Roger Etienne Brunschwig (July 14, 1891[1] — Dec 7, 1972[2]) was a much‐decorated French hero of the two world wars.[2] He was decorated with the Grand-croix of the Legion of Honor in 1964 by general de Gaulle.[3]

Roger E. Brunschwig

WWI and after edit

After World War I, he (co[4]) founded[5][1][6][7] the Union des Blesses de la Face et de la tête (association of the wounded to the face and the head). Brunschwig was also a "discreet treasurer and financier" of the association.[4] He served as its president 1970-1972.[8]

WWII edit

Brunschwig was one of the first to answer the call to arms by de Gaulle in June, 1940.[2]

He was one of the founders[9][10][11][7] of France Forever in that year.

In June, 1944, as colonel of the Free French Forces, he led the Free French Military Liaison Mission to the United States Forces. Brunschwig headed 200 French liaison officers who landed in Operation Overlord, joining the battle for the liberation of Europe.[2]

Personal and business edit

Roger Brunschwig joined his father, Achille who founded[1][12] Brunschwig & Fils Inc. Around 1925, he brought the company to the US,[13] soon, the company had opened showrooms in New York and other American cities.[14] In 1929, he married Zelina Brunschwig. She joined his textile firm in 1941 as a stylist.[15][16] After World War II, Brunschwig and his interior designer wife, Zelina, expanded Brunschwig & Fils to include wallpapers and trimmings.[13]

Brunschwig died on December 7, 1972, in New York City.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Grant, Tina (2008). International Directory of Company Histories. St James Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-55862-617-1.; International Directory of Company Histories. United States: St. James Press, 1988. 63.
  2. ^ a b c d e Col. Roger E. Brunschwig Dies; French Hero in 2 Wars Was 81, The New York Times, Dec 10, 1972.
  3. ^ "Recherche - Base de données Léonore". www.leonore.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  4. ^ a b Benoit, Christian (2009). Le sacrifice du soldat: corps martyrisé, corps mythifié (in French). CNRS. p. 79. ISBN 978-2-271-06879-8.
  5. ^ "FRANCE: Troubled Exiles". Time. 1941-03-10. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  6. ^ Hadden, Briton; Luce, Henry R. (1941). Time. Time Incorporated. p. 28.
  7. ^ a b Creagh, Ronald (1988). Nos cousins d'Amérique: histoire des Français aux Etats-Unis (in French). Payot. p. 413. ISBN 978-2-228-88093-0.
  8. ^ "Les présidents". Les Gueules Cassées. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  9. ^ Congress, United States (1941). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 344.
  10. ^ "Le comité de la France Libre des États-Unis - Fondation de la France Libre" (in French). 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  11. ^ A Nation-Wide Organization, Maison Francaise. [1] (PDF)
  12. ^ The New York Times Biographical Service. University Microfilms. 1981. p. 1188.
  13. ^ a b Contract Design. Gralla Publications. 1991. p. 20.
  14. ^ "Roger Etienne Brunschwig - Les Français Libres". www.francaislibres.net. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  15. ^ Bird, Maryann (1981-09-12). "ZELINA COMEGYS BRUNSCHWIG, CHAIRMAN OF FABRIC COMPANY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  16. ^ "About Us - Brunschwig.com". www.brunschwig.com.