[1] He was one of five inmates involved in a 1947 escape attempt from France's La Santé Prison.
He served as the inspiration for the character of Roland Darbant in José Giovanni's 1957 novel The Break (French: Le Trou).
During the Second World War he was in German-occupied France and started breaking into (German-controlled) local town halls to steal ration books and identity papers.
Returning to Le Sante he made his final infamous escape in 1947 with three fellow cell-mates (including the future author, Joseph Damiani alias José Giovanni).
In the 1960 film production of Le Trou (The Hole), director Jacques Becker cast Barbat to play Darbant.