Jules Moch

Jules Salvador Moch (15 March 1893 in Paris – 1 August 1985 in Cabris of Alpes-Maritimes) was a French politician.

Jules was born into a renowned French Jewish military family, the Son of Capt. Gaston Moch and grandson of Col. Jules Moch. His upbringing occurred during a growing socialist movement in France. As an engineer (polytechnicien) who took part in the X-Crise Group, he was a socialist member of Parliament for Drôme and then Hérault from 1928 to 1936 and from 1937 to 1940. He was Under-secretary of State in prime minister Léon Blum's office (1937) and became Minister of Public Works in 1938. He later became critical of The Vichy French Government and was jailed, but later he was released.

During World War II Moch joined and helped organize the Paris underground. He also helped other French Resistance activities in France. When The Free French Naval Forces was organized, he rallied to de Gaulle in 1942 and participated in The Invasion of Normandy toward The Free French Liberation of France with The Allied Forces.

In Post World War II, Moch was a member of the Consultative Assembly (1944) and of the two Constituent National Assemblies (1945–46) and then of the National Assembly (1946–1958 and 1962–1967). He was eight times Minister during the Fourth Republic: Public works and Transportation (1945–1947), Interior (1947–1950), Defence (1950–1951). As Transport Minister, he contributed to the rebuilding of railways, ports, road, navy and aviation. As Interior Minister, he had to deal with the communist-inspired great strikes in November 1947 and has shown great firmness. In the Defence Ministry, he contributed to the modernisation of the Army, organised French participation in the Korean War and the implementation of NATO. He also suggested and participated in the forming of METO for The Middle East. He fought the gaullist and communist parties during the Fourth Republic and was one of the leaders of the Troisième Force.

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