{"id":194884,"date":"2025-06-14T14:28:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T19:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=194884"},"modified":"2025-10-08T06:38:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T11:38:59","slug":"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\/","title":{"rendered":"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">12<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simone Segouin was born on October 3, 1925, in Chartres, France. She was raised alongside three brothers in a remote area. Simone\u2019s father was a war hero who fought for France during World War 1. She attended school until she was fourteen and then dropped out to help on the family farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM-1024x864.jpg\" alt=\"Simone Segouin holding a gun black and white photo\" class=\"wp-image-194886\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM-1024x864.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM-356x300.jpg 356w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM-150x126.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM-768x648.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM.jpg 1506w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is French teenager Simone Segouin photographed in late 1944. At an age when most kids are fretting about childhood crushes and prom, Simone was using her captured MP-40 submachine gun to kill Germans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-simone-seqouin-french-farm-girl\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">Simone Seqouin &#8211; French Farm Girl<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-first-act-of-defiance\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">The First Act of Defiance<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-saboteur-comes-of-age\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">The Saboteur Comes of Age<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-grueling-two-years\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">Grueling Two Years<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-a-long-grinding-war\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">A Long Grinding War<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-girl-partisan-of-chartres-becomes-famous\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">The Girl Partisan of Chartres Becomes Famous<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-simone-segouin-weapon-of-choice\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">Simone Segouin &#8211; Weapon of Choice<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-mp40\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"3\">MP40<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-sten\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"3\">Sten<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-9mm-parabellum\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"3\">9mm Parabellum<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-rest-of-the-story-for-simone-segouin\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">The Rest of the Story for Simone Segouin<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-simone-segouin-girl-hero\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-level=\"2\">Simone Segouin &#8211; Girl Hero<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-simone-seqouin-french-farm-girl\">Simone Seqouin &#8211; French Farm Girl<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In May of 1940, Germany invaded France. Simone was but fifteen years old when she first saw the panzers roll through her homeland. Six weeks later, France was an occupied territory. Simone Segouin, a cute, unassuming farm girl from rural France, was inextricably caught up in the largest war humanity had ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM-1024x630.jpg\" alt=\"French town during WW2 black and white\" class=\"wp-image-194892\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM-1024x630.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM-400x246.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM-150x92.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM-1536x945.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.57\u202fAM.jpg 1638w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">As their towns were liberated, French women who had collaborated with the Germans often had their heads shaved and were paraded through the streets in shame. This collaborator cradles a baby fathered by one of the occupiers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It is impossible for those of us raised in a land of freedom and plenty to appreciate the nature of life under Nazi occupation. The Wehrmacht was a pervasive presence, while the Gestapo was ubiquitous, ruthless, terrifying, and cruel. Life fractionated down to collaborators, resistance, and those who just wanted to live their lives. Simone chose resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"736\" height=\"1010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.01\u202fAM.jpg\" alt=\"Simone Segouin holding a gun color photo\" class=\"wp-image-194888\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.01\u202fAM.jpg 736w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.01\u202fAM-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.01\u202fAM-109x150.jpg 109w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In normal times it likely would have been more accurately characterized as statutory rape. However, 17-year-old Simone Segouin and her commander, LT Roland Boursier, eventually had half a dozen kids together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At age seventeen, Simone met Roland Boursier, a Lieutenant in the Francs-tireurs et partisans or FTP. This term loosely translates to \u201cFree-shooters and Partisans.