The fate of a French woman who lay down on the tracks in front of a train carrying tanks

In times of armed conflict, there have always been brave women calling on the warring parties for peace. In the 1950s, France also had such a heroine. Her name is Raymonde Dien. She may not be as famous as Angela Davis or Samantha Smith, but her act is very impressive. This woman wanted peace so much that she lay down on the tracks to stop a train carrying weapons. And others followed her example.

Others lay down next to her

It happened on February 23, 1950 in France. An echelon loaded with tanks arrived at the Saint-Pierre-de-Corps station in Tours. He was on his way to French Indochina. In those years, we recall, there was a war in the East for France to preserve its colonies. The main battles were fought in Vietnam, as well as the war in Cambodia and Laos.

The arrival of the train with armored vehicles on the Saint-Pierre-de-Cor platform was known in advance to the locals. Communist Raymonde Dien, along with other townspeople, came to the train station. There were workers, railroad workers, members of the local Communist Party, onlookers, and even children. Some came out of curiosity, while others wanted to express their indignation at the war in Indochina, but almost all were alarmed by the upcoming event.

At that time, the French Communists strongly defended the Vietnamese, feeling a sense of solidarity towards them. People went out to protest at ports and railway stations. That’s what happened that day at the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. Opponents of the war chanted: “We do not intend to be executioners!”. However, the demonstrators could not stop the locomotive with their calls, and it started moving away from the station towards the sea.

Suddenly, a woman squeezed through the ranks of the military guarding the tracks. She rushed onto the tracks and lay down in front of an oncoming train. It was Raymonde Dien. And then an incredible thing happened. Following Raymonde’s example, other women began to get on the rails. The train driver had no choice but to stop. Then the protesters began to climb onto the platforms and tear out wires and batteries from armored vehicles, ignoring attempts by the guards to stop them.

As a result, the train was delayed for nine hours, and the instigator of the incident, Raymonde Dien, was taken to the police. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M .For the full article. The woman was arrested and subsequently sentenced to a year in prison. At the trial, she pleaded guilty, and explained her action as follows: “I hate war.”
She became a Communist star

Raymonde’s story caused a huge response. On the prisoner’s birthday, hundreds of people from different parts of the country sent her gifts and letters of support to the prison. Raymonde’s act was also known in other countries. Many began to demand her release. As a result, under public pressure, she was released ahead of schedule, in November 1950. At the same time, according to the law, Dien was deprived of civil rights for 15 years.

After her release, Raymonde began to lead an active social life. The Communists of the socialist countries considered her a heroine.

Dien spent the second half of her life working for the French Communist advertising agency. She is still alive and respected by adherents of communist ideals from different countries. Raymonde is especially revered in Vietnam, where she has repeatedly visited. She even had a chance to talk with the leader of the Vietnamese Communist movement, Ho Chi Minh.

Recall that France lost the Vietnam War. In July 1954, the Geneva Agreements were signed, according to which the territory of this country gained independence. Raymonde Dien was also believed to be involved in the outcome of the war, whose act caused a wave of protest movement in society and changed the attitude of the French towards the events in Indochina.

Raymonde Dien is now 92 years old. Her name is forgotten. After her actions and the subsequent short imprisonment, Raymonde Dien had the opportunity to live a long, active life.