He was Minister or Secretary of State for PTT four times in the post-war period.. Eugène Thomas was born on 23 July 1903 in Vieux-Condé, Nord.

He was one of a family of six children, Thomas attended the normal school at Douai where he gained a higher certificate.

He was a militant trade unionist, and became secretary-general of the north section of the National Union of Teachers.

[1] Thomas volunteered at the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and was assigned to the 5th North African Infantry Division as a 2nd lieutenant.

[2] Thomas was one of the early members of the French Resistance, and traveled widely to try to reconstitute the socialist movement.

[2] In April 1945 Thomas was elected mayor of Quesnoy, and then general councilor of Quesnoy-East canton.

Thomas was elected to the first National Constituent Assembly as Socialist deputy for Nord on 21 October 1945.