Raymond Chomel

Raymond Emmanuel Marie Siméon Chomel (5 September 1897 in Fourmies – 10 August 1989 in Paris) was a French General and leader of the resistance during World War Two.

During the German offensive of May 1940, Major Raymond Chomel was a liaison officer for the French General Headquarters with the 4th Armoured Division, which had just been created and was commanded by Colonel Charles de Gaulle.

Chomel's military qualities and his political sense were noticed by Colonel de Gaulle who appointed him on May 23 as his Chief of Staff and had him prepare the order for the Battle of Abbeville.

As the Under-Secretary of State for War, on 6 June, de Gaulle brought him into his military cabinet in Paris and promoted Chomel to Colonel.

[4] Chomel was tempted to join de Gaulle in London but opted to stay in Châteauroux in the Armistice Army, with plans to organise a military resistance for his region.

Chomel now formally became part of the Army Resistance Organization (ORA), created by General Frere, and took instructions from his command in Vichy and Limoges.

Chomel was also appointed Chief of Staff and military adviser to the head of the French Forces of the Interior(FFI) in Indre.

The Brigade increased its sabotage operations and harassed the occupying forces, in particular any German combat divisions moving towards the Normandy front.

The Brigade's radio transmissions and movements, became increasingly monitored by the Germans, which led to losses, such as that of Prince Joachim Murat, a liaison officer of Chomel.

While these arrangements were underway, the column attempted to force a crossing of the Loire at Decize on the night of 9 September, but was prevented from doing so after a four-hour firefight.

By the morning of 10 September, officers of the Charles Martel Brigade escorted Elster from his command post at Chateaneuf-sur-Loire, to the sub-prefecture of Issoudun, where negotiations would continue.

[8] A second ceremony took place at the town hall of Arçay, the next day, in the Cher, at the request of Colonel Bertrand, commanding the FFI, but Elster refused to sign a second time.

Chomel joined General de Gaulle, now President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, as a member of his military cabinet.