France 1958 - Heroes of the Resistance (Part 4 - Jacques Bingen)

It is defined as the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something. This is resistance. And perhaps none typify and deserve the distinction of this title than the French Resistance, La Résistance in French.

It all began in the summer of 1940. The Nazis had barnstormed into France and the swastika was now flying high in Paris from such prominent places as the Hôtel de Ville and on top of the Eiffel Tower. Amid this turmoil, a prominent French writer by the name of Jean Cassou, penned the words, refus absurde "absurd refusal". Little did he know, these words would inspire the proud citizens of France to rise up against the Nazi intruders in any way possible. Thus the Resistance was born. The Resistance was for the most part organised into small groups of men and women who engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Nazis. Additionally, they published underground newspapers, established effective intelligence networks, and maintained escape routes for Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. For more detailed information on the Resistance, click HERE.

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Jacques Bingen was a vital and high-ranking member of the French Resistance. Born in Paris on 16 March 1908, Bingen trained as an engineer at the École des mines de Paris. Interestingly, he was the brother-in-law of André Citroën, the famous car maker. Between 1930-1931, he served in the artillery branch of the French Army. Then in 1935 he was appointed director of the French shipping company, Société Anonyme de Gérance et d'Armement.

In 1939 at the onset of World War II, he was drafted back into the French Army. He fought in the Battle of France, and was wounded on 12 June 1940 at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. Following the surrender of France, he found his way to British-held Gibraltar, and from there he went to England in July. After joining the Free French under General Charles de Gaulle, he was put in charge of its burgeoning merchant marines. But he wasn't happy in this role. He craved action and desperately wanted to fight for France in a more active way. So, on 1 October 1941 he resigned and joined the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action, which was the Free French intelligence service. On 16 August 1943, his wish for more action manifested when he "parachuted into France to help organize and unite the various disparate groups that comprised the Resistance" (Wikipedia). Also worth note, he was instrumental in the creation of the French Forces of the Interior in February 1944. 

But, as we have seen in the previous parts of this series, success in the Resistance brings one to the attention of the Gestapo. On 12 May 1944, Jacques Bingen was betrayed by Belgian double agent Alfred Dormal. He was captured at Clermont-Ferrand. To avoid the risk of breaking under torture, he committed suicide at Chamalières by swallowing a capsule of cyanide. Bingen was honoured for his service to his country posthumously with the Ordre de la Libération award. He also now has a street in the 17th arrondissement of Paris named after him.

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On 21 April 1958, France issued the second set of stamps in a series titled Heroes of the Resistance. This set comprised four stamps. All stamps were designed by Albert Decaris, but he only engraved two. To look at the first three parts in this stamp series, click on the links Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. In this blog we shall study the fourth and final stamp in the set depicting Jacques Bingen. This stamp was designed by Albert Decaris and engraved by Jean Pheulpin. This tasteful design features the face of an intelligent, resourceful, and brave individual. A great stamp!

Until next time...

France 1958 - Heroes of the Resistance (Part 3 - Simone Michel-Lévy)

It is defined as the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something. We are of course talking about resistance. And perhaps none typify and deserve the distinction of this title than the French Resistance, La Résistance in French.

It all began in the summer of 1940. The Nazis had barnstormed into France and the swastika was now flying high in Paris from such prominent places as the Hôtel de Ville and on top of the Eiffel Tower. Amid this turmoil, a prominent French writer by the name of Jean Cassou, penned the words, refus absurde "absurd refusal". Little did he know, these words would inspire the proud citizens of France to rise up against the Nazi intruders in any way possible. Thus the Resistance was born. The Resistance was for the most part organised into small groups of men and women who engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Nazis. Additionally, they published underground newspapers, established effective intelligence networks, and maintained escape routes for Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. For more detailed information on the Resistance, click HERE.

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Simone Michel-Lévy, born 19 January 1906, worked for the French Resistance as a communications expert. Her role as regional director of telephone communications in Paris allowed her to set up an intelligence network pivotal to the war effort. In the course of her duties she established an important radio intelligence network between Paris and Normandy, which was used in the preparations for the D-Day invasion. She was also responsible for the creation of a covert courier system to get vital messages to England where the Free France movement was based, led by General Charles de Gaulle. Like most influential Resistance fighters, Simone Michel-Lévy came to the attention of the Gestapo. On 5 November 1943 she was arrested and tortured. But she didn't crack, and gave the Gestapo nothing. Realising they'd get nothing from this formidable woman, the Gestapo had her deported to Ravensbrück, then Flossenbürg. While in prison, she managed to organise an uprising against the camp guards. Unfortunately, she was caught and hanged on 13 April 1945, just ten days before the camp was liberated by the Allies. A sad end for a tremendously courageous woman.

