In the Resistance against Nazism

On 1 August 1943, at the age of 19, Semprún joined the fight against the Nazis. Adopting the new identity of Gérard Sorel, he enlisted in the Jean-Marie Action Resistance, an armed group linked to the English Buckmaster network that was active in the Burgandy area. Records from this period indicate that Semprún worked in the parachutage et sabotage (parachute drops and sabotage) group.

But these activities were cut short on 8 October 1943 when he was arrested by the Gestapo at the home of resistance fighter Irène Chiot, in the town of Joigny. Semprún and Chiot were both taken to Auxerre prison, where they were interrogated and tortured for several months. When José María Semprún received the news of his son’s arrest, he did all he could to secure his release. He contacted the Spanish ambassador in Paris, Luis de Lequerica, and asked him to intercede with the Nazi authorities. But despite diplomatic attempts they refused to budge, and Jorge Semprún was deported.