen. Alphonse Juin, part of the U.S. Fifth Army and credited with some of the key piercings of the Gustav Line defending Rome, was largely made up of indigenes from Morocco and Algeria, though it is only in the past 15 years or so that this has been acknowledged in French military histories.

By 1945, after witnessing a disastrously brutal return of colonial policy, including a massacre of thousands following a peaceful demonstration in Setif near Tunisia, he opted for violence to achieve independence and was caught during a fund-raising operation at a operation in Oran. Escaping from prison, he quickly asserted himself as one of the historic leaders of the new National Liberation Front that refused to accept anything short of complete independence from France.

Aubrac, Cassie, Ben Bella: extraordinary and yet typical of the generation — they were near-contemporaries — that won World War II for freedom, diverged on what this meant. Many, if not most, of their comrades-in-arms did not survive the war in which they gave the very best of their young manhoods or, in the Algerian’s case, the battles that followed. The passing of these men in their great old age reminds us how brave the new world is that they and their generation left us.

Raymond and Lucie Samuel, nom-de-guerre Aubrac — the capitulatinist regime’s anti-Semitic legislation passed without German encouragement and Samuel was too easily identified as Jewish — led Libération-Sud and did not forget they were fighting for life: Lucie was pregnant with their second child when Raymond was caught, almost certainly betrayed by a comrade, during the meeting of Resistance leaders in the Lyon suburb of Caluire. The Gestapo, under the notorious Nazi Klaus Barbie, after a year-long hunt, netted Jean Moulin, de Gaulle’s personal representative and delegate to the internal Resistance — sharply divided among movements with divergent concepts of the meaning of their wars. Moulin did not survive the torture but indicated to his friend with a final wink that he had not talked. Aubrac was sent to await the firing squad.

Alex Cassie and the others prisoners for a few days dared hope everything was well, as 76 of their fellow-RAF officers made it through the tunnel and in their various disguises began the great escape westward. After a few days the bad news began to trickle in, as one after another was spotted and re-captured. Only three made it back to England; 50 were shot by the SS.

An airplane carrying Ahmed Ben Bella and other top FLN leaders was intercepted and forced to land by a French air force fighter in 1956 while flying from Morocco to Egypt. The nationalist leaders spent several years in jail, to be freed only on the eve of independence in July 1962. A civil war flared up after the French departure from Algeria, but Ben Bella found himself on the winning side, backed by the head of the national liberation army, Col. Houari Boumediene. By 1963 he was president of the new “democratic and people’s republic”, opposition having been crushed, driven into exile, or silenced.

Lucie Aubrac, visibly pregnant with their second child, convinced a Barbie subaltern that they were not yet married and under a French law permitting condemned to wed in extremis, to insure their children’s legitimacy, and they should be allowed to do so. While he was being transferred to another location for this purpose, Lucie and a band of partisans attacked the Gestapists, killed several, and escaped with her husband. Too hot to stay in France, the couple was exfiltrated to London where they stayed the remainder of the war working at Free France headquarters. The elder Samuels, shopkeepers, and Raymond’s older brother were eventually arrested, deported to Auschwitz and murdered.

Alex Cassie did not get another chance to escape. By early 1945 the Germans were in full retreat and the inmates of stalags and concentration camps still alive were force-marched westward. Cassie was liberated by the advancing British army and went back to work for the RAF as a civilian psychologist, advancing over the years of a distinguished career to one of the British armed services’ directors of profiling and training programs.

Three lives, three fates. This war that almost ended civilization as we know it has scarcely any survivors left who can tell us what it meant to them personally, though fortunately, as in these, many lives have been recorded, even turned into legend. The epic of the Resistance (which took place throughout the occupied continent), like the heroic determination of the soldiers and airmen of the Great Escape, like the men from three continents who rescued Europe in Italy and Normandy and the east, is all but gone from living memory.

Raymond Aubrac became a commissaire, prefect, of the Republic at the Liberation, but displayed an excess of zeal, even in those heady days, in going after Collaborators and seizing industrial properties in view of the nationalization program promised by the new government. He took up his career in civil engineering while staying active in politics, taking fellow-travelling positions which led to an intense friendship with Ho Chi Minh, who godfathered the Aubrac’s third child. He and Lucie likewise took an “anti-colonial” line on Algeria and stayed close to the Communist Party, without joining it, on the other big issues of the post-war decades.

Ben Bella, too, opted for radical change, approving the murderous purges of Algerians who had served in the French army and putting in place socialistic policies during his brief presidency, including agricultural collectivization, state-managed industrial projects and turning Algiers into a welcome center for revolutionaries from everywhere. Houari Boumediene overthrew him in 1965 and established a dictatorship that lasted until his death in 1979; you will find many in Algeria who assert that the years under the austere and taciturn president, the country achieved more that it ever could have under the reserved but charismatic and perpetually busy Ben Bella.

