Gilberte Champion facts for kids
Gilberte Louise Champion (born April 17, 1913, in Paris – died November 18, 2020, in Sucy-en-Brie) was a brave woman who worked for the French postal and telecommunications service (called PTT). During World War II, she became a secret radio operator for the French resistance. She was part of a network called Jade-Fitzroy, which worked with the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).
Gilberte was captured by the enemy and suffered greatly. She was sent to terrible places called Ravensbrück and Mauthausen concentration camps. She survived these difficult times and lived to be 107 years old.
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Her Life and Secret Work
Gilberte was born in Paris. Before the war, she and her husband, Pierre, both worked for the PTT, specifically in telecommunications.
She joined the Jade-Fitzroy resistance network early on. This network was started by Claude Lamirault, who asked for help from the British SIS in London. Gilberte's family was already involved in secretly spreading leaflets against the Vichy government, which was working with the enemy.
Gilberte was the aunt of Claude Lamirault's wife. Her husband, Pierre, also joined the resistance. He worked with Pierre Hentic, who was in charge of all air and sea operations for the network.
Training as a Secret Agent
Gilberte traveled to England to train as a secret agent and a radio operator. On January 15, 1943, she left RAF Tangmere in a special bomber plane. She parachuted into France with her radio set. Her husband and other resistance members met her. She immediately began her important job as a radio operator, sending secret messages. While she did this dangerous work, her oldest son was kept safe in a British boarding school.
Capture and Survival
Gilberte was very careful about security. She even told her leader, Lamirault, to be more careful. On April 11, 1943, she was arrested by the Gestapo in Lyon. Another radio operator, Paul Fuchs, was also arrested with her. She was held in Montluc prison. Her husband, who didn't know she was arrested, was safely sent to England later that month.
Gilberte was questioned by Klaus Barbie, a cruel Gestapo chief known as the "Butcher of Lyon." She was tortured but bravely refused to reveal her true identity or any information about other resistance agents. She managed to pass a secret message to Paul Fuchs, suggesting they stick to the same story during questioning.
She was later moved to Fresnes Prison. While there, a young cellmate who was released helped Gilberte. This cellmate secretly carried a note Gilberte had written on a handkerchief. This note reached Wilfred Dunderdale of the SIS. It gave him important details about her arrest and helped him change plans to protect other agents.
Concentration Camps and Freedom
On November 15, 1943, Gilberte was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, a camp for women in Germany. She stayed there until March 7, 1945, when she was moved to Mauthausen concentration camp.
She was finally freed from Mauthausen on April 24, 1945. She returned to France on June 11-12, helped by the Red Cross.
Gilberte Louise Champion passed away in Sucy-en-Brie at the age of 107.
Awards and Recognition
Gilberte Champion received many important awards for her bravery and service during the war:
Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (War Cross) with palms
Médaille de la Résistance française (French Resistance Medal)
King's Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom (British award)
Grand Cross of the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (France's highest award)
She was first made a Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1967. Then she was promoted to Grand Officer in 1980, and finally to the highest rank, Grand Cross, in 2008.
In 2006, she gave her documents about the Jade-Fitzroy network and her time in the resistance to a special archive. This helps people learn more about her important contributions.
