Born: 3 October 1925, France
Died: 21 February 2023
Country most active: France
Also known as: Nicole Minet
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Simone Segouin, also known as Nicole Minet, was a notable figure in the French Resistance during World War II. She grew up on a family farm alongside three brothers. Her father, a decorated World War I veteran, had a significant influence on her life.
Segouin’s involvement in the Resistance began at the age of 17 when she crossed paths with “Lieutenant Roland,” who provided her with military training and introduced her to other resistance members. To join the communist resistance group known as the Francs-Tireurs et Partisans, she assumed the identity of Nicole Minet, aided by forged documents that portrayed her as originating from the war-damaged port of Dunkirk, making it difficult for the Germans to verify her identity.
Initially, Segouin served as a messenger and performed smaller tasks within the Resistance. However, her role expanded after her participation in a mission to derail a train.
Simone Segouin played a significant role in the liberation of Chartres on August 23, 1944, and the subsequent liberation of Paris just two days later. She was photographed by Robert Capa for Life magazine, which contributed to her international recognition. In interviews, she expressed her unwavering commitment to the Resistance, stating, “I was fighting for the resistance, that’s all. If I had to start over, I would because I have no regrets. The Germans were our enemies, we were French.”
Her partner, Lieutenant Roland (Roland Boursier), fathered their six children, all bearing Segouin’s surname, although they never formalized their union.
After the war, Segouin received the rank of second lieutenant in 1946 and was honored with the Croix de Guerre for her service. She transitioned into a career as a pediatric nurse in Chartres and received further recognition, including a street named after her in Courville-sur-Eure and a village hall in Thivars.