Moïse Bebel Explained

Moïse Bebel
Birth Date:21 May 1898
Birth Place:Trois-Rivières, Guadeloupe
Death Place:Erquinvillers, France
Allegiance:France
Branch:French Army
Serviceyears:–1940
Rank:Captain
Commands:24th regiment of Senegalese skirmishers
Battles:Second World War

Hospice Moïse Jean Louis Victor Gilles Bebel (21 May 1898 – 10 June 1940)[1] was a French Army officer, born in Guadeloupe, who served during the Second World War. He was executed along with his men in a massacre of tirailleurs during the Battle of France.

Life

Born in 1898 in Trois-Rivières, Guadeloupe, Bebel aspired to be a soldier from a young age.[2] He graduated from the Saint-Maxient non-commissioned officer school and quickly rose through the ranks, from second lieutenant to captain. By the time of the Second World War, Bebel was an acting commandant in the 24th regiment of Senegalese skirmishers. He fought in the Battle of France and was taken prisoner on 9 June 1940 while fighting near Erquinvillers. The following day, Bebel was executed by German soldiers along with fifty of his men, becoming one of the 150 tirailleurs massacred in Erquinvillers and its surrounding villages between 9 and 10 June.[3] The murder of Bebel and his men has been compared to the death of fellow tirailleur Charles N'Tchoréré.[4]

Bebel's remains, as well as those of several other Guadeloupean soldiers, were repatriated to Guadeloupe in 1950, with large numbers of people arriving to honor them. In 2016, on the 76th anniversary of his death, Bebel was honored in a ceremony.[5] The main square of Trois-Rivières is named after him.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hospice Moïse Jean Louis Victor Gilles Bebel . Memoire des hommes . 18 June 2023.
  2. News: Bebel Hospice Moïse Jean Louis Victor Gilles . 18 June 2023 . www.memoires-de-guadeloupe.com.
  3. Web site: Erquinvillers (Oise), 9 - 10 juin 1940 - Maitron . fusilles-40-44.maitron.fr . 18 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Moïse Bébel (1898-1940) . Une autre histoire . 18 June 2023 . fr-FR . 13 December 2013.
  5. News: Nivel . Dominique . Cérémonie commémorative de la mort du capitaine Moïse Bébél . 18 June 2023 . FranceAntilles.fr . 12 June 2016.