Simon Sabiani
Simon Pierre Sabiani (1888 Casamaccioli, Niolu, Corsica – 1956 Barcelona, Spain) was a World War I hero, businessman, and politician.
He served in World War I, incorporated into the XVth corps of the 112th regiment of line infantry, he lost an eye in Douaumont, several times wounded, he directed against the enemy six counter attacks in six hours. Nicknamed "Le lion de l'Argonne" (the lion of Argonne), "Le Bayard Corse" (The Corsican Bayard), he was given on the battlefield, "La legion d'honneur" medal, "La croix de guerre" 1914-1918 4 palms 2 silver stars, and "La medaille militaire".
He had four brothers and one sister. Three of his brothers fell in combat in WWI.
Jean-Luc was a lieutenant. He was given "La Legion d'honneur" and "La Croix de guerre", KIA while in an attack in Champagne.
Joseph was a sergeant major in the 4th regiment of "zouaves", KIA in Provins in 1914.
François was a lawyer in Marseille, sergeant, he was given "La Croix de guerre", KIA 16 August 1918 on board "Le Balkan" ship as it suffered a torpedo attack. Pierre Anfriani the only survivor of the general staff, will note in his report to the Sea Authorities that François Sabiani could have saved himself if he did not try to save other passengers. A marble plate in his honor used to be affixed on the walls of the hall of justice of the city of Marseille.
Don-Pierre became a POW, after being wounded in the head while on a mission in Bois-le-Prêtre, his helmet saved his life. (Fifty-two months of captivity).
After the war, Simon Sabiani joined the SFIO in 1919, and also for a while the PCF. He then founded in 1923 the "Parti d’action socialiste" (Socialist action party).
He was elected "Conseiller général" (General counsellor) of Bouches-du-Rhône in 1925, "Député" (Deputy) in 1928, and became the first "Adjoint" (Counsellor) to the mayor of Marseille from 1929 to 1935. He became the mayor of Marseille temporarily in 1931 after the death of Siméon Flaissières.He was reelected "Député" (Deputy) in 1932.
In 1936 he joined the "Parti populaire français" (Popular French party) or PPF of Jaques Doriot, where he became member of the political bureau. He was at the head of the local section of the PPF from 1936. Among his friends and electoral agents were Paul Carbone, François Spirito, and as well as Antoine Guerini.
During the Second World War, he ran the Marseille Bureau of the LVF, where he was the general secretary.
Simon Sabiani was sentenced to death, because of his political collaboration with Vichy France. He exiled himself to Sigmaringen, Germany, Italy, Argentina, and finally to Spain under the name of Pedro Multedo. Prior to his death in 1956, he could return in a "clandestine" way to Corsica to visit his mother who was turning almost 100 years old. He rests now in the family chapel of his village of Casamacciuli.
His son François Sabiani, law student aged 20, joined the LVF. He wanted to join the Forces Françaises Libres (French Free Forces), and was already on board a ship in Port-Vendre, where his father obliged him to disembark. In his book Et J'ai Cassé Mon Fusil (And I broke my shotgun), Jean-Baptiste Emmanuelli writes that he joined the LVF to the demand of the mother of François Sabiani, with the mission being to try and convince her son of quitting the LVF. The army wrote in their reports: "He had a high conception of his duty. He distinguished himself the 29th of May 1942, on a reconnaissance patrol by his calm and his lack of fear for danger. He was Fatally wounded the 2th of Juin 1942, accomplishing a mission". His Life is taken away by bullets fired from "Maxim" machine guns by Soviet partisans under the command of Colonel Gradov, in the eastern front, not far from Smolensk, Russia, while on an LVF mission, in the beginning of June 1942. He perishes with plain lucidity. His last words were for his family.
Books
- Simon Sabiani, Colère du peuple, Les Œuvres Françaises, 1936 (préface de Jacques Doriot)
- Simon Sabiani, La Vérité sur l'attentat de Marseille, Grandes Conférences des Ambassadeurs, 1934
Bibliography
- Jean-Baptiste Nicolaï, Simon Sabiani, un chef à Marseille, 1919-1944, Olivier Orban, 1991
- Paul Jankowski, Communism and Collaboration. Simon Sabiani and Politics in Marseille (1919–1944), New Haven-Londres, Yale University Press, 1989.
- Jean-Baptiste Emmanuelli, Et J'ai Cassé Mon Fusil, Robert Laffont