Former SS CHARLEMAGNE Balestre died

[Fred S]

Jean-marie BALESTRE, ex Formula 1 director, died yesterday he was 87.
He was known as well to be a SS Charlemagne division soldier, and former french sturmbrigage (he joined early the french ss in may 1943).

[billmunny]

Rip

Thanks, Fred, for posting--any pics or links to stories?

[Fred S]

One link to wikipedia (in french...)

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Marie_Balestre

A google translation:
"Jean Marie Balestre became a member of the "Jeunes du Marechal" and then with Robert Hersant leader of the "Young Front", a right-wing organization. He undertook in 1942 in the "NSKK later in the Waffen SS France (May 17, 1943). It launches on November 18, 1942 the newspaper "Jeune force de France" and collaborated on "Devenir" which was the french SS newspaper (eight issued if I can remember)

After the war, never worried he obtained in 1954 the deported card and the Legion d'honneur knight cross in 1979."

It was known that he used to be a waffen SS but he managed to "hide" it...: you'll find very little info about him as an SS, but far more about formula 1.

[billmunny]

Thanks

Very interesting! My high school French is a bit rusty, so I especially appreciate the help with background a la anglais!

[Fred S]

you're welcome Bill: the google translate works pretty good (altough it translates everything in details).

An update about the "Devenir" newspaper: 5 were officialy issued (I've asked a friend who owns the sery).

In the books related to the french SS adventure, nothing has been written about him and I didn't met any vet that had to say something about him.

He was notorious postwar due to his activities in the motor world.

Something interesting as well is that Robert Hersant became really famous postwar as well: he built and owned of of the major french trust....A real rich man.
When my greatfather was hearing his name he always was talking about Hersant as a collaborationnist, I understand it when I began to search about those lost soldiers.

[jarkis88]

Rest In Peace.

[Tom Castell]

Photo when it entered the Waffen-SS

[Pierre]

Never saw the front line and the only heroic thing he did was stealing paper. He was sentenced to jail for this and that is how he managed to get his deported card.

Pierre