Early Life and Resistance Beginnings

Paul Batiment was born on 7 October 1920 in Strasbourg, a city in the Alsace region of France. From an early age, he refused to learn German, a language that had become prominent in the region under previous political regimes.

Joining the Free French Forces

After the armistice in 1940, Batiment refused to return to Alsace and instead boarded a Polish ship, the Batory, on 21 June 1940 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, heading for England. He joined the Free French Forces on 1 July 1940, aligning himself with the resistance against Nazi occupation.

Military Training and Deployment

Assigned to the Chasseurs Battalion and later to the Cadet Company at Camberley, Batiment excelled in training and was ranked among the top of his class. In June 1941, he was sent to French Equatorial Africa (AEF), first to Brazzaville (Congo) and then to Fort Lamy (Chad), where he became part of the meharist officers’ cadre.

Campaigns in North Africa

Under the command of General Leclerc, Batiment served in the 12th Company of the Chadian Senegalese Rifles Regiment (RTST). He distinguished himself during a campaign in Tunisia, repelling a German attack with grenades on 24 March 1943. He was later stationed in Tripolitania, Algeria, and Morocco, where the 2nd Armored Division of General Leclerc was formed.

Normandy Invasion and Later Battles

Promoted to lieutenant on 25 June 1943, Batiment was assigned to the Chadian Marching Regiment (RMT) and landed in Normandy with the 2nd DB on 1 August 1944. He led a section during the Normandy campaign and was recognized for his actions during the Battle of Paris, where he destroyed 15 trucks and captured many German soldiers.

Final Stand and Sacrifice

On 1 November 1944, during the Battle of Baccarat in Herbéviller, Batiment led his section and a tank platoon under heavy enemy fire. After his tank was hit and he was wounded, he continued to command his unit before succumbing to his injuries. He was buried in Moyen, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department.

Honors and Recognition

Paul Batiment was posthumously awarded several honors, including the Legion of Honour, the Companion of Liberation, and the War Cross 1939-45. He also received the Medal for Wounded, the Colonial Medal with specific clasps, and the Military Cross from the United Kingdom.