Frachon, Benoît

Frachon, Benoît 

Born May 13, 1893, in Chambon-Feuge-rolles, Loire Department; died Aug. 4, 1975, in Bordes, Loire Department. Figure in the French and international workers’ movements.

A metalworker by occupation, Frachon joined the French Socialist Party in 1919 and became a member of the French Communist Party (FCP) at its inception in 1920. From 1922 to 1926 he was a trade union leader in Loire Department. Frachon was a member of the Central Committee of the FCP from 1926 to 1936 and served as the committee’s secretary from 1928 to 1933. From 1928 to 1936 he was also a member of the Politburo of the FCP. He again became a member of the Central Committee and Politburo in 1956. Frachon was secretary of the Unitary General Confederation of Labor from 1933 to 1936 and of the General Confederation of Labor (GCT) from 1936 to 1939 and in 1944 and 1945.

During World War II, Frachon helped organize the Resistance and served as a member of the central leadership of the FCP. He was general secretary of the GCT from 1945 to 1967 and chairman from 1967 to 1975. In 1975, Frachon was made an honorary chairman of the GCT. He became vice-president of the World Federation of Trade Unions in 1945.

Frachon was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1968.