Odile de Vasselot: The Aristocratic Heroine of the French Resistance Dies at 103

Odile de Vasselot, a key figure in the French Resistance during World War II, passed away at 103, reflecting on her convictions and adventures that made her a remarkable influence both during and after the war.

Odile de Vasselot, who famously listened to Charles de Gaulle’s call to resist the German occupation while at her family château in central France, passed away on April 21 in Paris at the age of 103. Her death was announced by the Order of the Liberation, the organization that issued her a medal from General de Gaulle recognizing her bravery in the Resistance.

De Vasselot’s journey began as a young aristocrat, with her active participation contrasting the predominantly working-class makeup of the movement. Initially, she chalked the Lorraine Cross on walls and ripped down propaganda posters; however, her role evolved into dangerous nighttime missions by the end of the war.

Reflecting on her motivations, she stated in interviews, “One had to do something. One never has the right to just sit there and do nothing.” The image of Nazi flags flying over Paris etched a feeling of indignation in her at the age of 18, motivating her commitment to fight back.

President Emmanuel Macron's tribute underscored her significance: “a great lady who honorably answered all the appeals throughout her life, and did so with a courage that can only edify us.” Following the war, de Vasselot took her passion for service further by establishing a girls' school in Ivory Coast, marking another chapter of her influential life dedicated to the causes she believed in.