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On 21 April 1958, France issued the second set of stamps in a series titled Heroes of the Resistance. This set comprised four stamps. All stamps were designed by Albert Decaris, but he only engraved two. To look at the first two parts in this set, click on the links Part 1, Part 2. In this blog we shall study the third stamp in the set depicting Simone Michel-Lévy. This stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

This very poignant portrait is based on Simone Michel-Lévy's prison mugshot. Decaris has really managed to capture her mask of immense strength, determination, and willpower that saw her confront Gestapo torturers without yielding a shard of information. Note also the striped prison shirt she is wearing. A respectful tribute to an incredibly brave woman.

Until next time...

France 1958 - Heroes of the Resistance (Part 2 - Fred Scamaroni)

It is defined as the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something. We are of course talking about resistance. And perhaps none typify and deserve the distinction of this title than the French Resistance, La Résistance in French.

It all began in the summer of 1940. The Nazis had barnstormed into France and the swastika was now flying high in Paris from such prominent places as the Hôtel de Ville and on top of the Eiffel Tower. Amid this turmoil, a prominent French writer by the name of Jean Cassou, penned the words, refus absurde "absurd refusal". Little did he know, these words would inspire the proud citizens of France to rise up against the Nazi intruders in any way possible. Thus the Resistance was born. The Resistance was for the most part organised into small groups of men and women who engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Nazis. Additionally, they published underground newspapers, established effective intelligence networks, and maintained escape routes for Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. For more detailed information on the Resistance, click HERE.

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On 21 April 1958, France issued the second set of stamps in a series titled Heroes of the Resistance. This set comprised four stamps. All stamps were designed by Albert Decaris, but he only engraved two. In this blog we shall study the second stamp in the set depicting Fred Scamaroni. This stamp was designed by Albert Decaris but engraved by Jean Pheulpin.

Fred Scamaroni, born 24 October 1924, started his career in law after graduating from the Faculty of Law in Paris in 1934. Then in 1936 his focus shifted somewhat to the military when he became a reserve officer at Saint-Maixent, serving in the infantry as a second lieutenant. After a time he returned to Paris and became chief of staff of the prefect of Doubs. Then between 1936 and the outbreak of World War II he trained with the Air Force. Indeed, in 1940 he flew combat missions during the Battle of France (10 May - 22 June 1940).  On 19 May, 1940, he was seriously injured during aerial combat. For his bravery he earned the cross of war.

In June 1940 he joined the Free France forces and became a member of General de Gaulle's personal staff. In this capacity he was sent to Dakar to fight in the Anglo-Gaullist raid, which aimed to rally the immense forces of French West Africa to the Allied cause. During this mission Scamaroni was captured by Viscysts and imprisoned. He and his comrades managed to escape, but lady luck was not with them. They were captured and imprisoned yet again until their eventual release in February 1941. 

In 1942 he returned to France, and again joined General de Gaulle's staff, where he was placed in the French Combatant Forces (FFC). His many missions in this capacity placed him in the cross-hairs of the Gestapo. There was now a fat target on his back. Consequently, he returned to Corsica, where he had been stationed in the past, to elude capture. But in March 1943 he was captured by the OVRA, which was a secret fascist Italian police force. He was imprisoned in the citadel of Ajaccio and tortured. Then on 19 March, to ensure he did not crack under further torture, Scamaroni committed suicide in his cell. A tragic end for a brave man of La Résistance.

Until next time...

France 1958 - Heroes of the Resistance (Part 1 - Jean Cavaillès)

It is defined as the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to accept something. We are of course talking about resistance. And perhaps none typify and deserve the distinction of this title than the French Resistance, La Résistance in French.

It all began in the summer of 1940. The Nazis had barnstormed into France and the swastika was now flying high in Paris from such prominent places as the Hôtel de Ville and on top of the Eiffel Tower. Amid this turmoil, a prominent French writer by the name of Jean Cassou, penned the words, refus absurde "absurd refusal". Little did he know, these words would inspire the proud citizens of France to rise up against the Nazi intruders in any way possible. Thus the Resistance was born. The Resistance was for the most part organised into small groups of men and women who engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Nazis. Additionally, they published underground newspapers, established effective intelligence networks, and maintained escape routes for Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. For more detailed information on the Resistance, click HERE.

