Germaine Sablon (19 July 1899 at

Le Perreux-sur-Marne Le Perreux-sur-Marne (, literally ''Le Perreux on Marne'') is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 re ...

– 17 April 1985 at Saint-Raphael) was a French singer, film actress and a WWII

French Resistance The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...

fighter. She starred in some 15 films between

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...

and

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...

Biography

Germaine Sablon was born into an artistic family: daughter of Charles Sablon (composer born in 1871), sister of

André Sablon André Eugène Sablon (22 May 1896, Paris – 9 August 1947, Paris) was a 20th-century French composer. Prematurely died at the age of 51, he is buried at Montparnasse Cemetery. The son of (composer born in 1871), he was also the brother of Ge ...

(composer), of

Jean Sablon Jean Sablon (Nogent-sur-Marne 25 March 1906 – Cannes 24 February 1994) was a French singer, songwriter, composer and actor. He was one of the first French singers to immerse himself in jazz. The man behind several songs by big French and Amer ...

(popular singer) and of Marcel Sablon, (director of the

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...

Ballet) and later, she became the aunt of actor

Jacques Sablon Jacques Sablon (1920, Nogent-sur-Marne – 1981, Nice) was a 20th-century French film actor. He was the grandson of actor Gustave Hamilton, the nephew of singers Jean Sablon and Germaine Sablon and the cousin of actress Berthe Jalabert. Filmogr ...

. Germaine Sablon began a career as an

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, length of the work, and at face value, subject matter. Apart from its s ...

singer in 1915. From 1919, she played in silent films. Married twice, in 1918 to Maurice Bloch, then in 1921 to Charles Legrand, she was for many years the companion of the writer

Joseph Kessel Joseph Kessel (10 February 1898 – 23 July 1979), also known as "Jef", was a French journalist and novelist. He was a member of the Académie française and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour. Biography Kessel was born to a Argentine Jews, Je ...

. She interrupted her career in the 1920s to give birth to two sons. As early as 1932, she started recording her songs. At the same time, her career as an actress underwent a considerable turning point with the advent of

talking film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befor ...

s. With the

Fall of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France during the Second World ...

in 1940, she left Paris for Saint-Raphaël. She stayed with

(with whom, as noted, she would start a long relationship) and his nephew

Maurice Druon Maurice Druon (23 April 1918 – 14 April 2009) was a French novelist and a member of the Académie Française, of which he served as "Perpetual Secretary" (chairman) between 1985 and 1999. Life and career Born in Paris, France, Druon was the s ...

. Along with André Girard and

André Gillois Maurice Diamant-Berger (8 February 1902 – 18 June 2004), known as André Gillois, was a French writer, radio pioneer and - during the Second World War - general Charles de Gaulle's spokesman in London. Life Before the war he worked for the c ...

, she joined the

Resistance Resistance may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics * Either of two similarly named but otherwise unrelated comic book series, both published by Wildstorm: ** ''Resistance'' (comics), based on the video game of the same title ** ''T ...

fight against the Nazi occupier. In 1941 she took refuge in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

, then in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in 1943. On 30 May 1943, she sang for the first time the ''

Chant des Partisans The "Chant des Partisans" (; "Song of the Partisans") was the most popular song of the Free French and French Resistance during World War II. The piece was written and put to melody in London in 1943 after Anna Marly heard a Russian song, namely Po ...

'' and recorded it for

Alberto Cavalcanti Alberto de Almeida Cavalcanti (February 6, 1897 – August 23, 1982) was a Brazilian-born film director and film producer, producer. He was often credited under the single name "Cavalcanti". Early life Cavalcanti was born in Rio de Janeiro, ...

's propaganda film ''Three Songs about Resistance''.Guillaume Piketty, "Français en résistance: carnets de guerre, correspondances, journaux personnels Couverture", p. 309

/ref> . Involved with

Free France Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...

