Ponsin, René
Item
Name
Ponsin, René
Given name
René
Family name
Ponsin
Relation
French YCW leader
One-line bio
René Ponsin was a French YCW leader who was sent to Germany under the Compulsory Labour Service scheme. He started Catholic Action activities there and launched a Scout group, leading to his arrest.
He was sent to Buchenwald Concentation Camp in February 1944 and died of a gunshot wound while on an evacuation march. He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
He was sent to Buchenwald Concentation Camp in February 1944 and died of a gunshot wound while on an evacuation march. He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
Biography
Born on 30 September, 1923, in Coeuvres-et-Valsery (Aisne). He married in 1943, while on leave. A daughter was born of this union on 29 March, 1944. He worked as a grocery clerk at Hérou's grocery store in Sainte-Brice-sous-Forêt. He was known to belong to the Young Christian Workers movement, though his actual membership details are unknown. He was drafted in December 1942 to go to Germany.
In Germany, he was assigned to a factory in Cologne. He met prisoners of war, scouts working at the same factory as him.
The forbidden activities that led to his arrest involved attending Mass for prisoners of war inside Kommando 624. He would borrow a military uniform to infiltrate the camp, thus participating in Sunday Mass and Catholic Action meetings. He was also able to help the prisoners of war by sending mail on their behalf, as his letters were less censored as a civilian worker. He started a Catholic Action movement in Cologne, connecting with the Boy Scouts of the camp.
But the Nazis had decided to promote and expand the conversion of prisoners of war into civilian workers. The prisoners of war then lost the protection of the Geneva Convention linked to their military status and provided labour for the Germans by reverting to civilian life.
To encourage the prisoners of war to request this conversion and to dissuade them from any inclination to rebel, the Nazis paid prostitutes to seduce them. Some even received false accusations from France, claiming their wives were cheating on them. In Cologne, specifically, in one of these camps, a brothel was established, staffed by French women. The supervision of German doctors did not prevent the spread of disease. René Ponsin protested to the German authorities in Cologne. He won his case, and the brothel was closed.
In accordance with the Nazi decree of 3 December, 1943, against French Catholic action among French workers in Nazi Germany, he would pay with his life, as he was arrested on 23 September, 1943, by the Cologne State Police. He was interrogated in Cologne prison.
He was deported on 24 February, 1944 to the Buchenwald camp (no. 20846); transferred to the Dora commando, then to Harzungen, then Hellrich.
He died from a gunshot wound on 22 April, 1945 in Falkenstein (Upper Palatinate), during the evacuation march.
He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
In Germany, he was assigned to a factory in Cologne. He met prisoners of war, scouts working at the same factory as him.
The forbidden activities that led to his arrest involved attending Mass for prisoners of war inside Kommando 624. He would borrow a military uniform to infiltrate the camp, thus participating in Sunday Mass and Catholic Action meetings. He was also able to help the prisoners of war by sending mail on their behalf, as his letters were less censored as a civilian worker. He started a Catholic Action movement in Cologne, connecting with the Boy Scouts of the camp.
But the Nazis had decided to promote and expand the conversion of prisoners of war into civilian workers. The prisoners of war then lost the protection of the Geneva Convention linked to their military status and provided labour for the Germans by reverting to civilian life.
To encourage the prisoners of war to request this conversion and to dissuade them from any inclination to rebel, the Nazis paid prostitutes to seduce them. Some even received false accusations from France, claiming their wives were cheating on them. In Cologne, specifically, in one of these camps, a brothel was established, staffed by French women. The supervision of German doctors did not prevent the spread of disease. René Ponsin protested to the German authorities in Cologne. He won his case, and the brothel was closed.
In accordance with the Nazi decree of 3 December, 1943, against French Catholic action among French workers in Nazi Germany, he would pay with his life, as he was arrested on 23 September, 1943, by the Cologne State Police. He was interrogated in Cologne prison.
He was deported on 24 February, 1944 to the Buchenwald camp (no. 20846); transferred to the Dora commando, then to Harzungen, then Hellrich.
He died from a gunshot wound on 22 April, 1945 in Falkenstein (Upper Palatinate), during the evacuation march.
He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
Country of origin
English
France
Geographic area
Aisne
Birth date
September 30, 1923
Birth place
Coeuvres-et-Valsery
Death date
April 22, 1945
Death place
Falkenstein, Germany