Pierre Messmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Messmer
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Pierre Messmer in 1988
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| Prime Minister of France | |
| In office 5 July 1972 – 27 May 1974 |
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| President | Georges Pompidou Alain Poher (Acting) |
| Preceded by | Jacques Chaban-Delmas |
| Succeeded by | Jacques Chirac |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer
20 March 1916 Vincennes, Seine (now Val-de-Marne), France |
| Died | 29 August 2007 (aged 91) Paris, France |
| Political party | UDR |
| Occupation | Civil Servant |
Pierre Messmer (born March 20, 1916 – died August 29, 2007) was an important French politician. He was a strong supporter of Charles de Gaulle's ideas, known as Gaullism. Messmer served as the Minister of Armies for a long time, from 1960 to 1969. Later, he became the Prime Minister of France under President Georges Pompidou from 1972 to 1974. He was also a member of the French Foreign Legion. Pierre Messmer was considered one of the key figures in the Gaullist movement. He passed away at the age of 91 in a military hospital in Paris. In 1999, he was elected to the Académie française, a famous French academy that protects the French language.
Contents
Early Life and World War II
Pierre Messmer was born in Vincennes, France, in 1916. He studied languages and colonial administration at special schools. In 1939, he became a senior civil servant, which means he worked for the government in its colonies.
When World War II began, he was a young army officer. After France was defeated, he refused to give up. He took an Italian cargo ship in Marseille with a friend and sailed to London. There, he joined the Free French Forces, which were fighting against the German occupation. He became part of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion.
Messmer fought in many important battles during the war. He was in campaigns in Eritrea, Syria, Libya, and Tunisia. He also took part in the Battle of Bir Hakeim and the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. In 1944, he was part of the landings in Normandy and helped free Paris. For his bravery, he received several awards, including the Compagnon de la Libération and the Croix de guerre.
After World War II: Colonial Administrator
After the war, Pierre Messmer returned to work in France's colonies. In 1945, he was held as a prisoner of war by the Viet Minh for two months during the First Indochina War. He then worked in the administration for French Indochina.
Working in Africa
Messmer became a high-level administrator in Africa. He served as governor of Mauritania from 1952 to 1954. Then, he was governor of Ivory Coast from 1954 to 1956.
In 1956, Messmer was made governor general of Cameroon. A conflict had started there the year before. He began a process to help Cameroon become independent. He also used special methods to separate the local people from fighting groups. This involved moving people to guarded villages along main roads, controlled by the French Army.
He later served as high commissioner for French Equatorial Africa (1958) and French West Africa (1958–1959).
Minister of Armies (1959–1969)
From 1959 to 1969, Pierre Messmer was the Minister of Armies under President Charles de Gaulle. This was a time of great change, including the Algerian War. He had to deal with a military uprising in 1961. He also helped reorganize the French Army and prepare it for the nuclear age.
In 1962, Messmer was present at a nuclear test in Algeria called Béryl. An accident happened during the test, and officials and workers had to escape quickly.
President de Gaulle trusted Messmer greatly. During the May '68 protests in France, Messmer advised de Gaulle not to use the military.
Messmer became a leading figure in the Gaullist Party. He was elected as a deputy (a member of parliament) for the Moselle area in 1968. He was known for his conservative views. After de Gaulle resigned, Messmer left the government.
From the 1970s to the 2000s
In the 1970s, he returned to government roles. He was first a Minister of State for Overseas Territories in 1971. Then, he became Prime Minister from July 1972 to May 1974.
Messmer as Prime Minister (1972–1974)
President Georges Pompidou chose Messmer to be Prime Minister. Messmer's government included important figures like Jacques Chirac, who was Minister of Agriculture.
Because President Pompidou was ill, Messmer managed the daily running of the country. He took a more traditional approach to policies. His government also worked with other parties to win the 1973 elections.
In June 1974, to deal with the 1973 oil crisis, Messmer started the plan to build 13 nuclear power plants in France.
When President Pompidou died in 1974, some people wanted Messmer to run for president. He agreed, but only if other candidates withdrew. They did not, so Messmer decided not to run. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was then elected president. Messmer remained Prime Minister for a few more weeks. Jacques Chirac took over from him in May 1974. After this, Messmer did not hold any more ministerial jobs. He became an important voice for Gaullism.
Later Career and Death
Messmer continued to be a member of Parliament for the Moselle area until 1988. He also led the regional assembly of Lorraine from 1968 to 1992. He was the mayor of Sarrebourg from 1971 to 1989.
In 1997, he spoke as a witness during the trial of Maurice Papon. Messmer said that it was time for the French people to forgive each other. He later asked for Papon to be pardoned.
Pierre Messmer died in 2007 at the age of 91. He was the last major French politician who had been a member of the Free French forces during World War II.
Political Career
Governmental functions
- Prime Minister: 1972–1974
- Minister of State, Minister of Departments and Overseas Territories: 1971–1972
- Minister of Armies: 1960–1969
Electoral mandates
National Assembly
- Member of the National Assembly of France for Moselle: 1969–1971, 1974–1988
Regional Council
General Council
- General councillor of Moselle: 1970–1982
Municipal Council
- Mayor of Sarrebourg: 1971–1989
- Municipal councillor of Sarrebourg: 1971–1989
Honours
Pierre Messmer was a very important figure in the French Resistance during World War II. He was a member of the Ordre de la Libération, a special order for heroes of the Resistance. He also received the highest rank of the Légion d'honneur. In 2006, he became the Chancellor of the Ordre de la Libération.
He was also involved with several important organizations. He became president of the Institut Charles de Gaulle in 1992 and the Fondation Charles de Gaulle in 1995.
In 1999, he was elected to the Académie française, which is the main French council for matters regarding the French language. He was also a member of the French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences and the Académie des sciences d'outre-mer (Academy of Sciences of Overseas Territories). In 2001, Messmer became President of the Fondation de la France libre (Foundation of Free France).
Images for kids
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Pierre Messmer in 1988
See also
In Spanish: Pierre Messmer para niños
- Politics of France
- France in the 20th century
