13 Facts About Victorine Brocher

Victorine Brocher participated in the Paris Commune and later wrote a memoir detailing her experience.

Marie Victorine Brocher Malenfant was born on in Paris on September 4,1839.

Victorine Brocher was raised by her mother in Orleans after her father, a republican, fled to Belgium in 1851.

Victorine Brocher was a cantiniere during the Paris Commune and was commended for her bravery in her care for the wounded in late April 1871.

Victorine Brocher went into hiding for a year after being arrested and sentenced to death for setting the Court of Auditors on fire and subsequently absconded to Geneva.

Victorine Brocher was considered dead when her mother mistakenly identified her among the remains of those shot dead at Versailles.

In Geneva, Victorine Brocher lived and attended First International meetings in Geneva before moving to Hungary to tutor.

In 1874, with her husband released from prison, they returned to Geneva, where Victorine Brocher worked as a shoemaker and participated in the Jura Federation and anarchists including Paul Brousse, Elisee Reclus, and Andrea Costa.

Victorine Brocher trained in nursing following the 1884 death of Jean Rouchy.

Victorine Brocher co-founded and taught at Louise Michel's international school in London since 1886.

Victorine Brocher published her memoirs, including her participation in the Paris Commune, in 1909.

Victorine Brocher wrote for La Libre Federation between 1915 and 1919.

When Victorine Brocher became sick in 1921, they returned to Lausanne, where she died on November 4.