Jeanne Bohec

Jeanne Bohec (born 16 February 1919 in Tourlaville in Normandy; died 11 January 2010) was a French Resistance fighter.

After enlisting in the Women's Volunteer Corps of the Free French Forces, she joined the Central Intelligence and Action Bureau and learned sabotage techniques.

She wrote a book describing her involvement in the Resistance: La Plastiqueuse à bicyclette (The Bomber on a Bicycle).

On 10 April 1975 Jacques Chaban-Delmas stated: "At a time when the equivalence between women and men is the subject of many speeches or is the subject of many measures, Jeanne Bohec provides striking proof that women are quite capable of attaining a degree of courage, determination and efficiency accessible to few men.

To a colleague who asserted that the Germans could no longer be stopped, Bohec replied: “I will not stay here to work with them, I will go to England.

[5] According to Bohec's memoire, “18 June 1940 began like any other day.”[5] Then, hours before the expected arrival of the first Germans in the city of Brest, the employees of the explosives factory where she worked were ordered to leave.

After verification that she was not a spy, Bohec was placed as a paid companion (dame de compagnie) in an English family.

[6] A year later, in August 1943, Henri Frenay intervened on her behalf, allowing her to join the Central Intelligence and Action Bureau (BCRA).

She was received there by Jean-François Clouët des Pesruches (alias "Galilée"), head of the Air Operations Office for the western region.

Her mission was clear: she was to provide training in the handling of explosives to the resistance fighters who were to enter into action after the launch of so-called 'Green Plan'.

The 'Green Plan' called on the Resistance to sabotage railway tracks and communications during and after the D-Day landing in order to hinder Germans troop movements to Normandy.

Since she knew how to handle weapons, Bohec asked to take part in subsequent fighting for the liberation of France,[12] but she was not allowed to bear arms.

Commemorative plaque in the 18th arrondissement of Paris