Roger Lévy, a French soldier and administrator, fought bravely in WWII, survived capture and injury, and later held key roles in postwar France.
Early life and education
Roger Lévy was born on 17 August 1914 in Commercy, a town in the Meuse department of France, into a family of merchants. He later earned a law degree and began training as a lawyer.Military service and early experiences
He started his military service in October 1937 in the Train in Lure, a military unit responsible for logistics and transport. He was mobilized in 1939, at the start of World War II, and volunteered for the Norway campaign.Joining the Free French Forces
After the Norway campaign, Lévy disembarked in Brest and eventually joined England on 20 June 1940. He quickly enlisted in the Free French Forces, a group of French soldiers who continued to fight against Nazi Germany after the fall of France.Training and assignment in Africa
In October 1940, he was directed to AEF, or French Equatorial Africa, and attended cadet training at the Colonna d'Ornano camp in Brazzaville. He was then assigned in June 1941 to the Regiment of Senegalese Tirailleurs of Chad (RTST) within the Leclerc Column.Combat and injury in Fezzan
Promoted to second lieutenant in February 1942, Lévy served in the 1st Company of Discovery and Combat. He participated in the Fezzan campaign under General Leclerc and showed bravery during the battle of Oum El Araneb. On 3 March 1942, he was seriously injured when his truck was hit by enemy fire and set on fire.Capture and imprisonment
After ordering his men to flee, Lévy refused to be carried away and was captured by the Italians. He was left alone in the desert and endured a painful journey on a camel’s back until reaching a post. He was then transported to Sebha, then by plane to Tripoli, where he had his left leg amputated and was held prisoner in Italy until 19 April 1943.Post-war career and honors
After being repatriated in 1943, Lévy was promoted to lieutenant and worked in the military court. He later became an administrator of Overseas France, a commercial advisor at the Ministry of Finance, and a deputy mayor of Aix-en-Provence. He was awarded numerous honors, including the Commander of the Legion of Honor and the Companion of Liberation.Later life and legacy
Roger Lévy died on 17 October 2006 in Luynes, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. His military service and post-war contributions earned him recognition in both France and other countries, including Italy and Benin.