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On 21 April 1958, France issued the second set of stamps in a series titled Heroes of the Resistance. This set comprised four stamps. All stamps were designed by Albert Decaris, but he only engraved two. In this blog we shall study the first and lowest value stamp in the set. This stamp depicts Jean Cavaillès. It was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

Jean Cavaillès was actually a rather interesting character. He was a French philosopher and mathematician, specializing in the philosophy of science. At the outbreak of World War II, he joined the French army and was placed as an infantry lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment. In this capacity he was twice honoured for bravery. Unfortunately, he was captured by the Nazis on 11 June 1940 and imprisoned in Belgium. But after a little over a month in prison he managed to escape.

Over the next four years he devoted his life to the Resistance. In December 1940 he helped create a group of resistance fighters called The Last Column. This group began publishing a newspaper called Libération. Then in 1941 he travelled to Paris and helped establish the Libération-Nord resistance group.

By 1942 he found himself at the head of an intelligence network known as Cohors. His prominent position in the Resistance placed him squarely in the cross-hairs of the Vichy Regime. Consequently, in February 1943 he fled to London, where he met with General Charles de Gaulle. After meeting with de Gaulle on several occasions, he returned to France in April. Now determined to assume a more hands-on role in the Resistance, was placed in charge of the sabotage of the stores of the Kriegsmarine in Brittany, and the German radio installations along the coast. Sadly, he was betrayed by one of his liaison officers and he was arrested on 28 August, 1943. He was imprisoned in Fresnes, where he was tortured, then moved to Compiègne. He was shot by a firing squad on 17 February, 1944.

In 1969, The Centre Cavaillès de l'École Normale Supérieure was established in Paris, to honour both the bravery and academic work of Jean Cavaillès.

Until next time...

France 1958 - Urbain Le Verrier

Using only mathematical calculation (celestial mechanics), this man predicted not only the existence of the planet Neptune but also its position in the solar system. This genius of celestial mechanics was Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier.

Urbain Le Verrier was born in Saint-Lô, the capital of the department  of Manche, Normandy, in France. Le Verrier began his studies at École Polytechnique in Paris. Here his initial interest was in chemistry, with a particular focus on the combinations of phosphorus and hydrogen, and phosphorus and oxygen. But it wasn't long before he discovered his true passion, celestial mechanics. At the completion of his studies he accepted a position at the Paris Observatory. It was here he found his vocational home, eventually taking the prestigious position as the institute's Director twice, the first time from 1854 to 1870 and the second from 1873 until his death on 23 September 1877. 

Le Verrier's  true claim to fame came in September of 1846. After spending months absorbed in deep calculations to try to understand the discrepancies in the orbit of Uranus, Le Verrier predicted the existence of another planet that was causing said discrepancies. Le Verrier immediately sent his predictions to Johann Galle of the Berlin Observatory. And on 23 September Le Verrier's predictions were confirmed when the planet was found by Johann Galle. It was, amazingly, found to be within just 1° of Le Verrier's predicted location. Interestingly, at the same time a man named John Couch Adams in England was doing similar calculations. In fact, to this day there is still controversy over which  man predicted first!

It is  perhaps also worth noting that Le Verrier is one of 72 people to have his name inscribed on the Eiffel Tower.

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On 17 February 1958 France issued a set of four stamps celebrating famous French Scientists. Two stamps in this set were designed and engraved by Albert Decaris. Click HERE to see my blog  post  on Joseph-Louis Lagrange. The second stamp designed and engraved by Decaris features Urbain Le  Verrier.

In this stamp, Decaris has captured the intensity and complexity of this astounding scientific mind. A  fitting engraved tribute to Le Verrier by the master, Albert Decaris.

Until next time... 

France 1958 - Lagrange

His name is on a plague on the Eiffel Tower. A street in Paris bears his name. There is even a crater on the moon named after him! Joseph-Louis Lagrange, born Giuseppe Lodovico Lagrangia on 25 January 1736, was a mathematician and astronomer during le Siècle des Lumières, the Age of Enlightenment, an intellectual and philosophical movement in Europe during the 18th century. He was known as a kind and quiet man, who had a life-long devotion to, and passion for, science.