\u201d The FTP was an armed resistance organization that operated under the purview of the French Communist Party from 1939 until the end of the war in 1945. Lieutenant Roland schooled Simone in the use of the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/u-s-army-evaluating-10-submachine-guns-for-possible-service-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\">submachine gun<\/a> and helped her establish the necessary contacts to become an effective member of the French Underground. Simone and Lieutenant Roland eventually had six children together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-first-act-of-defiance\">The First Act of Defiance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Simone\u2019s first role for the FTP was as a courier, transporting messages between resistance cells under the noses of the hated German occupiers. She was cute. As any honest man will attest, being a beautiful woman is akin to having superpowers. Guys just can&#8217;t seem to think straight in the presence of a hot girl. Regardless, before she could be an effective courier, the youthful resistance operative needed transportation. In occupied France, where access to petrol was tightly controlled, that meant a bicycle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simone located a female German bicycle messenger and waited until her bike was briefly unattended. When the moment was right, she stole the bicycle and fled. Before making her escape, she produced a pen knife and slashed the tires of the other bikes and military motorcycles to preclude their pursuit. It seemed that Simone had the gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-saboteur-comes-of-age\">The Saboteur Comes of Age<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving about occupied France required state-issued identity papers. Once she became associated with the FTP, Simone&#8217;s resistance cell established a false identity for her under the nom de guerre Nicole Minet. Per the backstory, Nicole Minet originally hailed from the port city of Dunkirk. The extensive destruction wrought in and around Dunkirk made validation of her identity by the Germans difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.11.14\u202fAM-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Simone Segouin and two other soldiers\" class=\"wp-image-194889\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.11.14\u202fAM-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.11.14\u202fAM-400x268.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.11.14\u202fAM-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.11.14\u202fAM-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.11.14\u202fAM.jpg 1508w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Simone Segouin was nineteen when she killed her first German soldier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Her first kill came on July 14, 1944. Simone and two comrades hid in a roadside ditch and ambushed a pair of German soldiers as they pedaled past on bicycles. Simone secured the dead Germans\u2019 identity papers and weapons at her home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-grueling-two-years\">Grueling Two Years<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The next two years were unbelievably harrowing. Segouin, Lieutenant Roland, and the FTP helped repatriate downed Allied aircrews, gathered intelligence on German troop dispositions, and generally made life miserable for the occupiers at every opportunity. What began as minor courier tasks eventually led to greater things. One seminal evening, Simone and her resistance cell sabotaged a rail line and blew up a German supply train. She later referred to this operation as a \u201ctrain-exploding expedition.\u201d As a result of her tactical acumen, she was promoted to Lieutenant and ultimately awarded the Croix de Guerre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"702\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.43.52\u202fAM-702x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Croix de Guerre \" class=\"wp-image-194898\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.43.52\u202fAM-702x1024.jpg 702w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.43.52\u202fAM-206x300.jpg 206w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.43.52\u202fAM-103x150.jpg 103w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.43.52\u202fAM-768x1120.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.43.52\u202fAM.jpg 868w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Croix de Guerre could be considered either an individual or a unit award.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Croix de Guerre translates to \u201cCross of War.\u201d France first created this military decoration in 1915 and awarded it to soldiers who distinguished themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The award stemmed from having been \u201cmentioned in dispatches.\u201d This is about heroic deeds that warranted citation from the commanding headquarters unit. In addition to French conventional and unconventional soldiers, France also frequently awarded the Croix de Guerre to members of foreign military forces allied with France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-long-grinding-war\">A Long Grinding War<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With support from the American OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and British SOE (Special Operations Executive), the French FTP took the fight to the Germans throughout occupied France. Simone was a quick study and soon became an expert in the use of explosives and <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/civilians-hold-worlds-small-arms\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"432\">small arms<\/a>. At a time when capture meant horrible torture and certain death at the hands of the Gestapo, Simone thrived. She and her fellow resistance fighters derailed trains, created roadblocks, blew up bridges, and generally sowed mayhem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"811\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.18\u202fAM-1024x811.jpg\" alt=\"WW2 soldiers in Franch\" class=\"wp-image-194890\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.18\u202fAM-1024x811.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.18\u202fAM-379x300.jpg 379w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.18\u202fAM-150x119.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.18\u202fAM-768x608.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.10.18\u202fAM.jpg 1270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Once Allied troops advanced across France, Resistance members who had already been harassing the Germans for years met them. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything changed on June 6, 1944. With the launch of Operation Overlord, Allied troops began their unstoppable slog across France. Coordinating with Allied combat commands, Simone and the FTP helped clear a path for advancing friendly troops. On August 23, 1944, Simone Segouin was present for the liberation of Chartres. Two days later, she was in Paris when Allied troops expelled the last of the German invaders from the French capital.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-girl-partisan-of-chartres-becomes-famous\">The Girl Partisan of Chartres Becomes Famous<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM-1024x611.jpg\" alt=\"Simone Segouin psoing with a gun\" class=\"wp-image-194891\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM-1024x611.