Madeleine Riffaud

French poet (1924–2024)

Madeleine Riffaud (23 August 1924 – 6 November 2024) was a French poet, journalist, war correspondent and a member of the French Resistance. She was born in Arvillers, France. Riffaud was awarded the National Order of Merit.

Madeleine Riffaud
Born(1924-08-23)23 August 1924
Arvillers, France
Died6 November 2024(2024-11-06) (aged 100)
Paris, France
Occupations
Works
  • On l'appelait Rainer
  • Les Linges de la nuit

She began operating for the French Forces of the Interior at the age of 18 under the codename "Rainer".[1] On July 23, 1944, at age 19, she became known for the killing of a German officer, whom she shot dead. Shortly afterwards, she was captured by the Gestapo and was nearly executed.

After the war ended in 1945, she became a journalist for Ce Soir, a French newspaper.

She turned 100 on 23 August 2024[2], and died on 6 November 2024, in her Paris apartment.[3]

References

change
  1. Jon Henley (2004-08-21). "'You can't know how wonderful it was to finally battle in the daylight' | World news". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  2. Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus) (2024-08-23). "Vietnam honors peace advocate Madeleine Riffaud". Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus). Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  3. "Madeleine Riffaud, French Resistance heroine, dies aged 100". Le Monde. 2024-11-06. Retrieved 2024-11-06.