Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu

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Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu (right) with Brigadier General Alexander M. Patch.
Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu (right) with Brigadier General Alexander M. Patch.

Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu, in religion Louis de la Trinité (August 7, 1889 - September 7, 1964) was a priest, diplomat and French Navy officer and admiral; he became one of the major personalities of the Free French Forces and the Forces navales françaises libres. He was the chancelor of the Ordre de la Libération.

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[edit] Early career

Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu was born in Brest on the 7 August 1889, in a family of Navy officers. He joined the École navale (Naval Academy) at 17.

He served on the Du Chayla as a midshipman, taking part in the campaign in Morocco which led to the Treaty of Fez, in 1912. During the campaign, he was awarded the Legion of Honour, and befriended Louis-Hubert Lyautey, something that d'Argenlieu later recalled as one of the happy memories in his life.

During the First World War, he served in the Mediterranean; in 1915, he took his first steps toward joining a monastic order, while continuing to serve in the Navy; he was promoted to lieutenant de vaisseau in 1917. The next year, commanding officer of a patrol boat, the Tourterelle, he distinguished himself in the rescue of a troop transport.

[edit] Religious career

At the end of the war, d'Argenlieu undertook theological studies in Rome, and joined the religious order of the Carmelites as Louis de la Trinité. He made his vow on 15 September 1921, and studies for four years in the Catholic university of Lille.

In 1932, he was made Provincial Superior of Paris.

[edit] Second World War

In September 1939, d'Argenlieu was mobilised as a reserve Navy officer, rising to the rank of capitaine de corvette in 1940. During the Battle of France, d'Argenlieu was captured as he was defending the arsenal of Cherbourg. After three days, he escaped from the prisoner train to Germany and joined Charles de Gaulle on the 30 June.

D'Argenlieu joined the Free French Forces, intending to serve as chaplain, but eventually took on the duties of a fighting naval officer, with a special authorisation of his religious superiors, due to the small number of Navy officers in the Free French Naval Forces. He was made chief of staff in July.

He attempted to convince the then Vichy-loyal Dakar to join De Gaulle, and was severely wounded when he was fired upon in his small and unarmed craft. In November, he directed operations in Gabon.

D'Argenlieu was made a capitaine de vaisseau, and chancelor of the newly created Ordre de la Libération. In 1941, he rose to counter-admiral; he undertook several missions to administrate French colonies loyal of the Free France.

In 1943, he was made commanding officer for the naval forces in Great Britain On the 14 June 1944, he ferried De Gaulle to France aboard the Combattante, and entered Paris with him on the 25 August.

[edit] After the War

After the defeat of Japan, d'Argenlieu was sent to French Indochina to reestablish the French colonial administration. In 1946, he was promoted to vice-amiral d'escadre, and soon later to admiral.

During the First Indochina War, the actions of d'Argenlieu grew more and more controversial, and he was replaced by Emile Bollaert in March 1947. Back to France, he was made inspector general of the Naval Forces, before retiring in a convent.

In 1955, sick, he resigned his position of chancelor of the Ordre de la Libération, and died on the 7 September 1964 in Brest. He was buried in Avrechy-d'Argenlieu.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Works

  • La Croix de la Libération, Paris 1951
  • Chroniques d'Indochine 1945-1947, Paris 1985
  • Souvenirs de Guerre : juin 1940-janvier 1941, Paris 1973

[edit] External links

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