Christian Pineau facts for kids
Christian Pineau (born October 14, 1904, died April 5, 1995) was an important French leader. He was known for fighting in the French Resistance during World War II. Later, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs for France from 1956 to 1958.
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Christian Pineau's Early Life and Career
Christian Pineau was born in a town called Chaumont-en-Bassigny, France, in 1904. His father was a colonel in the French Army. Sadly, his father passed away when Christian was very young.
His mother later married a famous French writer named Jean Giraudoux. Christian Pineau often said that Giraudoux inspired his own love for writing. He went to school in Paris and studied law and political science.
After finishing his studies, Pineau started working in banking. In 1931, he joined the Bank of France. He also worked for another bank and even started his own financial newspaper in 1937.
A Hero in the French Resistance
During World War II, France was occupied by enemy forces. Christian Pineau became a brave leader in the French Resistance. This was a secret group of people fighting against the occupation.
He created a secret network called Phalanx. He also helped start an underground newspaper called Libération. This newspaper shared important news and messages with people in secret.
Pineau was a close friend and helper of Charles de Gaulle. De Gaulle was the leader of the Free France forces, based in London. Pineau went on dangerous secret missions. He carried messages between occupied France and De Gaulle's headquarters.
He was arrested by the Gestapo (the secret police) in September 1942. But he managed to escape! He was arrested again in 1943. This time, he avoided a death sentence by using fake identity papers. These papers hid his true identity.
He was then sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp. He stayed there until American soldiers freed the camp in 1945.
Christian Pineau's Political Career
After the war, Christian Pineau became a politician. He represented the Sarthe region in the French National Assembly. This is like the French parliament. He was a member of the Socialist Party.
From 1945 to 1958, he served as a minister in different French governments. In 1945, he was the Minister of Supply under Charles de Gaulle. From 1947 to 1950, he was the Minister of Public Works.
For a short time in 1948, Pineau was also the Minister of Finance. In 1955, he was chosen to be the prime minister of France. However, the National Assembly did not approve his government. So, his time as prime minister lasted only two days.
Foreign Minister and Important Treaties
Christian Pineau became the Foreign Minister in February 1956. He held this important role until May 1958. As Foreign Minister, he handled big international events.
One major event was the Suez crisis. This was a conflict over the Suez Canal in Egypt. Pineau also signed the Treaty of Rome for France. This treaty was very important because it helped create the European Economic Community. This community was a big step towards the European Union we know today.
He also visited Moscow with another French leader, Guy Mollet. In October 1956, he signed an agreement called the Protocol of Sèvres with Great Britain and Israel.
Christian Pineau always believed in countries in Europe working together. He was a strong supporter of European integration. He passed away in 1995 and is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
