Charles Michels

see also Charles Michels (Paris Métro)

Charles Michels (; 6 March 1903, in Paris – 22 October 1941, in Châteaubriant) was a trade unionist and communist activist. He was député of the 15th arrondissement in Paris. During the Second World War, Michels was one of the 48 hostages shot in Chateaubriant, Nantes and Paris in retaliation for the assassination of Karl Hotz, Feldkommandant of Nazi-occupied Nantes.

Childhood and youth Michels was born of an unknown father. In 1906, he was adopted by Jean Michels, a boilermaker who married his mother Louise Lecoq, a labourer. He was raised in the 13th arrondissement of Paris and had to start working very young: he was hired at eleven years in a shoe factory.

Union activist In 1920, Charles Michels was fired from his then workplace where he was a delegate of the CGT union. With a solid constitution, he supplemented his salary by boxing at "Folies Belleville". After his military service, in 1923-1924, he became an instructor at the FSGT (Fédération sportive et gymnique du travail), the sports organization of the CGT. Michels surrendered on 9 January 1940 at the opening session of the Chamber of Deputies where he met André Mercier, Raymond Guyot and Fernand Grenier. Their presence provoked a fight and their expulsion.