A Whole Life - Documents And Archives Of Georges Cavaillès - Sailor & War Hero

Here is the whole life of Georges Cavaillès 1907-1984 This important batch of documents tells the whole life of an astonishing man. Georges Cavaillès was born in Montpellier in 1907. A ward of the nation, Georges joined the navy in 1924, he was taken prisoner in 1940 and escaped several times before being caught. Imprisoned in Germany, he saved the lives of Jews. At the Liberation, he campaigned within the SFIO section in Montpellier. At the same time, he was actively involved in the defense of secularism. Very active in extracurricular activities, a member of the control commission of the Sou des écoles laïques, he has also been a member of the Human Rights League since 1948. Regularly re-elected to the board of directors of the Montpellier section, he was its treasurer in 1962. From 1956, he was part of the hard core of minorities with Lucien Tourette (see this name) opposed to Guy Mollet. A member of the socialist committee for study and action for peace in Algeria, he took over the presidency, in 1957, of the Spartacus club, a Montpellier circle bringing together supporters of anti-colonialism. Responsible for the Montpellier Forum in 1958, he was also a member of the bureau of the Republican and Anti-Fascist Committee of La Chapelle Neuve and of the Olivier Plan reactivated against the OAS in 1961. Close to the Depreux motion, Georges Cavaillès campaigned for the independence of Algeria and against the policy defended by the leadership of the SFIO. In 1959, he met the founders of the PSA who came to Montpellier but ultimately remained a member of the SFIO. In 1957, he was elected a member of the federal administrative commission and remained so until 1970. Head of the Palavas maritime affairs station, Georges Cavaillès left the Montpellier section and recreated a section in this commune, which he chaired in 1961. From 1959, he brought to the commune a project of electoral alliance with the Communist Party for the municipal elections. In 1969, he was still secretary of the SFIO section and was still a member of the section's office in 1974. Beyond his secular and political commitments, Georges Cavaillès also assumed responsibilities within veterans' associations. He was a member of the office and then general secretary of the Federal Union of Veterans and Victims of War. In 1962, he was also a member of the federal commission of the SFIO of veterans. He died in Albi (Tarn) in 1984. This lot is made up of all the documents patiently collected and saved by his family since his death. It is made up of a large number of photographs. A large photo of the torpedo boat La Tramontane 40x31cm but also in 66x32cm A moving photo montage on which we see his comrade Buzier killed and thanks to whom he will be saved. Very many photos of military class, during the war 39-45 and family photos (nearly 1000 photos). There are also all his medals (14) in a frame (40x34cm) as well as his medals in reduction (12). His diplomas under glass (national order of merit etc ...), some objects (yellow and green armband, RF medal and various documents). A pile of various files. But it is especially the correspondence during the war that is precious. There are hundreds of letters and documents from the stalag in which he was held prisoner. All classified and listed. All this lot is sold together, I do not separate anything. It is a wish of his family. There is enough to write the life of an exceptional man, war hero and in civilian life. I can send the photo file on request.