Jean-Jacques Becker was born into a family descended from the Jewish community of Alsace-Lorraine, located in Paris.

In July 1942, he entered the South zone with his parents who settled in Grenoble (Isère).

He argued in 1976 his doctoral thesis on "French public opinion and the beginning of the War of 1914" prepared under the direction of Pierre Renouvin.

He dedicated his work to two major historical areas, World War I and the political history of France in the 20th century, particularly the labor movement and communism.

He was also Honorary President of the International Research Center of the Museum of the Great War in Peronne, and winner of JF Mege Academy of Science, Literature and Arts Clermont-Ferrand.