François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was born on the 26th of October 1916 in Jarnac, Charente. His family was devoutly Catholic and conservative. His father worked as a stationmaster for the Compagnie Paris Orléans railway. He studied from 1925 to 1934 at the Collège Saint-Paul in Angoulême. There he became a member of the Jeunesse Étudiante Chrétienne. This student organisation belonged to Action catholique. Arriving in Paris in autumn 1934, he went to the École Libre des Sciences Politiques until 1937. He obtained his diploma in July of that year. Mitterrand took membership for about a year in the Volontaires nationaux. This organisation related to François de la Rocque's far-right league, the Croix de Feu. The league had just participated in the 6th of February 1934 riots which led to the fall of the second Cartel des Gauches. Contrary to some reports, Mitterrand never became a formal member of the French Social Party. However, he did write news articles in the L'Écho de Paris newspaper. That publication was close to the Social Party. He participated in demonstrations against the invasion métèque in February 1935. He also joined those against law teacher Gaston Jèze nominated as juridical counsellor of Ethiopia's Negus in January 1936. When his involvement in these conservative nationalist movements was revealed in the 1990s, he attributed his actions to the milieu of his youth. He furthermore had personal and family relations with members of the Cagoule. This was a far-right terrorist group in the 1930s.
World War II Controversies
Mitterrand served his conscription from 1937 to 1939 in the 23rd régiment d'infanterie coloniale. In 1938, he became best friend of a Jewish socialist named Dayan. He saved him from anti-Semitic aggressions by the national-royalist movement Action française. Finishing his law studies, he was sent in September 1939 to the Maginot line near Montmédy. There he held rank of Sergeant-chief. Mitterrand was wounded by shrapnel during the Battle of France on the 14th of June 1940 at Cote 304 near Verdun. He was captured by Germans on the 21st of June. Initially held at Stalag IX A southwest of Kassel, he was transferred to Stalag IX C Kommando 1515 in Schaala Thuringia. In March 1941, Mitterrand made escape with fellow POW Father Xavier Leclerc while on work detail. They trekked over 22 days but were arrested at Egesheim just from Swiss border and returned to Stalag IX A. On the 28th of November Mitterrand escaped with forged papers and made it to Metz. However he was denounced by landlady of hotel where he rested. He was taken to sorting camp for escapees in Boulay-Moselle. Before transfer to another camp likely in Poland, he escaped through barbed wire on the 10th of December. He hid in nearby hospital sheltered by nurse Marie Baron. That evening Mitterrand rendezvoused with three other escapees and member of Sister Hélène's network at Saint-Martin Church. They took them to meet smuggler at Metz train station. The group boarded train towards border between Moselle and occupied zone bailing during slowdown for roadworks. They crossed border near Chamblay on the 16th of December. With help from friend of his mother, Mitterrand got job as mid-level functionary of Vichy government looking after interests of POWs. This was very unusual for escaped prisoner. He later claimed to have served as spy for Free French Forces. From spring 1942, he met other escaped POWs Max Varenne and Dr. Under whose influence he became involved with resistance. In April François Mitterrand and Fric caused major disturbance in public meeting held by collaborator Georges Claude. By end of 1942, Mitterrand met Pierre Guillain de Bénouville old friend from days with La Cagoule. Bénouville was member of resistance groups Combat and Noyautage des administrations publiques. In late 1942 non-occupied zone invaded by Germans. Mitterrand left Commissariat in January 1943 when boss replaced by collaborator André Masson. But he remained in charge of centres d'entraides. In spring 1943 along with Gabriel Jeantet member of Marshal Pétain's cabinet and Simon Arbellot both former members of La Cagoule, Mitterrand received Order of Francisque. Debate rages in France over significance of this award.