Guy de Rothschild Life and Legacy

Guy de Rothschild's life was a testament to his family's legacy of philanthropy and business acumen. Born in 1909, he was the fifth generation of the Rothschild banking dynasty.

Guy de Rothschild was a member of the French Resistance during World War II, using his family's influence to help Jewish families escape persecution.

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Guy de Rothschild had a complex personal life, with two marriages that brought him multiple children and a deep connection to his family's history.

He married his first wife, Baroness Alix Hermine Jeanette Schey de Koromla, in 1937, and they had a son, David René de Rothschild, in 1942.

Guy also raised his wife's daughters from her prior marriage, Lili and Bettina, showing his commitment to his stepfamily.

His first marriage ended in divorce in 1956, and he married Baroness Marie-Hélène van Zuylen van Nyevelt just a year later.

This second marriage was also a union with a distant cousin, and they had a son, Baron Édouard de Rothschild, in 1957.

Guy's family life was marked by a sense of duty and responsibility, as he took on the care of his wife's children from her previous marriage.

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Guy de Rothschild's service in World War II was marked by bravery and determination. He enlisted in the French Army and became a company commander in the 3rd Light Mechanised Division during the Battle of France in early 1940.

He fought at Carvin and was part of the French Army that retreated to Dunkirk, where he was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his actions on the beaches. He was evacuated to England, only to immediately return to France and take charge of the family's office at La Bourboule.

Rothschild's family was forced to flee France due to the German occupation, and he managed to persuade the buyers of their possessions to grant options for him to buy back the family's interests later.

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Guy de Rothschild's WWII service was marked by bravery and resilience. He enlisted in the French Army in 1940 and was a company commander in the 3rd Light Mechanised Division.

He fought in the Battle of France, specifically at Carvin, and was part of the French Army that retreated to Dunkirk. The French Army was forced to retreat, and Rothschild was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his actions on the beaches at Dunkirk.

Rothschild was evacuated to England and immediately returned to France, landing at Brest, where he took charge of the family's office at La Bourboule, near Clermont-Ferrand. The Vichy government had stripped his father and uncles of their French nationality and removed them from the register of the Légion d'honneur.

Rothschild managed to persuade the buyers to grant options for the family's interests, allowing him to buy them back later. He left France again, this time via Spain and Portugal, to join his parents in New York City.

He joined the Free French Forces and boarded the cargo ship Pacific Grove to travel back to Europe. Unfortunately, the ship was torpedoed and sunk in March 1943, and Rothschild was rescued after spending 12 hours in the Atlantic Ocean.

In England, Rothschild joined the staff of General Koenig at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force near Portsmouth.

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Nationalization was a significant event in the history of the Rothschild family, particularly in France. The government nationalized a number of industries in the early 1970s, including SLN's assets, which were then placed under a new company called Société Metallurgique.

This left the Rothschild's SLN as a holding company with a fifty percent interest in Société Metallurgique. The family's bank was also nationalized in 1982 by the socialist government of François Mitterrand.

Guy de Rothschild, a prominent member of the family, was deeply affected by this nationalization and eventually left France. He wrote a front-page op-ed in Le Monde in 1981, expressing his frustration and feeling of being a pariah under the new government.

Guy de Rothschild was a shrewd businessman who expanded the family's banking and mining interests. He joined de Rothschild Frères in 1931 and later took formal control of the business after his father's death in 1949.

Guy de Rothschild diversified the family's banking business, transforming it from a stewardship of the family fortune to a modern banking institution. He became president of Banque Rothschild in 1968 and served in this role until 1978.

He also had a significant stake in Imetal S.A., which he took over as Chairman in 1961. Under his leadership, the company restructured its various mining interests, including the acquisition of Peñarroya in 1969.

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Guy de Rothschild's banking career began in 1931 when he joined de Rothschild Frères, the family's bank, at the age of 24.

As part of his learning experience, he joined the executive board of their Northern Railway Company in 1933.

After World War II, Guy de Rothschild returned to the bank's offices in Paris in 1944, where he would eventually take formal control of the business upon his father's death in 1949.

Under his leadership, the bank diversified from investment management to deposit-taking, with branches throughout France.

Guy de Rothschild served as a director of the Banque de France, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Georges Pompidou, who would later become President and Prime Minister of France, was recruited by Guy de Rothschild from a job as a teacher in 1953 and worked for him until 1962.

Guy de Rothschild became president of Banque Rothschild from 1968 to 1978, and in 1968, he also became a partner at N M Rothschild & Sons in London.

Guy de Rothschild, a seasoned entrepreneur, has penned several books that offer valuable insights into the world of business and government. His memoir, "The Whims of Fortune: The Memoirs of Guy de Rothschild", was published in 1985 by Random House.

One of his notable works is "The relationship between business and government in France", which provides a unique perspective on the intersection of these two entities. This book was published in 1983 as part of the Benjamin F. Fairless memorial lectures.

Guy de Rothschild has also explored the world of fiction with his novel "Le fantôme de Léa: Roman", published in 1998 by Plon. This book showcases his creative side and ability to craft engaging stories.

Here are some of his notable works:

Guy de Rothschild was a renowned art collector, with a particular interest in 18th and 19th-century French art.

He owned an impressive collection of works by artists such as François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

Guy's love for art was evident in the exquisite decorations of his Parisian townhouse, which featured intricate frescoes and ornate furnishings.

He was a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts and was known for his extensive knowledge of art history.

Guy's passion for collecting extended beyond paintings, as he also amassed a notable collection of rare books and manuscripts.

Guy de Rothschild was born in 1909 in Paris, France. His early life was marked by privilege and wealth, thanks to his family's banking dynasty.

He studied at the École libre des sciences politiques and later at the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr. This education laid the foundation for his future career.

Guy de Rothschild was a French banker and member of the Rothschild banking family. He served in the French Resistance during World War II.

As a member of the Rothschild family, Guy de Rothschild was known for his philanthropic efforts. He supported various charitable causes throughout his life.

In 1937, Guy de Rothschild married Marie-Hélène de Rothschild, and they had two children together.