Claude Arnould

Claude Louis Marie Joseph Arnould (10 May 1899 – 22 December 1978), also known as Colonel Arnould, Colonel Ollivier and other cryptonyms, was a French officer, intelligence agent, resistance leader, businessman and diplomat. During World War II, he was the co-leader of the Jade-Amicol resistance network under the auspices of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6.

Biography He was born in Merville, in northern France, to a strongly Catholic family previously associated with saddle-making in Lorraine. His father, Jean Arnould, owned a brick factory in Le Sart near Merville. During World War II he was sent to Clongowes Wood College in Ireland, run by the Society of Jesus. In November 1917, six months after his brother Joseph's death in the War, he signed up for the army for four years, joining the 1er régiment de tirailleurs mixte zouaves (a mixed infantry regiment) followed by the 19ème escadron du Train des équipages (a train equipment squadron). After the war, he asked for an external service assignment and in 1920, he became secretary to the military attaché of the French legation in Copenhagen, Pierre Pellissier de Féligonde, under Paul Claudel, who was ministre plénipotentiaire in Denmark, from where he was sent on a mission in Germany; he was possibly by then an agent of the Deuxième Bureau, the French secret service. On 17 February 1925, he married Louise Marie Céline Charlotte Petit. They had three daughters.

Expansion of contacts in the Catholic church and the French government He engaged regularly in events organised by the Catholic church and met with Achille Liénart, the cardinal of Lille, and general Maxime Weygand, who visited his home in 1936. He took over the family brick-making business with Marie on 31 December 1936, also operating as a merchant; during 1937, he travelled to six different countries on behalf of the Deuxième Bureau under the cover of his business, the expenses possibly adding to his growing financial difficulties. He filed for bankruptcy in December 1937. Owing money to his employees and facing imprisonment, he gave portions of the business to them in lieu of funds. After a judicial investigation, he was sentenced to four months' imprisonment but no further action ensued. At the beginning of 1939, at the request of president of the council of ministers, Édouard Daladier, he went unofficially to the newly elected Pope Pius XII to ascertain his position concerning the increasingly difficult international situation; this role – effectively a promotion of influence within the Catholic church – was possibly facilitated by Liénart. Mobilised in the French Army in August 1939 in the postal control service, made a maréchal des logis (sergeant) in September then a brigadier in December, responsible for refuelling and the secretariat, he aimed to find his way to England in the ensuing débâcle, renewing his intelligence contacts in the process. After the Nazi occupation of France and the Armistice of 22 June 1940, he was unable to return home as it was in the northern zone interdite. On 12 August 1940, he applied to be sent on missions abroad or in an active army unit, citing his mastery of the English language and his two croix de guerre, one for each world war. He was demobilised as a brigadier-chef on 28 February 1941 and put forward by the Vichy military administration to expand the team of counter-espionage agents in the non-occupied zone, specifically in Toulouse, becoming part of the :fr:Bureau des menées antinationales.

Arnould died in the 16th arrondissement of Paris on 22 December 1978, survived by his children and grandchildren.

Awards Croix de Guerre with bronze star and silver star – World War I Distinguished Service Order – 18 June 1945 (presented by General Stewart Menzies, chief of SIS) Légion d'Honneur – 19 December 1946 Médaille de la Résistance française avec rosette – 27 March 1947