Simone Tanner Chaumet (c. 1916 – 25 May 1962) was a French peace activist and was a volunteer for SCI (Service Civil International) between 1943 and 1945 in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and between 1951 and 1956 in

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

. She was honoured as ''

Righteous Among the Nations Righteous Among the Nations ( ) is a title used by Yad Vashem to describe people who, for various reasons, made an effort to assist victims, mostly Jews, who were being persecuted and exterminated by Nazi Germany, Fascist Romania, Fascist Italy, ...

'' by the

State of Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

in 2011 for her actions to save

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

children during

the Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilising ...

Early life

Chaumet was born during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, but her exact birth date and place are not known. She never knew her father. This situation affected her susceptibility in her youth years. Her mother got married again. Her step-father who was a lovely man took his wife and two daughters to Cannes to live there. The relationship between Chaumet and her step-father was intense. In 1942, she joined the CLAJ (Club loisirs action jeunesse) with her friend Jamy Bissérier and in 1943 she became the secretary of CLAJ which was associated with "Amitiés Chrétienne" in Col du Fanget in the

French Alps The French Alps are the portions of the Alps mountain range that stand within France, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions. While some of the ranges of the French Alps are entirely in France, others, such a ...

. While she was working there, she saved the life of

children (François Gelbert, Maurice and Charles Wrobel, Gilbert and Maxime Allouche) during

Chaumet and SCI (Service Civil International)

SCI was very important for Chaumet and her life. She paid attention to SCI's calls and she decided to be a volunteer on behalf of SCI. She was very active in

between 1945 and 1950 for this group and she continued to be a long-term volunteer in

between 1951 and 1956. She married with the SCI secretary Emile Tanner. Chaumet who explored the useful aspects of education when she was a volunteer for SCI, set up a school in Bouzareah. She wanted to help the people who didn't know how to read and write and the children who needed education.

Death and commemoration

She was murdered on 25 May 1962 in the struggle of the Algerian Independence war. A commemorative plaque was installed on the Col du Fanget on 7 May 2005. The children; François Gelbert, Gilbert and Maxime Allouche that Chaumet saved their lives, attended the commemoration to honour her. Also, she was commemorated in

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

as she saved the lives of

children during

WWII 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 ...

. Finally, she was honoured on 24 October 2011 as

Righteous among the Nations Righteous Among the Nations ( ) is a title used by Yad Vashem to describe people who, for various reasons, made an effort to assist victims, mostly Jews, who were being persecuted and exterminated by Nazi Germany, Fascist Romania, Fascist Italy, ...

in the ''Salle des Fêtes de la Mairie du 6e Arrondissement'', 78 rue Bonaparte, 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 ...

. Tanner-Chaumet is listed on plate 10 of the

Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Foreign Affairs () is the Algerian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Algeria. Its head office is in El Mouradia, Algiers Province. Ahmed Attaf has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs since March 2 ...

''Wall of the Missing'' of people lost during wars in Algeria.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaumet, Simone Tanner 1910s births 1962 deaths French pacifists French activists French women activists French Righteous Among the Nations 20th-century French women

Early life

Chaumet and SCI (Service Civil International)

Death and commemoration

See also

References