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM-400x239.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM-1536x916.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.09.41\u202fAM.jpg 1686w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The picture of the picture. LIFE photographer Robert Capa noticed the photogenic young woman with the submachine gun and splashed her image across the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With the advance of Allied troops toward Paris, Simone and her fellow resistance fighters grew ever bolder. On one operation, she and a few others captured 25 German troops and held them for the Allies. Once the fighting passed by, the world began to learn of the exploits of the French resistance. American writer Jack Belden and photographer Robert Capa, working for LIFE Magazine, did an expos\u00e9 on Simone in 1944 that made her story and her picture familiar worldwide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During her interview, Simone was quoted as having said, \u201cI was fighting for the resistance, that&#8217;s all. If I had to start over, I would, because I have no regrets. The Germans were our enemies, we were French.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM-740x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Sara Ginaite-Rubison\" class=\"wp-image-194893\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM-740x1024.jpg 740w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM-108x150.jpg 108w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM-768x1063.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM-1110x1536.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.16.27\u202fAM.jpg 1162w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The exigencies of total war demanded unimaginable sacrifices. This is Sara Ginaite-Rubison, a teenage partisan fighting the Germans in Lithuania.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Belden summed up his impressions of Simone thusly, \u201cI could find no trace of what is conventionally called toughness in Nicole. After routine farm life, she finds her present job exhilarating. Now that the war is passing beyond her home district, she does not think of going back to the farm. She wants to go on with the Partisans and help free the rest of France.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-simone-segouin-weapon-of-choice\">Simone Segouin &#8211; Weapon of Choice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"621\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.33\u202fAM-1024x621.jpg\" alt=\"WW2 German MP-40 submachine gun\" class=\"wp-image-194895\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.33\u202fAM-1024x621.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.33\u202fAM-400x242.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.33\u202fAM-150x91.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.33\u202fAM-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.33\u202fAM.jpg 1432w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The German MP-40 submachine gun was an iconic WW2-vintage weapon. Thanks to worldwarsupply.com for the cool support gear.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The underground war in Europe was history\u2019s archetype for an armed insurgency. The tools and techniques influenced future conflicts through the ongoing war in Ukraine. Underground fighters received Stens and <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/search?keyword=m1%20carbines\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\">M1 carbines<\/a> by the tens of thousands from their Allied handlers, but they also made extensive use of captured German weapons. All of the surviving photos of Simone in action show her armed with a German MP40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mp40\">MP40<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We have covered the development of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rockislandauction.com\/riac-blog\/mp40-submachine-gun\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MP40<\/a> in this venue before. In this treatment, I thought we might discuss the practicality of the classic German burp gun in partisan hands. Certain of the gun\u2019s attributes would make it a proper partisan tool, while others would make it seem ill-suited. Like all insurgencies, those doing the fighting simply used the tools at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.53\u202fAM-1024x801.jpg\" alt=\"man holding an MP-40\" class=\"wp-image-194896\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.53\u202fAM-1024x801.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.53\u202fAM-384x300.jpg 384w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.53\u202fAM-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.53\u202fAM-768x601.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.27.53\u202fAM.jpg 1422w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Front-heavy and sedate, the MP-40 could be effectively employed with minimal training.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sten\">Sten<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the reasons for the Sten\u2019s popularity was the fact that you could dismantle it into four major components and easily hide it. The MP40 was not so flexible. While it looks like you could simply remove the barrel of the MP40 with a handy wrench, that is not the case. Removing the barrel from an MP40 requires some proper tools and a fair amount of effort. The underfolding stock makes the weapon somewhat more compact than might be the case with a standard infantry rifle, but even collapsed, the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/search?keyword=mp40\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\">MP-40<\/a> is still 25 inches long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.50.53\u202fAM-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Sten gun broken down\" class=\"wp-image-194900\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.50.53\u202fAM-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.50.53\u202fAM-400x269.