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Jeanne LabourbeOrganizer of the French Communist Group in Moscow
Date of Birth: 08.04.1877
Country:  France |
Content:
- Jeanne Marie Labourbe: A Revolutionary Life
- Civil War and Communist Organizing
- Odessa Mission and Martyrdom
- Discovery of the Bodies
- Lasting Impact
Jeanne Marie Labourbe: A Revolutionary Life
Early Life and ActivismJeanne Marie Labourbe was born in the Allier département of France into a peasant family. In 1896, she moved to Russia in search of work and became a teacher in the town of Tomashov. From 1903, she became involved in the revolutionary movement.
Civil War and Communist Organizing
In 1918, Labourbe worked for the Central Federation of Foreign Groups within the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party, serving as secretary of the French Communist Group. She also participated in the establishment of the "3rd International" club, which conducted revolutionary work among foreign soldiers and sailors.
Odessa Mission and Martyrdom
In February 1919, Labourbe traveled to Odessa, which was occupied by French troops and the Volunteer Army. She became a leader of the "Foreign Committee" under the Odessa underground committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. She conducted active agitation among French soldiers and sailors, promoting the cause of "internationalism and world revolution."
Due to the influence of Bolshevik agitators, French soldiers began to refuse to fight against Soviet Russia. In response, French General d'Anselme ordered Labourbe and other agitators arrested. On March 1, 1919, French forces apprehended all members of the "Foreign Committee," including Labourbe. The following day, they were summarily executed by the French counterintelligence without trial.
Discovery of the Bodies
According to a report in the "Odessa News," the bodies of the victims were discovered on March 3 in a field near a Jewish cemetery. Six women and five men had been shot and placed in a line. The victims had no identification, but some were identified as the Leibman family.
Lasting Impact
Despite her arrest and death, Labourbe's agitation played a significant role in fueling a mutiny in the French fleet a month and a half later. The mutiny led to the end of French intervention in the Russian Civil War. Jeanne Labourbe's grave is located at the 2nd Christian Cemetery in Odessa.
