Préhu, Jean
Item
Name
Préhu, Jean
Given name
Jean
Family name
Préhu
One-line bio
Jean Préhu was a Scout and JEC (YCS) leader, who was a prisoner of war, who helped organise other prisoners, leading to his deportation to Buchenwald.
Biography
Jean Préhu, born on 27 March, 1920, in Laval, France, was a devoted Scout and an active member of the Jeunesse Étudiante Chrétienne (Young Christian Students – JEC). From an early age, he was formed in a spirit of faith, solidarity, and service. These values would later shape his courageous resistance to the Nazi regime, ultimately leading to his martyrdom.
Préhu enlisted in the French army on 13 October, 1938, serving in the 39th Fortress Artillery Regiment at Metz. He was taken prisoner on 17 June, 1940, near Strasbourg, and deported to Germany. Held at Stalag VI H in Düren and later at VI G in Bonn, he met fellow prisoners like Raymond Louveau and Abbé Rondeau. At Kommando 624, he formed a clandestine Christian support group modeled after Scout and JEC methods, working alongside Jean Bernier and Father Harignodoquy.
This underground network, which promoted Christian fraternity and reflection on social issues, was considered subversive by the Nazi authorities. In August 1944, Préhu was arrested by the Cologne Staadtpolizei in violation of the Geneva Convention. He was deported to Buchenwald concentration camp on 17 September, 1944, and registered as prisoner number 81817. He was later transferred to Langensalza Kommando.
Jean Préhu died on 27 April, 1945, during the strafing of the infamous “death train” headed to Dachau. In 1983, he was officially recognised as a déporté résistant (deported resister) by the French government.
In 2024, the Vatican formally included Jean Préhu among the group of 50 French Catholic martyrs whose beatification cause is underway, recognising them as victims of hatred of the faith (odium fidei). Préhu’s unwavering commitment to faith and justice remains a profound witness for today’s world.
Sources:
Article written and compiled by Roshan Melwyn Lobo, Secretary General, International Young Catholic Students (IYCS-JECI).
Jean Préhu: A Scout, Young Christian Student, and Martyr on the Path to Beatification (IYCS-JECI)
Préhu enlisted in the French army on 13 October, 1938, serving in the 39th Fortress Artillery Regiment at Metz. He was taken prisoner on 17 June, 1940, near Strasbourg, and deported to Germany. Held at Stalag VI H in Düren and later at VI G in Bonn, he met fellow prisoners like Raymond Louveau and Abbé Rondeau. At Kommando 624, he formed a clandestine Christian support group modeled after Scout and JEC methods, working alongside Jean Bernier and Father Harignodoquy.
This underground network, which promoted Christian fraternity and reflection on social issues, was considered subversive by the Nazi authorities. In August 1944, Préhu was arrested by the Cologne Staadtpolizei in violation of the Geneva Convention. He was deported to Buchenwald concentration camp on 17 September, 1944, and registered as prisoner number 81817. He was later transferred to Langensalza Kommando.
Jean Préhu died on 27 April, 1945, during the strafing of the infamous “death train” headed to Dachau. In 1983, he was officially recognised as a déporté résistant (deported resister) by the French government.
In 2024, the Vatican formally included Jean Préhu among the group of 50 French Catholic martyrs whose beatification cause is underway, recognising them as victims of hatred of the faith (odium fidei). Préhu’s unwavering commitment to faith and justice remains a profound witness for today’s world.
Sources:
Article written and compiled by Roshan Melwyn Lobo, Secretary General, International Young Catholic Students (IYCS-JECI).
Jean Préhu: A Scout, Young Christian Student, and Martyr on the Path to Beatification (IYCS-JECI)
Country of origin
English
France
Birth date
March 27, 1920
Birth place
Laval, France
Death date
April 27, 1945
Death place
Strafing of death train in Germany
Movement
Jeunesse Etudiante Chrétienne