True Life Tuesday: Pierre Loutrel

Pierre Loutrel, also known as Pierre le fot (Crazy Pete), was the first public enemy #1 in France. He was born on March 5, 1916 in Chateau-du-Loir, Sarthe, France. He was born into a peasant family and started committing petty crimes at an early age. During the German occupation of France during World War II he worked with the Carlingue, a part of the gestapo, from 1941-44. He gained a reputation as a cold blooded killer During this time he also made connections with the criminal underworld. Feeling that the Germans were turning against him he joined the French resistance. After the liberation of France he once again began his work with organized crime. He ended up committing racketeering and was a pimp. His reputation as an unscrupulous crime lord grew. He ended up forming the Gangs des tractions who ended up becoming infamous. The gang partially dismantled after a raid in Champigny. He was considered to be dangerous and incontrollable and other criminals would no longer work with him. This caused him to once again turn to petty crimes. On November 6, 1946 he tried to rob a Parisian jewelry store while drunk and ended up shooting himself in the bladder. He died from his wound on November 11, 1946.