Tag: Maquis

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The Singing Résistant

This is a “brief” excerpt from an interview conducted by Mike Russert and Wayne Clark for the New York State Military Museum. They interviewed Sonia Malkine (1923−2014) on 18 January 2002. Sonia was a résistant in France during the German Occupation and these are some of her recollections as a teenager fighting the Nazis. At the end of this lengthy, albeit abbreviated interview, I will recap Sonia’s life story including, her career as a folk singer⏤so, hang in here with me. I will provide you with a link to the full interview⏤it is well worth your time to read the full interview.

Sonia Malkine performing at the 1970 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. Photo by anonymous (c. 1970). Florida Memory. State Library and Archives of Florida. PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.
Sonia Malkine performing at the 1970 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. Photo by anonymous (c. 1970). Florida Memory. State Library and Archives of Florida. PD-Expired copyright. Wikimedia Commons.

Q: Today we are interviewing Sonia Malkine. It is January 18th, 2002. We’re in Shady, New York. Ms. Malkine, where were you born?

A: I was born in Paris. Read More The Singing Résistant

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The Rasputin of the Abwehr

Throughout history, con men have preyed on unsuspecting victims. Like a chameleon (or a good salesperson), they can change their colors at a drop of a dime and gain the confidence of whomever they have targeted as a “mark.” These people range from the sinister (e.g., Rasputin) all the way to those lovable “grifters,” Paul Newman and Robert Redford in the movie, The Sting.

Grigori Rasputin. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-Russian Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.
Grigori Rasputin. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). PD-Russian Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

Today’s blog centers around a Catholic priest who was employed by the Abwehr (German military intelligence) for the purpose of infiltrating, betraying, and ultimately, destroying French Resistance networks. Unlike Grigori Rasputin (1869-1916) who ingratiated himself into the Russian Tsar’s family for status and power, Abbé Robert Alesch (1906-1949) sold his services to the Nazis for money, art, and a life of luxury. Normally, confidence scheme targets give up their money or jewelry. Many of Alesch’s victims gave up their lives.

Robert Alesch. Photo by anonymous (date unknown). Prologue – Quarterly of the National Archive; Volume 26, No. 1 – Spring 1994.
Robert Alesch. Photo by anonymous (c. 1948). Prologue – Quarterly of the National Archive; Volume 26, No. 1 – Spring 1994.

Read More The Rasputin of the Abwehr