Grandet, Maurice
Item
Name
Grandet, Maurice
Given name
Maurice
Family name
Grandet
Relation
Leader of the French JOC
One-line bio
Maurice Grandet was a French YCW leader, who was sent to Germany under the Compulsory Labour Service scheme. There he organised young workers leading to his arrest after which he was sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp where he died on 12 October 1944. He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
Biography
Born on 3 April, 1920 in Le Havre (Seine-Inférieure, Seine-Maritime), died on 12 October, 1944 in Buchenwald (Germany); carpenter; JOC activist; STO; died in deportation
Maurice Grandet's parents divorced in 1924. His mother, Henriette Dubreuil, worked in the linen department of the Transat shipping company. After completing his primary education, he trained at the Practical School of Carpentry and Cabinetmaking. A choirboy, he was noticed in his Sainte Cécile neighborhood in Le Havre for his participation in the Théâtre du Patronage and as a trumpet player. He was hired by the Charles Dubreuil furniture company.
In 1937, he met André Robillard, a member of the Young Christian Workers (JOC) from Harfleur, who, along with Bernard Lemaire and the young workers of the Aplemont parish, encouraged him to join the JOC after the success of the national rally at the Parc des Princes in Paris. He quickly became a very active member, organizing outings, meetings, and mass assemblies. Investigations were launched into the working conditions of the young workers in the neighborhood in order to broaden the movement against injustices.
In July 1938, he participated in a celebration and meeting at the Le Havre exhibition center to commemorate the national Young Christian Workers (JOC) congress, which had brought together more than 50,000 young people in Paris the previous year. In March 1939, the local branch, composed of 26 members, was affiliated with the JOC (Young Christian Workers) in the presence of André Villette , the national leader.
Following the defeat and subsequent exodus at the end of 1940, Maurice Grandet returned to work at the Renault company. Despite the German occupation and the JOC being banned, the organization continued to train its members. In April 1943, he received a conscription order for the Compulsory Work Service (STO) to be placed at the disposal of the Todt Organization. He was assigned to the construction sites of the bunkers in the Octeville region.
On 7 July, 1943, he was arrested and sent by train from Le Havre to Cologne, Germany, along with several hundred other young people, transported in freight cars. After a three-day journey, he was housed in one of three camps inhabited by more than 2,000 civilians and assigned to the Todt Organization.
Very quickly, he joined the Catholic teams that were organizing clandestinely with members of the Young Christian Workers (JOC), religious orders, seminarians, and conscripted priests.
At the end of 1943, he was granted leave. Upon returning to Le Havre, despite pressure from his family and Father Varignon. He refused to be a draft dodger, believing that his place as a "witness of Christ" was among the young workers. Returning to Cologne, the Young Christian Workers (JOC) group expanded its mutual aid and solidarity activities among all the forced laborers (STO). The network made contact with German Catholics. In March 1944, priests were arrested and imprisoned.
On 13 July, 1944, he was interrogated by the Gestapo. There were 64 others in this situation, from all over Germany. On September 16, 1944, he was taken to the Buchenwald concentration camp (Germany). Weakened and ill, he died on 12 October, 1944.
He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
Maurice Grandet's parents divorced in 1924. His mother, Henriette Dubreuil, worked in the linen department of the Transat shipping company. After completing his primary education, he trained at the Practical School of Carpentry and Cabinetmaking. A choirboy, he was noticed in his Sainte Cécile neighborhood in Le Havre for his participation in the Théâtre du Patronage and as a trumpet player. He was hired by the Charles Dubreuil furniture company.
In 1937, he met André Robillard, a member of the Young Christian Workers (JOC) from Harfleur, who, along with Bernard Lemaire and the young workers of the Aplemont parish, encouraged him to join the JOC after the success of the national rally at the Parc des Princes in Paris. He quickly became a very active member, organizing outings, meetings, and mass assemblies. Investigations were launched into the working conditions of the young workers in the neighborhood in order to broaden the movement against injustices.
In July 1938, he participated in a celebration and meeting at the Le Havre exhibition center to commemorate the national Young Christian Workers (JOC) congress, which had brought together more than 50,000 young people in Paris the previous year. In March 1939, the local branch, composed of 26 members, was affiliated with the JOC (Young Christian Workers) in the presence of André Villette , the national leader.
Following the defeat and subsequent exodus at the end of 1940, Maurice Grandet returned to work at the Renault company. Despite the German occupation and the JOC being banned, the organization continued to train its members. In April 1943, he received a conscription order for the Compulsory Work Service (STO) to be placed at the disposal of the Todt Organization. He was assigned to the construction sites of the bunkers in the Octeville region.
On 7 July, 1943, he was arrested and sent by train from Le Havre to Cologne, Germany, along with several hundred other young people, transported in freight cars. After a three-day journey, he was housed in one of three camps inhabited by more than 2,000 civilians and assigned to the Todt Organization.
Very quickly, he joined the Catholic teams that were organizing clandestinely with members of the Young Christian Workers (JOC), religious orders, seminarians, and conscripted priests.
At the end of 1943, he was granted leave. Upon returning to Le Havre, despite pressure from his family and Father Varignon. He refused to be a draft dodger, believing that his place as a "witness of Christ" was among the young workers. Returning to Cologne, the Young Christian Workers (JOC) group expanded its mutual aid and solidarity activities among all the forced laborers (STO). The network made contact with German Catholics. In March 1944, priests were arrested and imprisoned.
On 13 July, 1944, he was interrogated by the Gestapo. There were 64 others in this situation, from all over Germany. On September 16, 1944, he was taken to the Buchenwald concentration camp (Germany). Weakened and ill, he died on 12 October, 1944.
He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
Country of origin
English
France
Birth date
April 3, 1920
Birth place
Le Havre
Death date
October 12, 1944
Death place
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Movement
French JOC
Affiliation
French JOC