Jean Boissel

Boissel came to be heavily influenced by the ethno-racialist concepts of Arthur de Gobineau. He became active in political journalism and, in 1933, he published a book titled Les Croix le sang ([The Cross of Blood]). In 1934, he undertook the founding of a far-right league called Racisme International Fascism, later renamed Le Front Franc. Starting in March 1936, Boissel founded the Paris-based periodical Le Réveil du peuple, which he edited as an organ of the Front.

Boissel (right) with Julius Streicher.

Boissel established contacts with the leaders of the German Nazi Party. In May 1935, he went to Nuremberg to participate in the congress of the Universal Anti-Jewish League (La Ligue Antijuive Universelle) alongside Julius Streicher.[1]

Boissel was received by Adolf Hitler in 1936.[1] He corresponded with Theodor Kessemeier, head of the Deutscher Fichte-Bund.[2]

Boissel was sentenced to four months in prison in 1938 for uttering death threats against Léon Blum —then President of the Council—in Le Réveil du peuple. The following year he defended Roger Cazy, regional delegate of the Front Franc, who was jailed for spreading Nazi propaganda in Arras. In October 1939, he was arrested on suspicion of collaboration with the Germans and imprisoned by Édouard Daladier. After the occupation of France by German troops, he was released on 10 July 1940. In mid-1941, he became a member of the Central Committee of the Legion of French Volunteers against Bolshevism and lead its recruitment campaign.

In contrast to Marcel Déat, Jacques Doriot, or Eugène Deloncle, Boissel took a secondary role in the collaboration. He chaired a collaborationist splinter groupuscule, l'Union des forces françaises (the Union of French Forces), which organized a "pilgrimage" to the grave of anti-Semitic polemicist Édouard Drumont in February 1943.[3]

Under the occupation, Boissel resumed leadership of the Front,[4] and revived Le Réveil du peuple in 1943 (its last issue was on 16 August 1944).

After the liberation of France by Allied troops in 1944, he was arrested for collaboration with the Nazis and sentenced to death on 28 June 1946. His property was confiscated and he was removed from the Legion of Honour.[5] His sentence was commuted to life in prison on December 2. He died in prison on 19 October 1951.

Boissel designed the Hôtel des postes du Touquet-Paris-Plage, which functions as a post office in Le Touquet (photos here and here).

Boissel won a competition organized by the municipality (beating out the architects Louis Quetelart and Albert Pouthier). Boissel wanted to preserve the memory that it was built on the site of the former Church of Saint-Jean, with the inclusion of a small bell tower. It was built in 1927 by the Delcourt Brothers. Contributors to the project included the ceramist Delassus, and the glass painter Jeannin Gaëtan.

It was designated a historical monument on 12 May 1997.[6]

• Banco
• Blanc-Mesnil
• Carte Blanche
• Clarendon House
• Forêt bleue
• Loin des flots (renamed Oxer in 1946). Built around 1925.[7] Oxer is a term for an obstacle on a racetrack; this name was chosen by the owner of the villa, a lover of horse riding.
• Mamette
• La Marotte (renamed Le Manoir des Pins). Built in the early 20th century.[8]
• L'Oiseau bleu
• Pare-Brise
• Sable d'Or
• Sainte-Thérèse