Jacques Duclos has been at the helm of the French communist movement for many years. Behind him was participation in the First World War, he experienced persecution by the authorities. Duclos' influence on the communist movement was enormous. The authority of the experienced communist extended beyond the borders of his homeland.
From the biography of Jacques Duclos
The future leader of the French communists was born on October 2, 1896 in the provincial city of Louet. Duclos lived more than modestly. Jacques's father was a carpenter, his mother was a seamstress. At the age of 12, the boy became an apprentice to a baker. Jacques dreamed of breaking free from the shackles of a quiet and dull provincial life, to get a good education. But the imperialist war intervened in the young man's plans.
In 1915, Duclos was drafted into the army. He had a chance to fight on the most dangerous sector of the front - near Verdun, where the bloodiest battle of the First World War took place. Jacques was seriously wounded and spent some time in captivity.
Young communist
In 1918, the bloody war ended. Duclos returned to his homeland. In 1920, Jacques joined the ranks of the French Communist Party. Gradually, this political association became a powerful force. The influence of the party extended to the common people and the veterans of the last war. A year later, Duclos became the secretary of one of the Parisian party sections. His responsibilities included work in the Republican Association of Veterans.
Jacques also came in handy with the skills acquired in childhood: until 1924 he had to combine party activities with the work of a pastry chef.
In 1926 Duclos became a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. During the same period, he became a member of the French Parliament. The bourgeois government of the country was mortally afraid of the communists and tried to prevent the coming of the left forces to power.
Duclos found himself at the very forefront of the struggle against imperialism. He ardently opposed the anti-popular policy of the authorities. Duclos represented the interests of his party in the Comintern, personally knew many leaders of the Soviet state. In 1928, the communist leader was threatened with imprisonment for anti-war statements, so Duclos fled from persecution.
Party leader
As one of the leaders of the Communist Party, Duclos was engaged in journalism and literary work. A number of his bold articles have been published in the newspaper L'Humanite. Until a certain time, Jacques was an implacable supporter of a fierce class struggle that did not allow compromise. After 1934, Duclos's position became softer: he urged his associates to get closer to related parties, among which were those who sympathized with the communist idea.
Duclos had the qualities of a born orator, and therefore was responsible for propaganda in the party. In 1936, Jacques became vice-chairman of the country's National Assembly, which expanded the capabilities of the communists.
During the Spanish Civil War, Duclos gave all kinds of support to the Spanish communists. During the war against fascism, the French communists actively worked in the Resistance. At the end of World War II, Duclos agreed with General de Gaulle on the participation of the Communists in the leadership of the republic.
Personal life Jacques Duclos
Duclos married in 1937. His wife was Roux Gilbert, whose father died during the imperialist won. The girl was raised by her stepfather, who was an activist of the trade union and communist movement. The young couple moved to Montreuil, a suburb of the French capital, where the Duclos family spent many years.
Jacques Duclos passed away on April 25, 1975.
