Pierre Jacobsen (1917 to 1957) was a Denmark-born French soldier and civil servant known for his work to support refugees. Jacobsen fought for France in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

and became the youngest French general since the

Napoleonic Era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislativ ...

. Afterwards he was the Deputy Director of the

Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations agency that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. The IOM wa ...

(which later became the

International Organization for Migration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations agency that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. The IOM w ...

). He died in 1957, when a train struck his vehicle at a level crossing. He was posthumously awarded the

Nansen Refugee Award The Nansen Refugee Award is awarded annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to an individual, group, or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced, or stateless people. Th ...

in 1958.

Early life

Jacobsen was born in 1917 in Denmark, later obtaining French citizenship.Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 85th Congress, First Session, Volume 103 - Part 8, June 21 1957 to July 10 1957. (1957). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p10834

Career

During World War II Jacobsen fought in the

Free French Forces __NOTOC__ The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, l ...

and became a

General de brigade Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...

aged 28, the youngest general in the French Army since the Napoleonic Era. In 1945 Jacobsen was appointed as the Inspector-General of France's Ministry for Prisoners, Deportees and Refugees. In 1947 he was appointed as the Director-General of the

International Refugee Organisation The International Refugee Organization (IRO) was an intergovernmental organization founded on 20 April 1946 to deal with the massive refugee problem created by World War II. A Preparatory Commission began operations fourteen months previously. ...

where be became the architect of the ''internationally planned migration'' concept and where he led the resettlement of over one million refugees. He took part in the setting up of the

, and became the deputy director when it launched in February 1952.

Death

Jacobsen and his colleugues Count Rossi Longhi died when a train struck their vehicle at a Geneva level crossing in July 1st 1957.Marks, E. B. (2005). Still Counting: Achievements and Follies of a Nonagenarian. United States: Hamilton Books. p261 After waiting for one train to pass, the gate keeper raised the barrier, signalling for them to drive forward, but the Geneva–Lausanne Express train moving in the opposite director struck their vehicle at full speed. Jacobsen was posthumously awarded the

in 1958. Barthelemy Epinat of France took over Jacobsen's responsibilities at the

.International Organization and Conference Series. (1959). United States: U.S. Government Printing Office. p226

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobsen, Pierre 1917 births 1957 deaths Danish emigrants to France French Army generals of World War II French civil servants Railway accident deaths in Europe Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Nansen Refugee Award laureates