Some elements were oddly omitted : so some details are needed to refine the profile of the "hero".
About Résistance, as communist, Aubrac began to resist only from mid 1941.
Why only from mid 1941 ? Since Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (end August 1939), Germany and Soviet Russia were allies, so French communists (belonging to the Komintern) were not very concerned by the defense of France during the hostilities (between September 1939 - June 1940). September 1939 was also the end of the Spanish War, where communists were more active.
For the first time in the history of France, a party (the Communist Party) was prohibited (in September 1939, by the Daladier government) : its elected officials (deputies, senators, mayors ...) were sent to jail, considered as traitors or agents of the enemy. So many communists disappeared in clandestinity. Some French communists deserted (as the chief of the party, Maurice Thorez, who flew in Russia), other made sabotages in military factories (and were shot on order of the Daladier government).
When the German army won the Battle of France and occupied the country, a part of the communist leadars left the clandestinity, asking advantages to this enemy army (in particular the republication of their official newspaper, L'Humanité, or the release of their elected officials).
But the real Résistance against Germans started in September 1939, followed by the fights in May and June 1940 (90 000 KIA for this period of 7 weeks. By comparison, during the hardest hours, there were 100 000 KIA each month at Verdun in 1916), followed after the defeat by dissimulation of weapons, military vehicles, helping British Intelligence services ... Communists were not very present here !
On 22 June 1941, Germany attacked Soviets. The situation became clearer for the communists in Europe : they were to help to defend the motherland (Soviet Russia). For Aubrac, it was time for him to enter the Résistance againt Nazism. With well orchestrated propaganda, fight for the motherland became gradually the fight for the fatherland (France) ...
At the Libération, French Communist Party succeeded in making forget its quite particular role at the beginning of WWII, becoming on the contrary the champion of the combat against the Nazism. During generations, this (falsificated) French history was taught at the school, in the universities, were communists were numerous among the teachers.
After WWII, friend of the good Hô-Chi-Minh, Aubrac continued to be useful to the Soviets during the Cold War, acting against France and NATO interests.
Celebrated today in the media (were communism still has many sympathizers), Aubrac is a good example of these alleged symbols of French Resistance.
It's also a good example of how the misinformation remains effective ...
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