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Date of birth
Jean Moulin was born on 20 June 1899 in Beziers, south west France, the son of a history professor. -
Started going to school / working
In 1917 he enrolled at the Law Institute of Montpellier, and started working at the prefecture of the Hérault. -
Enlisting in War
Born as the son of a professor of history, he enlisted in the army in 1918 but the World War I came to an end before he had the opportunity to see action. -
Joined anti-Nazi group
In October 1933, Moulin became the minister of the ¨Young Turks¨, an anti-Nazi group. -
Became the youngest prefect in France
In 1937, he became the youngest prefect in France when appointed as the préfet in the Aveyron département, based in the commune of Rodez. -
Arrested and tortured
In June 1940, he was arrested by the occupying Gestapo and tortured as a suspected communist. -
Became leader of resistance
In October 1941, Moulin produced a report entitled The Activities, Plans and Requirements of the Groups formed in France. De Gaulle was impressed with Moulin knowledge of the situation and decided he should become the leader of the resistance in France. -
Got code name ¨Max¨
In January 1942, he was parachuted back into France, to set up an organised Resistance movement. His code name was 'Max'. -
Combined the resistances
He then persuaded the eight major resistance groups to unite and form the Conseil National de la Resistance (CNR). On de Gaulle’s behest, Jean Moulin assumed the leadership of this new group by becoming its chairman, and held the first joint meeting in May 1943. -
Date of passing
He was a major figure in the French resistance and after his capture at the hands of the Gestapo he was brutally tortured. But being a man of conviction, he refused to reveal any vital information to his captors. He died in a train while being taken to Germany on 8 July 1943 either from injuries sustained during the torture or by committing suicide. The real cause of his death could not be ascertained.
