Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie
In Clermont-Ferrand, d'Astier formed the Resistant group La Dernière Colonne, later known as Libération-sud, with Raymond Aubrac, Lucie Samuel and Jean Cavailles. During 1941, the group carried out two sabotage attacks at train stations in Perpignan and Cannes. In February, they organised the distribution of 10,000 propaganda flyers, but one of the distributors was caught by the police, leading to the arrest of d'Astier's niece and uncle.The group decided to cease activities. After a few months' hiatus, they began to work on an underground newspaper, Libération. The first edition was put together with the help of the typographers from a local newspaper and printed on paper
supplied by local trade-unionists. 10,000 copies were produced in July 1941.After the Liberation, d'Astier became Minister of Interior in the Provisional Government of the French Republic
(GPRF). He continued to publish Libération and wrote books based on his experiences. He ran on a French Communist Party platform in the elections of 1946 , and won a seat in the National Assembly for Ille-et-Vilaine. In 1958 he received the Lenin Peace Prize. D'Astier was one of the f
ounders of the Stockholm Committee; he denounced the Soviet Union leadership under Nikita Khrushchev after the crushing of the Hungarian uprising, and broke ties with communists. His brother, Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie, was from the far right, and, initially a member of the Action Française, may even have been involved with the Cagoule terrorist group. Ultimately, Henri d'Astier also took part in the Resistance.
Emmanuel d'Astier died in Paris in 1969. His wife Liubov was the second spouse of French politician Gaston Bergery (divorced in 1928) and the daughter of Bolshevik Leonid Krasin. They had three sons Jean Francois, Christophe and Jerome.
supplied by local trade-unionists. 10,000 copies were produced in July 1941.After the Liberation, d'Astier became Minister of Interior in the Provisional Government of the French Republic
(GPRF). He continued to publish Libération and wrote books based on his experiences. He ran on a French Communist Party platform in the elections of 1946 , and won a seat in the National Assembly for Ille-et-Vilaine. In 1958 he received the Lenin Peace Prize. D'Astier was one of the f
ounders of the Stockholm Committee; he denounced the Soviet Union leadership under Nikita Khrushchev after the crushing of the Hungarian uprising, and broke ties with communists. His brother, Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie, was from the far right, and, initially a member of the Action Française, may even have been involved with the Cagoule terrorist group. Ultimately, Henri d'Astier also took part in the Resistance.
Emmanuel d'Astier died in Paris in 1969. His wife Liubov was the second spouse of French politician Gaston Bergery (divorced in 1928) and the daughter of Bolshevik Leonid Krasin. They had three sons Jean Francois, Christophe and Jerome.