, in the later part of the war she was a nurse in the

Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit The Hadfield-Spears Ambulance Unit was an Anglo-French volunteer medical unit which served initially with the 4th French army in Lorraine, eastern France, during the Second World War from February 1940 until it was forced to retreat on 9 June ahead ...

and followed the

1st Free French Division The 1st Free French Division (french: 1re Division Française Libre, 1re DFL) was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces (FFL) during World War II, renowned for having fought the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Consisting of troops from m ...

in Italy and France. From 1945 to 1955, she recorded thirty songs. Germaine Sablon was a Chevalier (Knight) of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

, and a holder of the

Croix de guerre 1939–1945 The ''Croix de Guerre 1939–1945'' (English: War Cross 1939–1945) is a French military decoration, a version of the ''Croix de Guerre'' created on 26 September 1939 to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis forces at any ti ...

Songs

* ''Vous ne savez pas'' (duet with

) * ''

Mon légionnaire "Mon légionnaire" is a French song introduced in 1936 by vocalist Marie Dubas, with lyrics by Raymond Asso and music by Marguerite Monnot. Marie Dubas toured the United States with this song in 1939. Writer Raymond Asso was a veteran of the For ...

'' * ''Mon homme'' * ''La petite île'' * ''Partance'' * ''

Le Chant des partisans The "Chant des Partisans" (; "Song of the Partisans") was the most popular song of the Free French and French Resistance during World War II. The piece was written and put to melody in London in 1943 after Anna Marly heard a Russian song, namely Po ...

'' * ''Paris est à nous''

Filmography

: In ''La Double Existence du docteur Morart'' by

Jacques Grétillat Jacques Marie Gaëtan Grétillat (26 August 1885 – 19 December 1950) was a French actor and film director. Grétillat was born in Vitry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne), and died in Paris. Partial filmography * ''Hamlet'' (1908, Short) - Hamlet * ...

, she played ''Yvonne Saurel'' *

: In '' Au-delà des lois humaines'' by

Gaston Roudès Gaston Roudès (born 24 March 1878, Béziers, Hérault, France; d. 5 November 1958, Villejuif, Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the Île-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is ...

and

Marcel Dumont Marcel Dumont (real name Marcel Félix Georges Dumont) (8 June 1885 – 10 February 1951) was a French film director. Filmography * 1920 : ''Irène'' * 1920 : '' Au-delà des lois humaines'' * 1921 : '' La Proie'' * 1921 : ''Les Élus de la M ...

, she played ''Lise Duclary'' *

: In ''L'Envol'' by Pierre Hot (short film) *

: In ''Le Mont maudit'' by Paul Garbagni (short film), she played ''Pearl Benton'' *

1921 Events January * January 2 ** The Association football club Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, from Belo Horizonte, is founded as the multi-sports club Palestra Italia by Italian expatriates in First Brazilian Republic, Brazil. ** The Spanish lin ...

: In ''Sans fortune'' by Geo Kessler *

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

: In '' A Telephone Call'' by Georges Lacombe, she played ''Manette'' *

: In ''Tante Aurélie'' by

Henri Diamant-Berger Henri Diamant-Berger (9 June 1895 – 7 May 1972) was a French director, producer and screenwriter. In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he directed 48 films between 1913 and 1959, produced 17 between 1925 and 1967 and wrote 21 screenpl ...

(short film) *

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident (1932), Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort ...

: In ''Le truc du Brésilien'' by

: In ''Chassé-croisé'' by Maurice Diamant-Berger (short film) *

: In ''Plaisirs défendus'' by

(short film) *

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

: In ''

Paris-Deauville ''Paris-Deauville'' is a 1934 French comedy film directed by Jean Delannoy and starring Marguerite Moreno, Monique Rolland and Germaine Sablon.Gordon p.39 The film's sets were designed by the art director Roger Caccia. Cast * Marguerite Moreno ...