And of course you will find many others who will not mind asserting that Ben Bella and those who overthrew him would have spared their country much subsequent trouble had they opted for the freedom Ben Bella himself fought for at Monte Cassino.

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About the Author

Roger Kaplan, a Washington-based writer, covers the Middle East and Africa (and tennis) for The American Spectator.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (24) |

Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 6:30AM

SL III was in Sagan, Lower Selisia and was part of Germany in 1942. It was not Poland until after the war.
North Compound was the location of "The Great Escape" March 24th, 1944
Congratulations Roger, you wrote something of interest for a change.

Jack in Wi.| 4.25.12 @ 7:36AM

What was WW2 but a bailout of 2 failed states the British Empire, and the Soviet Union? We got rid of Hitler, to give his far worse partner in starting the war Stalin, half of Europe. In the end both these empires ended up broke and on the asheap of history. Which is exactly where we are heading if we don't get some sane leadership in this country.

WW1 led to WW2, which led to a 50 year cold war. For the last 20 years we have dropped trillions defending the rest of the world from ghosts and fighting a fanciful war on Isalm. Isalm is a backward idea, who's only threat is that it isn't yet under the domination of the New World Order. To hell with war and warmongers. 100 years of fighting other peoples wars and defending other peoples borders have led to our ruination.

Vern Crisler| 4.25.12 @ 10:44AM

As usual, Paulistas have no understanding of why we fought in WW1 and WW2. We were ATTACKED. Of course, Paulistas like Jack would rather repeat their mantras about "war and warmongers" and "chickenhaws" and "neocons" than to acknowledge the reality of German aggression or of today's Islamic aggression.

Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 10:55AM

The Paulistinians are neo-isolationists at best.

Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:50PM

You & Your Chickenhawk Candidate Wouldn't Know Real Conservtism If It Jumped Up And Bit Ya RINO-CINO Mittens' Kitten.

Read George Washington's Farewell Address, Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, The Old Right And Get Back To Us.

" George Will, "Today, we have a very different kind of foreign policy. It’s called Wilsonian. And the premise of the Bush Doctrine is that America must spread democracy, because our national security depends upon it. And America can spread democracy. It knows how. It can engage in national building. This is conservative or not?"

William F. Buckley, " It’s not at all conservative. It’s anything but conservative. It’s not conservative at all, inasmuch as conservatism doesn’t invite unnecessary challenges. It insists on coming to terms with the world as it is …”

Monkey Overstreet| 4.25.12 @ 11:05AM

We were attacked because they hate our freedoms! Obama hates our freedom too and he plans to attack us at Dawn!

Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:43PM

Ronald Reagan,
"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country."

Crassus| 4.25.12 @ 10:51AM

Yada, yada, yada.

Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:46PM

" Crassus| 4.12.12 @ 11:31AM
All right you, RINOs, you got your boy Mittenz the nomination. Now see if you can get him elected. Don't worry, you can always blame us conservatives when he loses. That's what you always do."

Monkey Overstreet| 4.25.12 @ 10:18AM

Thank you for wiping out fascism and giving a boost to communism.

Harry the Horrible| 4.25.12 @ 8:20AM

Funny. I thought the Japanese attacked us and that the Germans declared war on us in support of their Japanese allies.

Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 8:51AM

For Jack that was all a ruse by Big Oil to take over and by the Bilderbergers to rule the world. Ron Paul wasn't old enough to run for President yet or he would have stopped it.

Clint| 4.25.12 @ 6:55PM

" Dr. Ron Paul served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years (1963-1965). While in the air force, Paul reached the rank of Captain. Directly after his service in the air force, Paul worked again as a flight surgeon for the United States Air National Guard (1965-1968).

" Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, spending time on the ground in countries like Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, and Turkey. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs."

Where'd Your Chickenhawk Candidate Serve, Mittens Kitten.

gearjammer| 4.25.12 @ 9:54AM

A hateful group called Freedom From Religion is attacking any display of a cross or other religous symbol at a memorial commemorating veterans. In Woonsocket, R.I once a tough working class town that really produced some great tough men who served such an effort is underway. Who funds such groups ? Where are the conservative hackers ? Such outrages need to fought.

Dave Williams| 4.25.12 @ 3:51PM

Sorry, this country has enshrined in its Constitution a hands-off policy on religion, and that includes the freedom to practice no religion at all. As an atheist, I am offended by "In god we trust" on our money, when I do no such thing. Any rational examination of religion (ALL religions, not just christianity) will force an honest mind to conclude along with Mark Twain that "faith means believing things that ain't so."

Nick| 4.25.12 @ 4:08PM

Sorry, Mr. Williams, but putting "In God We Trust" on the currency is not forcing you to practice a religion.

Also, the Constitution of the United States of America does not guarantee you the right not to be offended. Your understanding of the First Article of Amendment to the Constitution is severely lacking.
Your opinion of religion is meaningless and does not represent rational examination. You are in a very small minority.

