Pierre Jacobsen

Pierre Jacobsen (1917 to 1957) was a Denmark-born French soldier and civil servant known for his work to support refugees. Jacobsen fought for France in World War II and became the youngest French general since the Napoleonic Era. Afterwards he was the Deputy Director of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (which later became the International Organization for Migration). He died in 1957, when a train struck his vehicle at a level crossing. He was posthumously awarded the Nansen Refugee Award in 1958.

Pierre Jacobsen
Born1917
Denmark
Died1 July 1957
Geneva
CitizenshipFrance
Occupation(s)Soldier, civil servant
AwardsNansen Refugee Award (posthumously, 1958)

Early life

Jacobsen was born in 1917 in Denmark, later obtaining French citizenship.[1][2]

Career

During World War II Jacobsen fought in the Free French Forces and became a General de brigade aged 28, the youngest general in the French Army since the Napoleonic Era.[2]

In 1945 Jacobsen was appointed as the Inspector-General of France's Ministry for Prisoners, Deportees and Refugees.[1] In 1947 he was appointed as the Director-General of the International Refugee Organisation where be became the architect of the internationally planned migration concept and where he led the resettlement of over one million refugees.[1]

He took part in the setting up of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration, and became the deputy director when it launched in February 1952.[1][3]

Death

Jacobsen and his colleugues Count Rossi Longhi died when a train struck their vehicle at a Geneva level crossing in July 1st 1957.[1][2][4] After waiting for one train to pass, the gate keeper raised the barrier, signalling for them to drive forward, but the Geneva–Lausanne Express train moving in the opposite director struck their vehicle at full speed.[4]

Jacobsen was posthumously awarded the Nansen Refugee Award in 1958.[1]

Barthelemy Epinat of France took over Jacobsen's responsibilities at the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration.[5]

References
  1. "Nansen Medal Award Ceremony: Presentation Speech by Dr. Auguste R. Lindt, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the occasion of the special posthumous award to Mr. Pierre Jacobsen". UNHCR. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  2. Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 85th Congress, First Session, Volume 103 - Part 8, June 21 1957 to July 10 1957. (1957). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p10834
  3. Carlin, J. A. (1989). Refugee Connection: Lifetime of Running a Lifeline. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan UK. p35
  4. Marks, E. B. (2005). Still Counting: Achievements and Follies of a Nonagenarian. United States: Hamilton Books. p261
  5. International Organization and Conference Series. (1959). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p226
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