Arsène Tchakarian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arsène Tchakarian
Արսեն Չաքարեան |
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Tchakarian at his presentation for Commander of the Legion of Honour on 22 June 2017.
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| Born | 21 December 1916 Sapanca, Ottoman Empire
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| Died | 4 August 2018 (aged 101) Villejuif, France
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| Nationality | Stateless (before 1958) French (since 1958) |
| Occupation | Historian French Resistance member |
Arsène Tchakarian (born December 21, 1916 – died August 4, 2018) was a French-Armenian historian. He was also a brave member of the French Resistance, a secret group that fought against Nazi Germany during World War II. Tchakarian was part of a special team called the Manouchian Group. This group was made up of fighters from different countries. He was the very last person alive from this famous group.
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Life Story of Arsène Tchakarian
Arsène Tchakarian was born on December 21, 1916. His family was Armenian. They lived in Sapanca, which was part of the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey).
In 1930, Tchakarian and his family moved to France. They made France their permanent home. He worked as a tailor, making clothes.
Joining the French Army
In 1937, Tchakarian joined the French Army. He served there until 1940. In 1940, France was defeated by Nazi Germany. Tchakarian was then released from the army. After this, he became active in the new French Resistance movement.
Fighting in the French Resistance
In 1942, Arsène Tchakarian joined the Manouchian Group. This was a small armed group. It was part of a larger resistance network called the FTP-MOI. This group mostly had immigrant fighters.
The Manouchian Group's Mission
The Manouchian Group was led by Missak Manouchian. He was an Armenian poet and communist. The group included Armenians, like Tchakarian, and people from other countries. Many members were immigrants or refugees. They came from countries that had been taken over by Nazi Germany.
Tchakarian explained why immigrants joined. He said they were "hunted out" from their home countries. These countries were becoming fascist, like Hungary, Romania, and Poland.
The Manouchian Group was based in Paris. They carried out many brave actions. These included attacks, assassinations, and acts of sabotage. They worked to disrupt the Nazi occupation.
The Affiche Rouge
In 1944, German authorities captured 23 members of the Manouchian Group. Their leader, Missak Manouchian, was among them. They were sentenced to death. After a public trial, they were executed.
After their deaths, German and Vichy French authorities started a propaganda campaign. They put up red posters in Paris. These posters were called "Affiche Rouge". They showed the Manouchian Group members. The posters tried to make the group look like criminals. This was an effort to turn French people against the resistance.
Unlike his friends, Tchakarian escaped capture in 1944. He went to Bordeaux. Other French resistance members helped hide him there. He continued to fight until World War II ended in 1945.
Life After the War
In 1950, Arsène Tchakarian moved to Vitry-sur-Seine. This is a suburb of Paris. He lived there until he passed away in 2018. In 1958, he became a French citizen.
A Respected Historian
After World War II, Tchakarian became a respected historian. He wrote about the Armenian genocide. This was a terrible event where many Armenians were killed. His family had fled from it. He also wrote about French history.
Tchakarian worked hard for the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide. He visited schools and universities. There, he shared his experiences. He spoke about the genocide and the Nazi occupation of France. He also wrote several books about his life.
He once said he was "the last of the Mohicans." This meant he was one of the last surviving members of his resistance group.
Awards and Legacy
In 2012, French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave him a special award. It was the Legion of Honour, a very important French award.
Tchakarian continued to honor the resistance. He attended a ceremony on June 18, 2018. This event remembered the French Resistance.
Arsène Tchakarian passed away on August 4, 2018. He was 101 years old. He died at a hospital in Villejuif, France. French President Emmanuel Macron honored him. He called Tchakarian "a hero of the resistance and a tireless witness."
