Charles Delestraint

Charles Delestraint (1879-1945) was a French general and French Resistance member.

Charles Delestraint was born in Biache-Saint-Waast, Pas de Calais in March 12 1879.

Delestraint was captured in the beginning of the First World War and spent it as a prisoner of war. After the end of the war he remained in the army and supported the use of armored forces. He also befriended Charles de Gaulle.

Delestraint retired 1939 but was recalled for service after the outbreak of World War Two. In June 3-4 1940 he lead the counterattack of armored troops against Germans in Abbeville.

After the surrender of France he retired to Bourgen Bresse where Henri Frenay recruited him for French Resistance. He began to organize resistance in Lyon. He clandestinely visited Charles de Gaulle in London and agreed to lead the Armee Secrete group. He returned to France in March 24 1943. However, due to informant Rene Hardy, he was arrested by Gestapo in June 9 and interrogated by Klaus Barbie. He was taken to Struhof and then to Dachau where he was executed in April 19 1945.