Pierre Jacobsen (1917 to 1957) was a Denmark-born French soldier and civil servant known for his work to support refugees. Jacobsen fought for France in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and became the youngest French general since the

Napoleonic Era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and history of Europe, Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly (French Revoluti ...

. Afterwards he was the Deputy Director of the

Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration Intergovernmental can refer to: * Intergovernmentalism, in international relations * Intergovernmental immunity (disambiguation) * Intergovernmental risk pool, a form of risk management * Intergovernmental organization Globalization is social c ...

(which later became the

International Organization for Migration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations related organization working in the field of migration. The organization implements operational assistance programmes for Human migration, migrants, including internally displa ...

). He died in 1957, when a train struck his vehicle at a level crossing. He was posthumously awarded the

Nansen Refugee Award The Nansen Refugee Award is a medal issued annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to an individual, group, or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced, or stateless pe ...

in 1958.

Early life

Jacobsen was born in 1917 in Denmark, later obtaining French citizenship.Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 85th Congress, First Session, Volume 103 - Part 8, June 21, 1957 to July 10, 1957. (1957). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p10834

Career

During World War II Jacobsen fought in the

Free French Forces __NOTOC__ The French Liberation Army ( ; AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (; FFL) during World War II. The military force of Free France, it participated ...

and became a General de brigade aged 28, the youngest general in the French Army since the Napoleonic Era. In 1945 Jacobsen was appointed as the Inspector-General of France's Ministry for Prisoners, Deportees and Refugees. In 1947 he was appointed as the Director-General of the

International Refugee Organisation The International Refugee Organization (IRO) was an intergovernmental organization founded on 20 April 1946 to deal with the massive refugee problem created by World War II. A Preparatory Commission began operations fourteen months previously. ...

where be became the architect of the ''internationally planned migration'' concept and where he led the resettlement of over one million refugees. He took part in the setting up of the

, and became the deputy director when it launched in February 1952.

Death

Jacobsen and his colleagues Count Rossi Longhi died when a train struck their vehicle at a Geneva level crossing in July 1, 1957.Marks, E. B. (2005). Still Counting: Achievements and Follies of a Nonagenarian. United States: Hamilton Books. p261 After waiting for one train to pass, the gate keeper raised the barrier, signalling for them to drive forward, but the Geneva–Lausanne Express train moving in the opposite director struck their vehicle at full speed. Jacobsen was posthumously awarded the

in 1958. Barthelemy Epinat of France took over Jacobsen's responsibilities at the

.International Organization and Conference Series. (1959). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p226

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobsen, Pierre 1917 births 1957 deaths Danish emigrants to France French Army generals of World War II French civil servants Railway accident deaths in Europe Officers of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Nansen Refugee Award laureates