Mestre, Jean
Item
Name
Mestre, Jean
Given name
Jean
Family name
Mestre
Relation
French YCW leader
One-line bio
French YCW leader sent to Germany under the Compulsory Work Service regime where he continued to organise clandestine YCW groups for which he was arrested and sent to Waltendstet-Hallendorf Disciplinary Camp where he died. He was beatified on 13 December 2025.
Biography
Born on 14 July, 1924, in Paris. An orphan, he was the family's breadwinner. After completing his primary education, he worked as a lathe operator at the "La Licorne" factory in the western suburbs of Paris. At the same time, he joined the Young Christian Workers (Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne) in his neighborhood, "La Goutte d'Or," in Paris. Despite being the family's breadwinner, he participated in a regional meeting of Catholic activists to expand their activities in the region.
In accordance with the Nazi decree of 3 December, 1943, against French Catholic Action among French workers in Nazi Germany, he was arrested in early March 1944 in Brunswick by the Gestapo, accused of "clandestine meetings of the Young Christian Workers (JOC)." He was ordered to stop.
He was sent to Disciplinary Camp 21 in Waltendstet-Hallendorf. This was a disciplinary measure in accordance with the circular of 3/12/43 (official measure no. 5). A month later, he was admitted to the hospital, extremely weak and suffering from the onset of pleurisy.
He died on 4 May, 1944, in Waltendstet-Hallendorf from bronchitis and purulent pleurisy. His body was returned to the St. Ouen cemetery in 1949.
In accordance with the Nazi decree of 3 December, 1943, against French Catholic Action among French workers in Nazi Germany, he was arrested in early March 1944 in Brunswick by the Gestapo, accused of "clandestine meetings of the Young Christian Workers (JOC)." He was ordered to stop.
He was sent to Disciplinary Camp 21 in Waltendstet-Hallendorf. This was a disciplinary measure in accordance with the circular of 3/12/43 (official measure no. 5). A month later, he was admitted to the hospital, extremely weak and suffering from the onset of pleurisy.
He died on 4 May, 1944, in Waltendstet-Hallendorf from bronchitis and purulent pleurisy. His body was returned to the St. Ouen cemetery in 1949.
Country of origin
English
France
Geographic area
Paris
Birth date
July 14, 1924
Birth place
Paris
Death date
May 4, 1944
Death place
Waltendstet-Hallendorf
Movement
French JOC
Affiliation
French JOC