Lagrange was born in Turin, Italy. His father was of French descent and his mother was herself born in Turin. His father, who worked as Treasurer of the Office of Public Works and Fortifications in Turin, had decided his son was to have a career as a lawyer. Lagrange attended the University of Turin, seemingly happy with the vocation that had been chosen for him. During the course of his studies he was obliged to complete some mathematical studies, such as geometry, which he found boring (who can blame the guy!).  His favourite subject at the time was Latin.

But Lagrange's attitude towards maths did an abrupt U-turn after reading a paper by Edmund Halley, after whom a comet was later named (which I was fortunate to see as a teenager). After a year of self-study, he was hooked on maths. And at the age of just 19 (some even say 16!) he was teaching mathematics at the artillery school of Turin. During this time his work focused on 'calculus of variations', which was well received in the mathematical community.

By the time Lagrange was 25 in 1761 he was already recognised as one of the greatest living mathematicians. Not bad for a guy who initially thought maths stuff boring! Three years later in 1764 he was the recipient of a prize awarded by the French Academy of Sciences for his essay on the libration of the moon, which is basically the study of the slight wobble or oscillation of the moon, which in turn present to us on Earth a visual change of lunar features. He also worked on theories relating the the motions of the satellites 'moons' of Jupiter.

In 1766 Lagrange was offered a teaching post at the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. He was invited by the king Frederick the Great, who is believed to have said that it is the wish of “the greatest king in Europe” to have “the greatest mathematician in Europe” at his court. While in Berlin he worked tirelessly on the areas such as the 'three-body problem' (which relates to Newton' law of gravity),  differential equations, prime number theory. and the mechanics and stability of the solar system, He also devoted much time to the study of algebra, culminating in a long paper published in 1770, titled: Réflexions sur la résolution algébrique des équations (Reflections on the Algebraic Resolution of Equations”).

In 1787, after the death of King Fredrick, Lagrange was invited by Louis XVI to take a position at the French Academy of Sciences, which he gladly accepted. In fact, he remained in Paris till the day he died. His move to Paris was right before the French Revolution in 1789. During this turbulent time, Lagrange was, shall we say, prodded into joining the committee working to reform the metric system. then in 1794 the École Centrale des Travaux Publics (later renamed the École Polytechnique) was opened and Lagrange took a position as a leading professor of mathematics. Here Lgrange continued his work on calculus, producing the first analytical textbooks in the area. He also continued work on new edition of his  Mécanique analytique, but Lagrange died 10 April 1813 before it was published.

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On 17 February 1958, France issued a set of four stamps honouring famous scientists. Two of these stamps were designed and engraved by Albert Decaris. One of these two stamps featured Joseph-Louis Lagrange. it is a lovely design, which captures the true essence of this brilliant, kind, and gentle man.

Until next time...

Basilica of St. Pius X at Lourdes

Albert Decaris began engraving stamps for Monaco in 1958 with a 100f Airmail stamp issued 15 May. The stamp is one of a set of two. When I first started collecting Decaris stamps I saw this particular stamp and, to be honest, I didn't think all that much of it. But in preparation for this blog I did some research into the subject of this stamp and I was fascinated, which in turn gave me a new appreciation of the stamp. So without further ado let's take a look at the stamp and the story behind its subject.

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The subject of this stamp is the Basilica of St. Pius X located at Lourdes in France. It is a part of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. For those of you who are not catholic, the sanctuary is a major catholic pilgrimage site where it is believed that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous on several occasions. These appearances are known as the Marial Apparitions. I personally remember learning about St. Bernadette when I was in school many moons ago. If you'd like to read more about St. Bernadette click HERE.

Designed by architect Pierre Vago, the Basilica is also known as the Underground Basilica since it is almost entirely underground. And it is truly massive! When I first looked at some images from inside the Basilica I was staggered. It incorporates over 12,000 square metres of open space which can accommodate up to 25,000 worshippers. The Basilica was opened in 1958 - the same year as the release of the Monaco stamp - in anticipation of the massive crowds that would gather for centenary celebrations of the Marial Apparitions.

Here is an image from Wikipedia just to give you an idea of the scale of the building...

  

Rather an amazing piece of architecture of which I knew nothing about until this morning. That's the beauty of stamp collecting for you. You never know what you'll learn next.

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!