René Gosse’s youth

René Gosse was born in Clermont l'Herault on the 18th August 1883 , he had two sisters ( Yvonne and Marie-Rose) who died young. He had a passion for literature, theatre and poetry. He was really smart at school, he passed two French Baccalaureats:  philosophy and science.

Studies

He attended two higher education establishments (ENS and the Polytechnic School). In 1904 he passed the mathematics “aggregation” and with his student friends he created a small community called “the clan”. Then, he left Paris to teach in Bordeaux, in 1928, as a mathematics teacher.

The High School Teacher

In the past, René Gosse was a professor of mathematics,  and between 1907 and 1921, he taught even in preparatory classes . He worked in different cities. As a teacher, he made sure to give the best education to his students: some admired him.

Henri Daudin and René Gosse fought so that every student could have  the same education,, whether they are boys or girls, whether they come from the city or the countryside.

In 1921, he became a senior lecturer of mathematics in Bordeaux, but it's at the Ecole Normale Supérieure that   he met his wife, Lucienne Gosse.

The fighter of the Great War

René Gosse did his military service from 1903 to 1904, supported by his fervent  patriotism. During World War I (1914-1918), he joined  the front as a soldier, a teacher and a scientist . During the fight in the Aisne, he was hurt by a bayonet.
 After his convalescence , he wanted to return to the battle. He was affected in military hospitals before he became an instructor in the school of Fontainebleau. He obtained a position enabling him to work  with Jean Perrin in order to create a system  helping the detection of enemy planes.

The researcher

He became a mathematician and researcher in 1907, but his work was stopped by the war in 1914. He practiced in aerial detection there. On November 1st 1921, he had a potential career as a professor in Grenoble. From 1931 on, he gave conferences in foreign universities.

The reformer

In the 1920s, René Gosse and his wife fought against inequalities between men and women. It's very surprising for the historical context. In fact, at this time, women were taught to be good mothers and wives for the family, the house, and the country. René Gosse and his wife helped a lot during the fight against inequalities.  The laws of 1881 and 1882 made by Jules Ferry for secular and free school are for René Gosse a big progress. Later he became professor.

The choice of Resistance   

According to René Gosse, the military defeat and the armistisce asked by the Maréchal Pétain were seen as humiliating renunciations. But during the speech of the General De Gaulle on the 18th of June 1940 on Radio Londres, he regained  hope because he heard a voice of honour, of truth and courage. So, thanks to his influence, he directed many decisions. The house of René Gosse located in Grenoble became  a safe place for those who went to Spain, North Africa or England. From summer 1940 onwards, he revealed his engagement in the Resistance. On the 1^st of July 1940, René Gosse was denounced by some members of the university, accused of being Gaullist. During the summer, he was widely attacked due to his political commitment.

The struggle  

René Gosse continued the fight. In July 1940 he organised intelligence channels towards London, he recruited agents and set up escape chains to help resistant airmen. He hid Jewish people in the house La Bérengère until 1943.

In late 1942, the scientist joined the Marco Polo media following his meeting with the commandant Pierre Sonneville. The renseigning work of René Gosse is intensfying. He get informations from London or Alger. In November 1942, he is in charge of the debunking in Italy. René Gosse collaborated with the Jade Amicol centrale office is in Paris.

On July the first 1940, René Gosse, was denounced by members of the university as a Gaulliste. During the summer, he suffered from many attacks  linked to his political engagement.

A tragic autumn

In the autumn of 1943, Réné Gosse became a french resistor during the WW2. He worked with his wife and his son in Grenoble in the French department of Isère. Isère was under Italian occupation. Later on the German army took back control of Isere from the weakened Italian army. Since this event, René Gosse was anxious all the time about the safety of his familly and for the resistance activities. At the end of November of 1943, his son Jean endured search by the Gestapo. During the evening of December 21st, René Gosse and Jean Gosse were arested by the secret police. The next day they were found shot by the side of the road, close to each other.

 A la manière de Rudyard Kipling,

IF

If you can keep calm and be level-headed

If you can trust your own decisions

If you can understand what makes others doubt or hesitate 

If you can be sensitive to other people's views and remain faithful to your life vision 

If you can be modest 

If you can be patient

If you can be humble

If you can stand by the truth even when your words are twisted.

If you can be resilient, prepared to start again when something goes wrong

If you can ris kit all and be unshaken with your losses

If you can start over when you are not successful       

If you are perseverant, if you never give up when you are exhausted

If you can develop the strength of will to survive and achieve your goals

If your values can’t be corrupted by popularity or power

If you can be honored by both friends and enemies 

If you can live every second of your life to the fullest

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it. 

And, which is more, René Gosse will be proud of you, my child.

by the 2^nd5/6 :