Jean Moulin

The Controversies

Who betrayed him?

René Hardy was caught, and released, by the Gestapo, which followed him when he came to the meeting at the doctor's house in Caluire, thus leading the Germans to Jean Moulin. Some believe that this was a deliberate act of treason, others think René Hardy was simply reckless.

Related Topics:
René Hardy - Gestapo - Treason

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Two trials were unable to determine that René Hardy was a traitor, and both concluded him innocent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A recent TV film about the life and death of Jean Moulin depicted René Hardy collaborating with the Gestapo, thus reviving the controversy. The Hardy family attempted a lawsuit against the producers of the movie.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Was he a crypto-Communist?

Klaus Barbie definitely thought he was. He was a man of the left who helped the Spanish Republic. On the other hand, he accepted Charles de Gaulle as leader of the entire Resistance and wanted all anti-Fascist forces to be united.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rumours include the idea that he was betrayed by right-wing resistance forces for being too much a man of the left, or that he was betrayed by the French Communists for working with de Gaulle. Neither story is very likely.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~