Friday 20 April 2012

Raymond Aubrac (31 July 1914 – 10 April 2012)

Leading newspapers of the world (see links below) have reported on the death of the national and world hero – Raymond Aubrac – praising his efforts in the French Resistance against the Nazis during World War II. What people may not know is his close connection to Scouting. Recollecting his days as a young Scout and later as a leader with Les Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France, Aubrac attributes his successes in the Resistance to what he learnt at Scouting. In tribute, the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy has called him a ‘heroic figure’.

Born as Raymond Samuel, Aubrac was Jewish and had studied Engineering. He and his wife Lucie Aubrac (né Bernard) are household names in France for their heroic exploits during the French Resistance. Aubrac participated in many national and international Scout camps between 1927 and 1933 including a Jamboree in the UK where he met with Baden Powell.

On the occasion of the Centenary of Les Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs in 2011, Aubrac said “Scouting is the first school of solidarity. [...] Scouting helps young and old alike to live together in a society which is truly democratic, and separated from all prejudices of anything that would go against the ethics of citizenship training”. His words clearly show that Aubrac was a forward thinker and was always fighting for justice and equality.

Read the message from Raymond Aubrac on his Scouting experiences and the effect it had on his life and exploits, including how Scouting affected his role in the Resistance.

Download the press release by Les Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France (in French)

Press release 212.97 kB

Raymond Aubrac's video message on the occasion of the Centenary of Les Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France in 2011 (in French)