René Babaz was a member of a resistance network run by the French government-in-exile in London. The network’s headquarters were in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon.
Aided by his son Robert, René Babaz forged official stamps, identity papers, and other documents for the network. They were distributed to resistance fighters and people in hiding, including Jews. Babaz also collected food ration coupons and distributed them to people living underground. Orders for new documents were placed at his mother’s house, where clandestine network meetings also took place. When the Gestapo searched the house, René Babaz only narrowly evaded arrest.
After a number of people he worked with were arrested, he joined the Alliance espionage network, for which he also forged papers. In September 1943 Alliance sent René Babaz and his son Robert to Paris, where they continued working as forgers. His son was arrested on March 17, 1944, while René Babaz managed to get away.
After the war, René Babaz received numerous honors from the French state for his resistance activities.