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Maetz, Joseph-Julien

Date of birth:
September 19th, 1910
Date of death:
January 17th, 1981
Service number:
325587
Nationality:
French (1870-present, Republic)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Unit:
F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:
November 15th, 1945
Citation:
"This officer was recruited early in 1943 in the MONTBELLARD-BELFORT area. From then until the beginning of 1944 he devoted himself to the organisation of resistance in that region. He helped to form sabotage groups among railway and factory workers and reception committees for aircraft dropping operations, and he took part in enemy sabotage actions. In particular he played a prominent part in the sabotage of the PEUGEOT works at SOCHAUX-MONTBELLARD and distinguished himself by his daring and initiative.
Early in 1944 his wife and children were arrested and with the Gestapo on his tracks, Maetz was forced to flee to Switzerland and later came to England via Spain. He volunteeered to return to France and was parachuted into the JURA in August 1944 to help to organise attacks on enemy convoys retreating through the BELFORT gap and establish an intelligence service for passing information through the enemy lines.
This gallant officer made an important contribution to the building-up af resistance in the MONTBELLARD-BELFORT area, and did not hesitate to risk his lie in the execution of his hazardous work. It is recoomended that he be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)."
Signed: Colin Gubbins, Major-General. 11th September, 1945.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Awarded on:
March 31st, 1947
Médaille de la Résistance Française

Sources

Photo