Pierre François Boisson (19 June 1894 – 20 July 1948) was a senior French civil servant, colonial administrator, and the Governor General of French Equatorial Africa (AEF) and French West Africa (AOF). His diplomatic career included two terms where he reigned as Governor-General of the AOF and one term as Governor-General of the AEF. During his second reign over these territories, he is remembered for assuming the role of High Commissioner to Vichy France.[1] His diplomatic actions were met with strong condemnation from the French Resistance. These attitudes significantly aroused negative French public sentiment after the war until his death. As such, Boisson's legacy is significantly tainted by his decision to surrender French colonial control to Vichy administrative forces.
Pierre Boisson was born in Saint-Launeuc, Cotes du Nord. His mother was a teacher and his father was a disabled war veteran. He took after the occupation ambitions of his parents to become a schoolteacher until the First World War broke out.[1]
World War Iedit
During the First World War, he held the position of second lieutenant in the 71st Infantry regiment. He served in the battles of Artois, the Argonne, and at Verdun. Over the course of the war, Boisson attained many wounds, eventually having one of his legs amputated due to injuries in 1917.[1]
Interwar periodedit
After the First World War, Boisson decided to take up colonial administration. His advancements were notably quick. In 1920, he was appointed as an assistant administrator at Brazzaville in the Congo. Over the next twelve years, he spent his career working in various African posting within the French colonies. By 1932, Boisson had been designated the chief of cabinet role of the under secretary of colonies.[2]
Between 1938 and 1939, Boisson served as temporary governor-general of the AOF, governor-general of the AEF, and governor of the Congo.[1]
World War IIedit
On 3 September 1939, Boisson had been appointed to the role of Governor-General of French Equatorial Africa.[3]
By June 1940, the Nazis had overrun Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and most of France.[4]
On 25 June 1940, Boisson was appointed to the position of high commissioner of French West Africa. In the face of a mounting diplomatic crisis, Boisson believed that acting in favour of Vichy French forces, while being a difficult decision to commit to, was in the best interest of the French nation. Charles de Gaulle was notably critical of Boisson's decision to cave in to the diplomatic pressures of the Vichy administration in stating that Boisson's "ambition was greater than his discernment".[5] Boisson, however, stood vehemently against German and English depredations of his colonial territories alike and, therefore, asserted territorial control by way of "defending the Empire from any and all invaders".[2] Furthermore, Boisson's actions had been viewed as courageous acts of sacrifice for France's overseas colonies. On 5 June 1941, it was reported by the Glasgow Herald that he was to be awarded the "Order of the Nation for the defense of Dakar against de Gaullists by Petain personally".[6]
^ abcdNichols, Michael Ray (2002). "The fortress and the formidable vessel: The struggle for Dakar and the Richelieu in World War II". ProQuest. ProQuest 305521851. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^ abHitchcock, W. I. (1 April 2001). "Pierre Boisson, French West Africa, and the Postwar Epuration: A Case from the Aix Files". French Historical Studies. 24 (2): 305–341. doi:10.1215/00161071-24-2-305. ISSN 0016-1071. S2CID 159969656.
^Cahoon, Ben (13 May 2022). "Congo (Brazzaville)". www.worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
^"German Invasion of Western Europe, May 1940". encyclopedia.ushmm.org. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^Jennings, Eric T. (2015), "Free French Africa in Arms", Free French Africa in World War II, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 140–172, doi:10.1017/cbo9781107261464.009, ISBN9781107696976, retrieved 27 March 2022
^"Dakar Defender at Vichy". The Glasgow Herald. 5 June 1941. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
Further readingedit
Ramognino, Pierre (2006). L'affaire Boisson : un proconsul de Vichy en Afrique. Paris: Les Indes savantes. ISBN9782846540773.
Ramognino, Pierre (2004). "L'Afrique de l'Ouest sous le Proconsulat de Pierre Boisson (juin 1940-juin 1943)". In Cantier, Jacques; Jennings, Eric (eds.). L'empire colonial sous Vichy. Paris: Odile Jacob. pp. 69–90. ISBN9782738115447.
Hitchcock, William I (2001). "Pierre Boisson, French West Africa, and the Postwar Epuration: A Case from the Aix Files". French Historical Studies. 24 (2): 305–341. doi:10.1215/00161071-24-2-305. S2CID 159969656.
Ginio, Ruth (2006). French Colonialism Unmasked: The Vichy Years in French West Africa. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN9780803253803.
Akpo-Vaché, Catherine (1996). L'AOF et la Seconde Guerre mondiale : la vie politique, septembre 1939-octobre 1945. Paris: Editions Karthala. ISBN978-2865376407.
