"
It is France who made me who I am, I will keep her eternal gratitude. You can dispose of me as you wish
”: by offering her services in the fall of 1939 to a counter-espionage officer, the star of the cabaret Joséphine Baker came into resistance. "
From the start of the Second World War, Joséphine Baker led a double life: music hall artist at the front and rear, and intelligence agent animated by a fierce patriotism
" towards her adopted homeland, says the researcher Géraud Létang, from the Defense Historical Service (SHD), which holds the archive files of his resistance, intelligence and Air Force officer activities.
Her fame allows her to move, to cross borders in a group because an artist involves a troop, while in France everyone is controlled
Géraud Létang, researcher at the Defense Historical Service
Naturalized French in 1937 after her marriage to Jean Lion, a Jewish industrialist, the artist put her musical talent to work from the first months of the conflict to entertain the French soldiers deployed on the Maginot Line. And take advantage of the receptions to which she is invited in the embassies to gather intelligence for counter-espionage. Victim of segregation in her native America, the
black Venus
refused in 1940 to sing in front of the Germans in occupied Paris. After General de Gaulle's June 18 Appeal, it served as a cover for Jacques Abtey, head of the military counter-espionage in Paris in the Free French Forces service. Having become her "
impresario
", he travels with her, under the false identity of Jacques Hébert, with other undercover agents.
See also Josephine Baker: free opening of the Pantheon on December 4 and 5
Sympathetic ink
"
Her fame allows her to move around, to cross borders in a group because an artist involves a troop, whereas in France everyone is controlled
", explains Géraud Létang.
The information collected is written in friendly ink, invisible on his musical scores.
The artist sometimes carries these compromising notes herself in her bra.
“
It's very convenient to be Josephine Baker. As soon as I am announced in a city, the invitations rain. In Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, the scenario is the same. I love embassies and consulates which are full of interesting people. I note carefully when I come home (...). My customs passages are always relaxed. The customs officers give me big smiles and actually ask me for papers, but they are autographs!
», The dancer will have fun later in the autobiographical work
Joséphine
, published by Robert Laffont editions.
Installed in North Africa from 1941, the star, exhausted by this double life, fell seriously ill. But in 1943 she resumed her artistic activity in the service of the Allied troops while gathering intelligence for General de Gaulle's staff. "
The Allies did not say everything to the Free French Forces
", notes the historian. In June 1944, she nearly died in a plane crash off Corsica. "
The castaways (...) saw a detachment of Senegalese sharpshooters arrive by swimming
", relates the march diary of the ministerial air liaison group, with colored drawings in support, signed in 1946 by the artist.
On August 19, 1961, Joséphine Baker was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre in Milandes by General Martial Valin.
AFP
Read also Josephine Baker, agent in the service of France
Military Cross
Engaged in the female forces of the Air Force with the rank of second lieutenant, she landed in Marseille in October 1944. The singer gave concerts near the front for soldiers as well as for civilians. After May 8, 1945, she will perform in Germany in front of deportees released from the camps. In 1946, she received the Medal of the Resistance. Then she was offered the Legion of Honor in a civilian capacity, but she wanted it in a military capacity. His request is supported by several personalities from Free France. "
French by adoption, gave a magnificent example to the French union
", wrote General Martial Valin, companion of the Liberation.
“
There was in Josephine Baker a very strong desire not to be a singer in the service of the armies but a fighter who sings.
This combatant status is an existential quest for her,
”emphasizes Géraud Létang.
A compromise will finally be found: in 1957, the artist will be decorated with the Legion of Honor as a civilian but also with the Croix de Guerre with palms.
"
Our mother served the country, she is an example of republican and humanist values
" but "
she always said:" I only did what was normal "
", told AFP her eldest son, Akio Bouillon.