The story of the Frenchwoman Raymonda Dien, who laid down on the rails to stop the war

There are many ways to fight for world peace. Someone takes up arms, someone participates in information battles, and someone saves people from humanitarian disasters. But there are also those who are literally ready to close the world with themselves. This is exactly what the Frenchwoman Raymonda Dien did, trying to stop the war in Indochina, where her country tried to preserve its colonies by any means.

On February 23, 1950, an echelon loaded with military equipment arrived at the Saint-Pierre-de-Cor station in Tours. Tanks, armored vehicles, guns, shells were being prepared for shipment to French Indochina. It was another portion of death for the people of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The locals knew perfectly well when the train would arrive and what kind of cargo it would contain. The townspeople came to the Saint-Pierre-de-Cor station to protest the unjust war going on at the other end of the world. Raymonda Dien was also in the crowd of outraged people. She was not just a conscious citizen of her country, but also a member of the Communist Party, which condemned the killing of civilians in Southeast Asia.

Among the residents of Tours who came to the rally against the war, there were a variety of people. These are communists, railway workers, workers, residents of the surrounding villages and just caring people who happened to be at the station at that moment. Many brought banners and chanted "We do not intend to be executioners!" and "Not a single person, not a single sou for the dirty war in Vietnam!".

But words could not stop the locomotive and, after standing for a while, the train moved towards the port, where the equipment was waiting for loading on ships. And then Raymonda Dien committed an act that secured her a place in history. She left the crowd and lay down on the rails in front of the train.

The example of a brave woman inspired other protesters and one by one they began to fit on the rails. The train was forced to stop. At that moment, people began to climb onto the platforms with equipment, who began to break tanks. They tore out wires and tubes, smashed tank optics and sights. In short, they did everything to disable the deadly machines.

Thanks to Raymonda's impulse and the support of people, the train was delayed for 9 hours. He still went to Indochina, but the act of a brave resident of Tours became an example for thousands of Frenchmen. All over the country, conscious people began to delay trains to stop the war.

Raymonda Dien herself was arrested by the police right at the train station. She was tried and sentenced to a year in prison. She did not deny her guilt, and when asked what motivated her, heroin answered briefly: "I just hate war."

The woman who stopped the train became one of the most famous personalities in France. On her birthday, compatriots sent hundreds of gifts and congratulations to the prison. Raymond was required to be released, and these voices came from countries very far from Europe. And the pressure on the authorities gave a result. The woman was released into the wild in November 1950, before a certain deadline. Yes, she was deprived of her civil rights in her country for 15 years, but Dien did not regret anything.

After prison, Raymonda Dien began to actively participate in public life. She was even hired to work for an advertising agency owned by Communists. This wonderful woman is still alive and, as before, hates war and violence. For many years in a row, Raymonda comes to Vietnam, which she once wanted to protect. The country's leader Ho Chi Minh himself expressed his respect to her during a meeting in the 60s.

And the war in France lost Vietnam. In 1954, this country gained independence. The Vietnamese are sure that a woman who decided to stop a train with death played a significant role in their victory.