February 21, 2024
pierre, boisson, this, article, about, colonial, governor, sports, shooter, sports, shooter, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged,. This article is about the colonial governor For the sports shooter see Pierre Boisson sports shooter This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pierre Boisson news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pierre Francois Boisson 19 June 1894 20 July 1948 was a senior French civil servant colonial administrator and the Governor General of French Equatorial Africa AEF and French West Africa AOF His diplomatic career included two terms where he reigned as Governor General of the AOF and one term as Governor General of the AEF During his second reign over these territories he is remembered for assuming the role of High Commissioner to Vichy France 1 His diplomatic actions were met with strong condemnation from the French Resistance These attitudes significantly aroused negative French public sentiment after the war until his death As such Boisson s legacy is significantly tainted by his decision to surrender French colonial control to Vichy administrative forces Pierre BoissonBoisson c 1940High Commissioner for French AfricaGovernor General of French West AfricaIn office 25 June 1940 13 July 1943Preceded byLeon CaylaSucceeded byPierre CournarieGovernor General of French Equatorial AfricaIn office 3 September 1939 28 August 1940Preceded byJoseph Francois ResteSucceeded byFelix EbouePersonal detailsBorn 1894 06 19 19 June 1894Saint Launeuc Cotes du NordDied20 July 1948 1948 07 20 aged 54 Chatou Ile de France France Contents 1 Early life and career 2 World War I 3 Interwar period 4 World War II 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingEarly life and career editPierre Boisson was born in Saint Launeuc Cotes du Nord His mother was a teacher and his father was a disabled war veteran He took after the occupation ambitions of his parents to become a schoolteacher until the First World War broke out 1 World War I editDuring the First World War he held the position of second lieutenant in the 71st Infantry regiment He served in the battles of Artois the Argonne and at Verdun Over the course of the war Boisson attained many wounds eventually having one of his legs amputated due to injuries in 1917 1 Interwar period editAfter the First World War Boisson decided to take up colonial administration His advancements were notably quick In 1920 he was appointed as an assistant administrator at Brazzaville in the Congo Over the next twelve years he spent his career working in various African posting within the French colonies By 1932 Boisson had been designated the chief of cabinet role of the under secretary of colonies 2 Between 1938 and 1939 Boisson served as temporary governor general of the AOF governor general of the AEF and governor of the Congo 1 World War II editOn 3 September 1939 Boisson had been appointed to the role of Governor General of French Equatorial Africa 3 By June 1940 the Nazis had overrun Belgium the Netherlands Luxembourg and most of France 4 On 25 June 1940 Boisson was appointed to the position of high commissioner of French West Africa In the face of a mounting diplomatic crisis Boisson believed that acting in favour of Vichy French forces while being a difficult decision to commit to was in the best interest of the French nation Charles de Gaulle was notably critical of Boisson s decision to cave in to the diplomatic pressures of the Vichy administration in stating that Boisson s ambition was greater than his discernment 5 Boisson however stood vehemently against German and English depredations of his colonial territories alike and therefore asserted territorial control by way of defending the Empire from any and all invaders 2 Furthermore Boisson s actions had been viewed as courageous acts of sacrifice for France s overseas colonies On 5 June 1941 it was reported by the Glasgow Herald that he was to be awarded the Order of the Nation for the defense of Dakar against de Gaullists by Petain personally 6 See also editBattle of Dakar French West Africa in World War IIReferences edit a b c d Nichols Michael Ray 2002 The fortress and the formidable vessel The struggle for Dakar and the Richelieu in World War II ProQuest ProQuest 305521851 Retrieved 16 November 2021 a b Hitchcock W I 1 April 2001 Pierre Boisson French West Africa and the Postwar Epuration A Case from the Aix Files French Historical Studies 24 2 305 341 doi 10 1215 00161071 24 2 305 ISSN 0016 1071 S2CID 159969656 Cahoon Ben 13 May 2022 Congo Brazzaville www worldstatesmen org Retrieved 13 May 2022 German Invasion of Western Europe May 1940 encyclopedia ushmm org Retrieved 16 November 2021 Jennings Eric T 2015 Free French Africa in Arms Free French Africa in World War II Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 140 172 doi 10 1017 cbo9781107261464 009 ISBN 9781107696976 retrieved 27 March 2022 Dakar Defender at Vichy The Glasgow Herald 5 June 1941 Retrieved 16 November 2021 Further reading editRamognino Pierre 2006 L affaire Boisson un proconsul de Vichy en Afrique Paris Les Indes savantes ISBN 9782846540773 Ramognino Pierre 2004 L Afrique de l Ouest sous le Proconsulat de Pierre Boisson juin 1940 juin 1943 In Cantier Jacques Jennings Eric eds L empire colonial sous Vichy Paris Odile Jacob pp 69 90 ISBN 9782738115447 Hitchcock William I 2001 Pierre Boisson French West Africa and the Postwar Epuration A Case from the Aix Files French Historical Studies 24 2 305 341 doi 10 1215 00161071 24 2 305 S2CID 159969656 Ginio Ruth 2006 French Colonialism Unmasked The Vichy Years in French West Africa Lincoln University of Nebraska Press ISBN 9780803253803 Akpo Vache Catherine 1996 L AOF et la Seconde Guerre mondiale la vie politique septembre 1939 octobre 1945 Paris Editions Karthala ISBN 978 2865376407 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pierre Boisson amp oldid 1189337960, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
