Association Française Buchenwald Dora et Kommandos
- French Association Buchenwald Dora and Kommandos
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History
The Association Française Buchenwald Dora et Kommandos was established on July 1, 1945, by two prominent French resistance members and Buchenwald concentration camp survivors: Marcel Paul and Colonel Frédéric Henri Manhès. Marcel Paul, a former union activist and Communist elected official, later became Minister of Industrial Production under General de Gaulle and founded EDF. Colonel Manhès was a key Resistance figure, serving as an assistant to Jean Moulin, the head of the National Council of the Resistance.
Initially, the association focused on maintaining solidarity among Buchenwald and Dora survivors and defending their rights. It later expanded to include the families of survivors and the general public, promoting the memory of the Resistance and deportations. The association now includes over 1,200 members, with more than 200 survivors.
Leadership has evolved over time, with responsibilities passing from former deportees to their descendants, and eventually, to individuals connected to the cause through their dedication to memorial efforts. Since 2015, Olivier Lalieu, representing this new generation, leads the association, supported by former deportees and a network of volunteers across France.
Mandates/Sources of Authority
The mission of the Amicale des anciens déportés de Buchenwald, established in July 1945, just three months after the camp's liberation, centered on three core principles: Union, Unity, and Usefulness. The organization aimed to foster solidarity (Union) among former deportees to uphold the ideals of the Resistance, promote effectiveness (Unity) through a unified front, and provide official recognition and assistance (Usefulness) to survivors and their families.
Led by Colonel Manhès, with notable resistance figures like Marcel Paul, Maurice Jattefaux, Gaston Weill, and Jean de Rudder as vice-presidents, all members of the first leadership were active in the French Resistance and had been involved in the Comité des Intérêts Français (CIF) during their internment. Their mission was not only to support survivors but also to preserve the memory of the Resistance and honor the commitment made during their ordeal.