François-Yves Guillin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François-Yves Guillin
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François-Yves Guillin
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| Born | 7 September 1921 |
| Died | 18 October 2020 (aged 99) Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Doctor Historian |
François-Yves Guillin was a brave French hero who lived from 1921 to 2020. He was a key member of the French Resistance during World War II, fighting against the German occupation. After the war, he became a doctor and later a historian.
Contents
A Life of Courage and Learning
Early Life and Joining the Resistance
François-Yves Guillin was born on September 7, 1921, in Orléans, France. When World War II began, he was a student at Lycée Lalande. In 1940, he started sharing messages that supported Charles de Gaulle. De Gaulle was a French general who led the fight against the German invaders.
In September 1940, Guillin met General Charles Delestraint. Delestraint was hiding in Bourg-en-Bresse and secretly gathering people to resist. In June 1941, Guillin began studying medicine. However, he left school in 1942 to join the French Resistance.
Working as a Secret Agent
In the Resistance, Guillin worked as a liaison. This meant he carried secret messages and helped connect different groups. He used the code name Mercure to stay safe. Later, he became General Delestraint's personal secretary. Delestraint had been chosen by Charles de Gaulle to lead the Armée secrète, which was a secret army fighting the Germans.
On June 9, 1943, the Gestapo arrested General Delestraint in Paris. The Gestapo was the secret police of Nazi Germany. They tried to find Guillin in Bourg-en-Bresse and Lyon, but they couldn't. Guillin then joined the Maquis, which were groups of French Resistance fighters who lived in the countryside and mountains.
After the War: Doctor and Historian
After World War II ended, François-Yves Guillin went back to his studies. He became a doctor, specializing in rheumatology. This field deals with diseases of the joints and muscles.
Later in his career, he decided to study history. He earned a special degree called a doctorate in history in 1992. His main research was about General Delestraint, the leader he had worked with during the war. His historical work was published as a book in 1995.
François-Yves Guillin passed away on October 18, 2020, in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon. He was 99 years old.
Special Honors
François-Yves Guillin received several important awards for his bravery and service to France:
- Knight of the Legion of Honour: This is the highest French order of merit.
- Croix de Guerre 1939–1945: A military award for bravery during World War II.
- Combatant's Cross: An award given to those who fought for France.
- Knight of the Ordre des Palmes académiques: An award for contributions to education and culture.
