Stephane Hessel Diplomat, ambassador, writer, member of the French Resistance Date of Birth: 20.10.1917 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Education
2. World War II and Resistance
3. Diplomatic Career and Activism
4. Outrage and Resistance
5. Final Years and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Stéphan Frédéric Hessel, born in 1917 in Berlin, Germany, was the son of journalist Helen Grund and writer Franz Hessel. His family had Jewish ancestry. They emigrated to Paris, France, in 1924, where Hessel spent his childhood. He graduated from École Normale Supérieure in 1938 and became a naturalized French citizen in 1939.

World War II and Resistance

Hessel joined the French Resistance during World War II, aligning with General Charles de Gaulle. Sent into occupied territory, he organized resistance activities before being arrested by the Nazis. He endured torture by the Gestapo and was imprisoned in the Buchenwald and Dora concentration camps. Escaping during a transfer to Bergen-Belsen, he met with advancing American troops in Hannover.

Diplomatic Career and Activism

After the war, Hessel became a diplomat and collaborated with Eleanor Roosevelt in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. He founded the Association for Training in Africa and Madagascar (AFTAM) in 1962, serving as its first president. Hessel received numerous honors, including the Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneur in 2006 and the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit in 1999. In 2008, he was awarded the UNESCO Prize for his work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Spanish Peace Prize Award.

Outrage and Resistance

Hessel sparked global attention in 2011 with his book "Indignez-Vous!" ("Time for Outrage!"). Originally printed in a small run, the essay sold 4.5 million copies worldwide, translated into many languages. Hessel called for social resistance against inequality, austerity, financial power, and apathy. He urged the youth to engage in a "new Resistance" to injustices.

Final Years and Legacy

Hessel continued his activism until his passing in Paris on February 26, 2013, at the age of 95. He received tributes from prominent French and international figures, leaving behind a legacy as a diplomat, writer, and symbol of resistance.