Jules Moch, a French politician, was born in Paris on March 15, 1893 and died on August 1, 1985 in Cabris (Alpes-Maritimes). An engineer (polytechnicien), he was a socialist member of Parliament for Drôme ant then Hérault from 1928 to 1936 and from 1937 to 1940. Under-secretary of State in prime minister Blum's office (1937), he became Minister of Public Works in 1938. He rallied de Gaulle in 1942. He was a member of the Consultative Assembly (1944) and of the two Constituent National Assemblies (1945-46) and then of the National Assembly (1946-1958 and 1962-67). He was eight times Minister during the Fourth Republic: Public works and Transportation (1945-47), Interior (1947-50), Defence (1950-51). Jules Moch was deputy prime minister from 1949 to 1950. His last ministerial post was in Pflimlin's Government in May 1958 as Interior Minister.

As Transport Minister, he contributed to the rebuilding of railways, ports, road, navy and aviation. As Interior Minister, he had to deal with the communist inspired great strikes in November 1947 and has shown great firmness. In the Defence Ministry, he contributed to the modernisation of the Army, organised French participation in the Korean war and the implementation of NATO. He fought the gaullist and communist parties during the Fourth Republic and was one of the leaders of the Troisième Force. He was France's delegate at the UN disarmement commission from 1951 to 1960. As rapporteur of the Foreign affairs Committee, he opposed the European Community of Defence that was defeated by the National Assembly in 1954. He left the socialist party in 1975.

He has published:

• Confrontations (Doctrines - Déviations - Expériences - Espérances), Gallimard 1952
• Yougoslavie, terre d'expérience, éd. du Rocher, Monaco, 1953
• Histoire du réarmement allemand depuis 1950, Robert Laffont, 1954
• Alerte, le problème crucial de la Communauté Européenne de défense, Robert Laffont
• La folie des hommes (about the atomic bomb, Robert Laffont, 1954
• En 1961, Paix en Algérie, Robert Laffont
• Non à la force de frappe, Robert Laffont, 1963
• Le Front Populaire, Perrin 1971
• Rencontre avec Charles de Gauulle, 1971
• Une si longue vie, témoignages, Robert Laffont, 1976
• Le communisme jamais, Plon 1978

Eric Méchoulan has written a book: Jules Moch un socialiste dérangeant, published by Bruylant.