French jocist leaders who died in World War II camps

In recent weeks we have commemorated the deaths of YCW lay co-founders, Fernand Tonnet and Paul Garcet, who died in the Dachau concentration camp in January and February 1945.

However, there were in fact many more YCW and YCS leaders and chaplains, particularly from France, who died in the various Nazi labour, prison and concentration camps of World War II.

Today, 15 February 2020 in fact marks the 75th anniversary of the registration of the death of André Vallée, one of two French brothers, who both died at Zoeschen Forced Labour Re-education Camp. In reality, howeer, André had died two weeks earlier on 31 January 1945.

André's brother, Roger, a seminarian, had died three months earlier on 29 October 1944.

They had both been interned for their action in organising JOC teams among the French workers sent to Germany under a compulsory labour scheme.

In turn, Roger and André were among 25 other jocist leaders and chaplains who died in various camps in similar circumstances.

Along with another 25 Scout leaders who also died in the camps their causes for canonisation are now under way.

And there were other jocist leaders as well, beginning with Marcel Callo, now Blessed Marcel Callo.

Yves de Montcheuil, was a French Jesuit, executed for his chaplaincy work among Resistance leaders.

Gilbert Dru, was a young JEC (YCS) leader, also executed for his work with the Resistance.

Here below is a table with links to the stories of many of these jocist leaders.