| Andre Ludwig | |
 Andre Ludwig on his 108th birthday in 2020. | |
| Birth: | 6 June 1912 La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, Seine-et-Marne, Ile-de-France, France |
| Death: | 7 January 2024 Longue-Jumelles, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la loire, France |
| Age: | 111 years, 215 days |
| Country: |  FRA
|
| Validated | |
Andre Ludwig [French: André Ludwig] (6 June 1912 – 7 January 2024) was a French supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of his death, he was was the oldest known living man in France and Europe, as well as the oldest living world war II veteran in the world.
Biography
Early Life
Andre Ludwig was born in La Ferte-sous-Jouarre, Seine-et-Marne, Ile-de-France, France on 6 June 1912. He never knew his parents, and it's his grandmother who raised him. He worked as a trainee printer, then as a fitter.
Ludwig married Yvonne in 1935; the couple had a daughter (aged about 80 in 2015). However, the last time he saw his daughter was when she was aged 20.
World War II
In 1939, Ludwig was mobilized for World War II. In 1940, he was made prisoner in Epinal, Vosges, Grand Est, and was deported in Poland. In 1942, he escaped, but was caught again, and spent 40 more in days in jail. Then, he was sent to a labour camp in Germany. He managed to escape again, and joined the zone libre (in France) to shelter his family. He also joined the French Resistance in the east of the country.
Later Life
Ludwig finished his career as a middle manager. In 1972, he retired, and moved with his wife to Longue-Jumelles. He liked playing boule de fort. At the age of 100, he was widowed. At the age of 102 (almost 103), he was still living independently in his home, and was in great shape, saying: "I've never been ill of my life, or at least, I don't remember it."
In February 2017, Ludwig joined the nursing home of Longue-Jumelles. On his 106th birthday in 2018, he was reported to be a bit deaf, and said about the secret of his longevity: "You just have to live happily with your memories." A month before his 109th birthday in 2021, he broke his femur, and underwent an operation. As he was offered a pair of slippers, he said: "I will have to walk on my hands to wear them out!"
Ludwig became the oldest known living man in France, following the death of one day older Jose Van Zandijcke on 28 December 2022. Following the death of 110-year-old Hans Schornack of Germany on 22 February 2023, he became the oldest known living man in Europe. After the death of 111-year-old Rashid Karimov of Tajikistan on 15 November 2023, he became the oldest known living world war II veteran in the world.
Ludwig's age was verified by GRG-France Correspondent Sylvain Grosgeorge, and validated by the GRG on 18 December 2023.
Andre Ludwig died in Longue-Jumelles, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France on 7 January 2024 at the age of 111 years, 215 days. At the time of his death, he was also the oldest known living person in Maine-et-Loire and the third-oldest known living person in Pays de la Loire, behind Marie-Rose Tessier and Andree Bertoletto.
Gallery
References
- GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List Gerontology Research Group
- André Ludwig Gerontology Research Group
- Cent ans et le plaisir de vivre des jours heureux avec son épouse Le Courrier de l'Ouest, 7 June 2012
- André Ludwig fête ses 102 ans le 6 juin, date fétiche Le Courrier de l'Ouest, 8 June 2014
- Il vit dans sa maison... à 103 ans Le Courrier de l'Ouest, 4 June 2015
- Longué-Jumelles. À 104 ans, toujours autonome, il vit encore chez lui Ouest-France, 6 June 2016
- Longué-Jumelles. André Ludwig, 105 ans aujourd’hui et en super forme Ouest-France, 6 June 2017
- Longué-Jumelles. Le doyen fête ses 106 ans Ouest-France, 6 June 2018
- Longué-Jumelles. Les 107 ans d'André Ludwig Ouest-France, 7 June 2019
- Longué-Jumelles. « Ici, je ne manque de rien » Ouest-France, 9 June 2020
- Le doyen du Maine-et-Loire André Ludwig a fêté ses 109 ans Ouest-France, 7 June 2021
- Le deuxième homme le plus âgé de France vit en Maine-et-Loire et vient de fêter ses 110 ans Ouest-France, 10 June 2022
- Longué-Jumelles. Le doyen André Ludwig a fêté en toute intimité ses 111 ans Ouest-France, 8 June 2023
- André Ludwig (1912–2024) Pompes Funèbres Générales (PFG)
| France's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Jean Teillet • Louis-Jules Lebon • Unknown • Pierre James • Adolphe Gravelines • Henri Perignon • Faustin Jaumard • Louis Brard • Andre Raynaud • Emile Fourcade • Bernard Delhom • Louis Arthur Bon • Leon-Clement Estivals • Jules Many • Theophane Rifosta • Alexis Daigneau • Raymond Abescat • Joseph Rabenda • Jean Chevenet • Maurice Floquet • Aime Avignon • Louis de Cazenave • Lazare Ponticelli • Pierre Picault • Joseph Malahieude • Felix Rostaing • Philibert Parnasse • Charles De Antoni • Andre Coudrat • Louis Le Bouedec • Emile Turlant • Philippe Vocanson • Roger Gouzy • Robert Bourdon • Georges Massard • Roger Auvin • Jules Theobald • Marcel Meys • Andre Boite • Jose Van Zandijcke • Andre Ludwig • Maurice Le Coutour |