Albertville

Born in Languedoc, Jean Moulin began his career as a civil servant at the Savoy prefecture and kept strong ties with the region, even when duty called him up North. At only 21, just after his Law degree, he found himself chief of staff of the Savoy prefect in Chambery. A brilliant and workaholic young man, Moulin joined the local society, wrote for the local press and even held an exhibition of his paintings, being a gifted artist as well.  His many talents led him to become the youngest ever French sub-prefect when he was appointed to Albertville in 1925, at the age of 26. He would spend four years in the future Olympic town.

Shortly after his nomination, he married Marguerite Cerruty, a young woman from a wealthy Chambery family. The marriage did not last and the couple divorced in 1928 when Marguerite returned to her parents after being injured in a crash in the speedy red Amilcar GS that Moulin was driving.

An ambitious young man, the sub-prefect probably thought wedlock acted against his career plans but he stayed in friendly terms with his ex-wife. Her parents had introduced him to Pierre Cot, another up-and-coming young politician, who had just been elected Member of Parliament for Savoy. The two were keen sports fans and often went skiing together in Megeve. And when Cot was named Air Minister in 1932, he naturally took Moulin with him. The two played a major role in smuggling supplies and weapons to the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.

For Moulin, his Albertville years were a formative period that led him to become the most celebrated hero of the French Resistance and his knowledge of the region was crucial when he started reorganising the Resistance in the area.

Arrested and tortured by the Gestapo in the summer of 1943, Moulin died in the train taking him to Berlin for questioning.

A high school in Albertville now bears his name and honours the memory of the young man who was the town sub-prefect for four years.