'' by

Jean Delannoy Jean Delannoy (12 January 1908 – 18 June 2008) was a French actor, film editor, screenwriter and film director. Biography Although Delannoy was born in a Paris suburb, his family was from Haute-Normandie in the north of France. He was a P ...

, she played ''Paulette de Sempé'' *

: In '' Sidonie Panache'' by

Henry Wulschleger Henry Wulschleger or Henri Wulschleger (1894–1943) was a French screenwriter and film director.Crisp p.84 Selected filmography * ''Une nuit agitée'' (1920) * '' Pervenche'' (1921) (co-direction : Alfred Machin) * ''Moi aussi, j'accuse'' ( ...

, she played ''Séraphine'' *

: In ''Surprise partie'' by Marc Didier (short film) *

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...

: In ''La Vie parisienne'' ('' Parisian Life'') by

Robert Siodmak Robert Siodmak (; 8 August 1900 – 10 March 1973) was a German film director who also worked in the United States. He is best remembered as a thriller specialist and for a series of films noirs he made in the 1940s, such as ''The Killers'' (19 ...

, she played ''The Singer'' *

: In ''La Rose effeuillée'' by

Georges Pallu Georges Pallu (1869–1948) was a French screenwriter and film director active in the silent and early sound eras.Paietta p.63 Pallu directed more than forty short and feature films during his career. He is also sometimes credited as George P ...

: In ''La Terre qui meurt'', by

Jean Vallée Jean Vallée (born Paul Goeders in Verviers on 2 October 1941 – 12 March 2014, Clermont-sur-Berwinne) was a Belgian songwriter and performer. Vallée was appointed Knight of the Order of the Crown by HM Albert II in 1999. Career In 1967 Val ...

, she played ''Félicité'' *

1937 Events January * January 1 – Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua. * January 5 – Water levels begin to rise in the Ohio River in the United States, leading to the Ohio River flood of 1937, which continues into Fe ...

: In ''Au soleil de Marseille'' (''

In the Sun of Marseille ''In the Sun of Marseille'' (French: ''Au soleil de Marseille'') is a 1938 French musical sports film directed by Pierre-Jean Ducis and starring Henri Garat, Mireille Ponsard and Gorlett. It was one of a cluster of films made with southern French ...

'') by

Pierre-Jean Ducis Pierre-Jean Ducis (5 March 1907 - 24 June 1980) was a French film director. He mainly directed short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Pictu ...

, she played ''Ginette'' *

: In ''

If You Return ''If You Return'' (French: ''Si tu reviens...'') is a 1938 French romantic comedy film directed by Jacques Daniel-Norman and starring Reda Caire, Jean Dunot and Nicole Vattier. Crisp p.411 The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert ...

'' by

Jacques Daniel-Norman Jacques Daniel-Norman (real name Joseph Jacques Compère 1941 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January–August – 10,072 men, women and children with mental and physical disabilities are asphyxiated with carbon monoxide in a gas chamber, at Hadamar Eu ...

: In ''Sixième étage'' by Maurice Cloche, she played ''The Woman in Grey'' *

1943 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 – WWII: The Soviet Union announces that 22 German divisions have been encircled at Stalingrad, with 175,000 killed and 137,650 captured. * January 4 – ...

: In ''Pourquoi nous combattons'' (''Why We Fight'') *

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

: In '' Tides of Passion'' by

Jean Stelli Jean Stelli (6 December 1894 in Lille – 2 February 1975 in Grasse) was a French screenwriter and film director. Selected filmography * ''The Hurricane on the Mountain'' (1922) * ''Gibraltar'' (1938) * ''Cristobal's Gold'' (1940) * '' The Blue V ...

, she played ''Mme Goudart''

References

External links

Germaine Sablon
on data.bnf.fr * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sablon, Germaine French film actresses French silent film actresses 1899 births 1985 deaths People from Val-de-Marne Actresses from Île-de-France 20th-century French actresses Female resistance members of World War II Knights of the Legion of Honour 20th-century French women singers French women in World War II