Roger Salengro
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Roger Salengro | |
|---|---|
 Salengro in 1930 | |
| Born | Roger Henri Charles Salengro 30 May 1890 |
| Died | 18 November 1936 (aged 46) Lille, France |
| Alma mater | Charles de Gaulle University – Lille III |
| Occupation | Politician |
Roger Henri Charles Salengro (30 May 1890 – 18 November 1936) was a French politician. He achieved fame as Minister of the Interior during the Popular Front government in 1936. He committed suicide a few months after taking office, after being hounded by a calumny campaign orchestrated by extreme right-wing newspapers.
In 1909, Salengro enrolled at the University of Lille to study literature. The same year, he joined the French Section of the Workers' International, a socialist party, and founded a left-wing students' organisation.
In 1914, he signed up to join the French military for the First World War, despite having spoken out as a pacifist in previous years. Captured by the Germans on 7 October 1915, he became a prisoner of war. He refused to work in a German factory, and was incarcerated. His treatment was harsh; he weighed only 42 kg when he was freed after the war.
In 1918, he became a journalist, and resumed his involvement in politics. In 1919, he was elected municipal councillor in Lille, and general councillor of the Lille-Sud-Ouest canton.
In 1925, Salengro was elected mayor of Lille. He was re-elected in 1929 and in 1935. In 1928, he was elected Member of Parliament, then re-elected in 1932 and in 1936.
