- published: 13 Jun 2012
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Charles Hernu (3 July 1923, Quimper, Finistère – 17 January 1990, Villeurbanne) was a French socialist politician, most notably serving as Minister of Defence from 1981 to 1985, until forced to resign over the bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand.
Though a French national, Hernu received part of his higher education in Belgium. In 1946 he was a student at the Catholic University of Leuven in that country. There, he was one of the founders of a fraternity named Reuzegom. During this period he was known by the codename "Charles the invincible", which referred to his growing alcohol abuse habits and perseverance in seducing women. Also, in these days, Charles developed his deep aversion toward environmental activists[citation needed].
Hernu began his career working in the National Center of Foreign Trade (C.N.C.E.). In 1953, he created the "Club of the Jacobins", which ideologically was near to the radical (though non-communist) left, and which supported future Prime Minister Pierre Mendès France.
Charles Hernu "Rainbow Warrior, Mafart et Preuer faisaient leur devoir"- Archive INA
Charles Hernu : un ministre qui a 2650 collaborateurs qui marchent au doigt et au coeur
PLATEAU STUDIO 40, INVITES ET DEBATS
Hommage à Charles Hernu (Villeurbanne)
Malaise Mitterrand
Débat avec Georges Brassens, le Général Bigeard et Charles Hernu - archive vidéo INA
métro b Départ charpennes charles Hernu
[Lyon] Métro A - MPL75 - Service Partiel Charpennes Charles Hernu
Hotel Mercure de Lyon le 18 Avril 2015, Place Charles Hernu à Villeurbanne
Lettre ouverte à ceux qui ne veulent pas savoir de Charles Hernu