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.50.53\u202fAM-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.50.53\u202fAM-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.50.53\u202fAM.jpg 1424w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">You could readily break down the Sten into a compact portable package. This made it an excellent partisan weapon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9mm-parabellum\">9mm Parabellum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>9mm Parabellum was the standard pistol cartridge for all the major combatants in Europe save the United States and Russia. This made resupply fairly straightforward. At modest ranges and delivered in bursts, the 9mm is a proven stopper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Running a pistol-caliber submachine gun well is indeed an acquired skill, and these guys would have very limited access to a practice range. However, most resistance engagements were at extremely close range and involved unbridled ferocity. Under those circumstances, the most basic attention to technique will yield effective results. The sedate 500 rpm rate of fire of the MP-40 lent itself to such utility. In experienced hands, you can all but write your name with an amply-stocked MP-40. Once Simone had used one for a while, I suspect she was quite proficient.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ MORE HERE: <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/major-william-gail-white-the-frag-magnet\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\">Major William Gail White: The Frag Magnet<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-rest-of-the-story-for-simone-segouin\">The Rest of the Story for Simone Segouin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite three years of active service in the armed resistance fighting the Germans, Simone was never caught. After the war, she studied medicine and became a pediatric nurse. She enjoyed a long and fruitful career in this capacity in her home region of Chartres.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.26.46\u202fAM-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"Simone Segouin  grown up\" class=\"wp-image-194894\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.26.46\u202fAM-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.26.46\u202fAM-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.26.46\u202fAM-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.26.46\u202fAM-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.26.46\u202fAM.jpg 1386w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The firebrand teenage resistance fighter eventually grew up to become a pediatric nurse and a revered grandmother.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The actions of these brave French patriots were eventually properly venerated. A street in Courville-sur-Eure, her lifelong home, was named in her honor. In 2020, the village hall in Thivars was named for her as well. At a reception acknowledging this honor, she said, \u201cI\u2019m very glad to know that people are not indifferent to this period of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"868\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.05.28\u202fAM-868x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Simone Segouin grown up holding an award\" class=\"wp-image-194887\" title=\"3-Will-Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.05.28\u202fAM-868x1024.jpg 868w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.05.28\u202fAM-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.05.28\u202fAM-127x150.jpg 127w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.05.28\u202fAM-768x906.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.05.28\u202fAM.jpg 982w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 868px) 100vw, 868px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Simone Segouin lived a lifetime&#8217;s worth before her twentieth birthday. She went on to a further 77 years of service to her country and her fellow man.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-simone-segouin-girl-hero\">Simone Segouin &#8211; Girl Hero<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Simone Segouin rose to the occasion. A rural farm girl with limited education, her passion for her people and her country drove her to some truly epic levels of heroism in the face of profound peril. Simone Segouin, aka Nicole Minet, was a hero from an era of heroes. Simone ultimately lived a long, rich life, dying of natural causes on 21 February 2023, in Courville-sur-Eure, France, at the age of 97.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\" title=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Simone Segouin rose to the occasion. A rural farm girl with limited education, her passion for her people and her country drove her to some truly epic levels of heroism in the face of profound peril.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":194886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,772],"tags":[102,108,1046,2836,1114],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-194884","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-will-dabbs","9":"tag-feature-articles","10":"tag-guns","11":"tag-historic-guns","12":"tag-will-dabbs","13":"tag-wwii"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Simone Segouin - French WW2 Hero<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the inspiring story of Simone Segouin, the teenager from French who fought the Germans in WW2 with an MP-40 submachine gun.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Simone Segouin rose to the occasion. A rural farm girl with limited education, her passion for her people and her country drove her to some truly epic levels of heroism in the face of profound peril.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/will.dabbs.9\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-14T19:28:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-08T11:38:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1506\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1270\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Will Dabbs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Will Dabbs\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Will Dabbs\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4b818f415191c071a88bdc0d8cb33eca\"},\"headline\":\"Simone Segouin: The Photogenic Partisan of Chartres\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-14T19:28:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-08T11:38:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1945,\"commentCount\":5,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/Screenshot-2023-11-21-at-6.03.00\u202fAM.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Feature Articles\",\"Guns\",\"Historic Guns\",\"Will Dabbs\",\"WWII\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Authors\",\"Will Dabbs\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/#respond\"]}],\"accessibilityFeature\":[\"tableOfContents\"]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/simone-segouin-the-photogenic-partisan-of-chartres\\\/\",\"name\":\"Simone Segouin - 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