Moe Blotz| 4.25.12 @ 6:02PM

Better men than Dave Williams have sacrificed their own lives so that he can be an atheist and enjoy this free forum. Had the founders themselves not been men of faith, Williams might be digging for coal in Wales. I suggest that Dave Williams owes his existence to God, for more reasons than he could imagine.

Mike Hawk| 4.25.12 @ 6:34PM

Williams, the Constitution does not enshrine a hands off policy. It says "Congress shall pass no law..." so there will be a state established "Church of the US "(my Quote) as found in the Anglican Church or Church of England or in some of the colonies. The Constitution also states '..nor prohibit the free exercise thereof." You atheists offend me by attempts to prohibit the free exercise of religion. What is enshrined is religious liberty not religious prohibition. You are free to be an atheist, but not free to restrict my freedom to pratice. You are free to be offended, but I am free to not give a sh!t that you are offended.

Frank Natoli| 4.25.12 @ 2:50PM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new.....assie.html

Thanks, Rog. Above link is the obit for Cassie in the Telegraph.

My dad was a WW2 combat infantryman, and for me as much a giant as the three men you describe above.

Chester Wilmot wrote the first great scholarly history of the fighting in northwest Europe, "The Struggle for Europe". He began his opus magnum with a brief extract from Milton's Samson Agonistes which is truly the best and most terse summary of the existential fight that was WW2. It was the chorus saying:

Oh, how comely it is and reviving
to the spirits of just men long oppress'd
when God in the hands of their deliverer
puts invincible might

My father was one of the "deliverers" and my mother, a native of Belgium, was one of the "just [wo]men long oppress'd". So while growing up in the 50s, I got a wonderful double dose of what Milton and Wilmot were talking about.

They were giants, and we'll never know such men again, not in this world.

Occam's Tool| 4.25.12 @ 6:05PM

Frank: they were great men, but they still exist, and we reap the benefit of what they do every day---the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Eric Blair, by the way, had a listed phone number in London during the war, and had an open invitation for American servicemen, if they wished, to call him to arrange a lunchdate to discuss literature. Can you imagine that famous a writer being that gracious with his time today?

Paul McGrath| 4.25.12 @ 10:53PM

"Wickedly exploiting rumors, insinuations, false allegations and unproven accusations that had lingered for decades, Klaus Barbie, before he died in a French prison in 1990 -- caught in South America and extradited, he was tried in a sensational trial during which his attorney defended him by arguing that he had done nothing the French army did not do a few years later, in the prisons and torture houses of Algiers and environs -- claimed the tipster of Caluire was none other than Raymond Aubrac."

What in the world are you talking about?

"We need not, should not, get histrionic and over-excited about where we are now, in the unending work to preserve our freedom and our liberties. We should learn, remember, transmit what we know or think we know about what others before us tried to do, wanted to do, did."

This is at least to some degree comprehensible, but could you maybe express yourself in a slightly more eloquent fashion?

And to fail to mention the superb French film, Lucie Aubrac, after using much of your article writing about her and Raymond, is nothing less than criminal.

Geez, Kaplan, take off the toupee and retire already.

Oumi| 4.26.12 @ 7:33AM

Such ill manners of the half educated! Learn to read, and I'll advise my man next time to remember Mat. 7:6 with witless snots like you in mind, sir. Witless? Burned fuses, I'd say. Get yourself a neurosurgeon.

Seegee| 4.26.12 @ 8:28AM

Gracious, let's talk about Claude Berri and John Sturges -- and wh0 else? Jack Lee, who made the first movie about the men in Stalag III who refused to give up? How about Jean-Pierre Melville and his "Army of Shadows"? Rene Clement, John Frankenheimer? Why not David Lean -- "The Bridge on the River Kwai"?
You are right, the problem with Mr McG is that he cannot or will not read, he will not think, he wants, dear me, to engage in mental onanism. This is a common disease, to be pitied more than condemned (Gen. 38:9, since you are getting Biblical), and it is encouraged by the electronic technology that the editors of these on-line publications could control if they treated these "contributions" the same way they do "Letters to the Editor" in print publications.

POST American| 4.25.12 @ 11:24PM

--With ALL due respect to those
who served and sacrificed---

"KOREA, and NOT the long gone
World Wars, is rapidly emerging
as the DEFINITIVE conflict of the
20th century viz a viz the unfolding
21st."
-POST American
(2005)

NOW, is that looking less true?
--or MORE TRUE? in this, the 11th
hour of the CFR---RED China handover
and FINAL EUGENICS OP?

Just a little REALITY CHECK as capstone
CON-trolled Hollywood and media
continue to 'overlook' the unspeakably
relevant 60th Anniversary of the
RED China, Globalism and EUGENICS
'unfriendly'

----------------KOREAN WAR----------------.

AMEN

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