Louise Magadur | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 21 April 1899 |
| Died | 12 May 1992 (aged 93) Pont-Croix |
| Citizenship | France |
| Occupation | Hairdresser |
| Organization(s) | Communist Party; French Resistance |
Louise Magadur (21 April 1899 - 12 May 1992) was a French resistance fighter, Communist and Holocaust survivor.
Magadur was born on 21 April 1899 in Pont-Croix in Finistère, France. [1] Her father was a miller and she was the fourth child of a family of six. [1] She learnt to be a seamstress and moved to Paris in 1924, where she offered hairdressings lessons. [1] In 1942 she opened a hairdressing salon in the 12th arrondissement. [1]
Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Magadur was active in the Communist Party. [1] She became a member of the National Front for the Fight for the Liberation and Independence of France (Front National) and was an active member of the Resistance. [2] Her salon became the respectable cover for activities including leaflet distribution, letter exchange and the creation of disguises for members. [2] She also encouraged others to join the fight, including Suzanne Lasne. [3]
On 9 March 1942, she was arrested by the French police and was held in solitary confinement until 24 August 1942. [1] She was then sent to Fort Romainville, which was under German administration; there she discovered the news that both her mother and sister had died. [2] From Romainville she was transported on 24 January 1943 in what became known as the convoi des 31,000 (Convoy 31000) - all of whom were sent to Auschwitz. [1] Many of those in the convoy were Communist Party members. [2] On 4 August 1944 she was deported to Ravensbrück. [1] On 5 March 1945 she was moved to Mauthausen. [1]
Magadur was released from Mauthausen on 22 April 1945. [1] Six months after her release, Magadur was able to reopen her hair salon, despite the fact that she found readjusting to life difficult. [1] By the time of her death, she was the oldest survivor of 'Convoy 31,000' and was the only woman who was transported on it, born before 1900, to return. [1]
There is a playground dedicated to Louise Magadur in her hometown of Pont-Croix, which was named as a tribute to her. [4]
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