Darius Paul Dassault ( Bloch; 13 January 1882 – 3 May 1969) was a French general who was in the

French Résistance The French Resistance ( ) was a collection of groups that fought the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Nazi occupation and the Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy#France, collaborationist Vic ...

in World War II. He was born in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. His alias Dassault developed when he was in the French Résistance. The name alludes to the code name "Chardasso" and is derived from "char d'assaut", the French term for "assault tank". He was the elder brother of Marcel Bloch (later Marcel Dassault), the aviation engineer. Paul Bloch-Dassault

Career

* 20 March 1933 : Rank of brigade general (''général de brigade'') * 23 March 1936 : Rank of

division general Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

(''général de division'') * 19 December 1938 : Rank of

corps general An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a general officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional ge ...

(''général de corps d’armée'') * 1940 : Commander of

Anti-Aircraft Artillery Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface (Submarine#Armament, submarine-lau ...

* 1941–1944 : Resistant under the name ''Rapp'', then ''Chardasso'' * 1944 : First Free French Military Governor of Paris. * 31 December 1947 : Rank of

army general Army general or General of the army is the highest ranked general officer in many countries that use the French Revolutionary System. Army general is normally the highest rank used in peacetime. In countries that adopt the general officer fou ...

(''général d'armée'')

Honours

* Grand Cross of the

Légion d’honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

(29 June 1946; Grand Officer: 17 May 1945; Commander: 27 December 1934; Officer: 4 February 1921; Knight: 16 December 1916) *

Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...

– 27 June 1951 *

Croix de guerre 1914–1918 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

with 3 palms and 3 stars *

Croix de guerre 1939–1945 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort d ...

Médaille de la Résistance The Resistance Medal (, ) was a decoration bestowed by the French Committee of National Liberation, based in the United Kingdom, during World War II. It was established by a decree of General Charles de Gaulle on 9 February 1943 "to recognize the ...

* Allied Victory Medal 1914–1918 * Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918 * Knight of the

Order of Léopold The Order of Leopold (, , ) is one of the three current Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood. It is the oldest and highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of its founder, King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a mari ...

(Belgium) *

Croix de guerre 1914-1918 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

(Belgium) * Commander's Cross with Star of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

(16 July 1946, Poland)Monitor Polski 1947 no. 27 pos. 188
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References

External links

Darius Paul Dassault (English)

Biographie de Paul-Darius BLOCH (DASSAULT)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dassault, Darius Paul 1882 births 1969 deaths Military personnel from Paris French generals French Army officers Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta Grand Chancellors of the Legion of Honour Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery Dassault family

Career

Honours

See also

References

External links