Bernard Karsenty
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Bernard Karsenty (born in 1920 in Oran, Algeria), was a member of the French Resistance during World War Two.
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[edit] Background
He spent his youth in Paris, and then entered the cours Simon, one of Paris' most prestigious theatrical institutions, to become an actor. As a soldier in the French Army, he was defeated at Marseilles in June 1940, where he took heed of General de Gaulle's Appeal of 18 June.
[edit] Entry into Resistance
He went to North Africa in November 1941, with the hope of being able to get to Gibraltar from there so he could rejoin the allied forces. However, on the spot, he joined a group of patriot Gaullists created by his cousins José Aboulker and Roger Carcassonne, then extended to certain people by Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie. A member of this very clandestine network, Karsenty recruited resistance members, sought weapons and endeavoured to convince fellow Vichy soldiers to join a possible allied invasion.
[edit] Cherchell
He was one of the first organisers of the Cherchell meeting between resistance members and representatives of Eisenhower, where he represented the resistance groups of Algiers. He stayed until the end, doing what was necessary, in spite of a wild sea, for putting afloat the kayak of General Clark, an associate of Eisenhower, allowing him to join his submarine before daybreak.
[edit] Seizure of Algiers
He participated in the Putsch of November 8, 1942, as the assistant of José Aboulker. In this operation, 400 resistant civilians arrested the Vichyist commander in chief General Juin, as well as Admiral Darlan, and succeeded in neutralising the 19th Vichy Army Corps for about 15 hours, which allowed the allied forces to carry out the Torch Operation, in which they unloaded unopposed, who then encircled Algiers and seized it the very same day. Assisting José Aboulker during the operation, he only arrested several of Darnand's soldiers, who had approached the central Police station too closely. He took part in two successive barrages on the Vichy defence circle of Algiers, to prevent the mobilization of the Vichyist forces from being carried out.
[edit] The FFF
Karsenty then rejoined the Free French Forces in England and was named staff officer in Carlton Gardens. In May 1943, he returned to Algiers and prepared for the arrival of General de Gaulle, along with Roger Carcassonne and the opponents of the resistance group Combat. Promoted to officer of Cherchell school, then to second lieutenant, he was assigned to the first Free French Division and went up to Colmar where he arrived in December 1944. Here he learned of the execution of his brother Gaby, an engineer and resistance member in Marseilles, and also of the deportation of his father.
He was then assigned to the Research Bureau of Lyon War Criminals.
Since the war Karsenty has founded and directed several companies.
His decorations were as follows:
- La rosette de la Médaille de la Résistance
- Medal of Freedom of the United States.
He represents the quite rare case of a holder of two quotations to his Military Cross, one given to him by General de Gaulle and the other by Giraud.
Bernard Karsenty is the author of an article on “The companions of November 8”, published by Nouveaux Cahiers, n°31, 1972-1973.
