Rochet, Waldeck

Rochet, Waldeck väldĕkˈ rôshāˈ [key], 1905–83, French political leader. A member of the French Communist party, he was named to its central committee in 1936. He was imprisoned and sent to Algeria when the Communist party was declared illegal at the outbreak of World War II; freed in 1943, then worked with the Free French. For many years a member of the French assembly, he was (1964–72) secretary-general of the French Communist party.

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