| Who were Hitler's main foreign accomplices ? SWITZERLAND, SWEDEN, SPAIN, PORTUGAL FRANCE, TURKEY AND THE USA SHAMELES PROFITEERS OR DOCILE COLLABORATORS |
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| As Donald Trump would say :" Nothing personal, it is just business." Business is business and WW2 proved it beyond expectations. The whole of Europe, except the United Kingdom, collaborated with the Nazis during the war: Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Turkey, Romania, Denmark and Switzerland. To a degree or another, all these nations, like a cynical demi-mondaine, threw themselves in the arms of the powerful and nouveaux riches Nazis. Before the War, US tycoons financed Hitler and its enterprises, notably Henry Ford I, but it is another story that we develop in chapter Texaco. |
Without the dogged determination of Winston
Churchill who refused a separated peace with Hitler,
one can bet without risk that the mad Austrian Lance
corporal Hitler would have won the war against
Russia and probably won the war. Furthermore, even
in England, there were men of influence ready to
support the nazi megalomaniacs: Lord Halifax, sir
Oswald Mosley and even the King Edward VIII and his
fiancée, the very cunning Wallis Simpson, were
among them. His nazi sympathies might even have
played a bigger role in his abdication in 1936 than his
stubborn penchant for an American divorcee whose
reputation was stained.
| Islamic troops of Handschar Division incorporated into the Waffen SS |
If some occupied nations did not have other choice than engaging themselves in a policy of
collaboration more or less pronounced and official, others non occupied nations just decided to
profit to the full of their economic, financial and industrial connections with Germany. The case of
Switzerland is particularly shocking (1).
This country had already distinguished itself in 1938: after the annexation of Austria by the Reich,
the allies summoned an international conference to discuss the fate of thousands of Jews
fleeing Germany and Austria. Switzerland was then seat to the headquarters of the League of
Nations in Geneva but refused to host the conference as they did not want to alienate Hitler. In
1940, the German Treasury held approximately $200 millions of gold-reserves. From 1940 to
1945, due to the looting of occupied European countries, this amount jumped to $580 millions
(about $5.6 billions in current terms). The Allies estimated in 1945 that some $400 millions have
transited through Switzerland towards nazis bank accounts opened at the swiss central bank,
the Banque Nationale de Suisse.
With this gold in collateral or as a mean of payment, swiss banks provided during the conflict the
nazi war machine with the Swiss Francs (SF) that it needed to perform its dirty job. From 1940 to
1944 (i.e. until almost the end of the war), the Swiss sold to Germany for 750 millions of SF in
weapons and ammunitions. Plus machine-tools, military optical material (SF 38 millions),
aluminium and locomotives. In order to avoid English bombardments, the Germans installed
armaments plants on the other side of the border with Switzerland.
From 1940 to 1944, 84% of total swiss weapons and ammunitions exports Were shipped to
Germany against 8% to the Allies; from 1941 to 1944, 89% of precision tools, 87% of mechanical
time rockets, 81% of steel and iron goods, 75% of ball bearings, 65% of electrical equipments
for vehicules exported from Switzerland were shipped to Germany.
Thus, during the war, nazi Germany was able to trade with a lot of complacent nations all to
eager to facilitate its war efforts. Sweden, behind the convenient shield of neutrality sold to Berlin
huge quantities of ball bearings and iron ore shipments (see statistics) to Germany covered
40% of German needs. It is true that International Conventions allow for a neutral nation to do
business with any of the belligerents. Article 7 of the Hague Convention on the Rights and Duties
of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land (Hague V), October 18, 1907 stipulates
that "a neutral Power is not called upon to prevent the export or transport, on behalf of one or
other of the belligerents, of arms, munitions of war, or, in general, of anything which can be of
use to an army or a fleet." And article 8 poses that "a neutral Power is not called upon to
forbid or restrict the use on behalf of the belligerents of telegraph or telephone cables or of
wireless telegraphy apparatus belonging to it or to companies or private individuals."
Thus Sweden was able to legally receive 38 tons of gold from Nazi Germany (worth today US
$430 million). Many Swedish companies, such as Ericsson, AGA and Hasselblad Cameras, as
well as the country’s paper and wood industries traded with Nazi Germany. Swedish jewelers
bought stolen diamonds, which were smuggled into Sweden by civil servants working at the
German legation in Stockholm. Sweden did however break article 5 of the Convention since it
allowed German troops and supplies to be transported through Sweden : German supply
depots existed in northen Sweden although munitions were never stocked inside Sweden. This
was a violation of article 2. Furthermore Sweden broke article 5 by allowing Danish and
Norwegian forces to be formed, trained and equiped inside Sweden.
collaboration more or less pronounced and official, others non occupied nations just decided to
profit to the full of their economic, financial and industrial connections with Germany. The case of
Switzerland is particularly shocking (1).
This country had already distinguished itself in 1938: after the annexation of Austria by the Reich,
the allies summoned an international conference to discuss the fate of thousands of Jews
fleeing Germany and Austria. Switzerland was then seat to the headquarters of the League of
Nations in Geneva but refused to host the conference as they did not want to alienate Hitler. In
1940, the German Treasury held approximately $200 millions of gold-reserves. From 1940 to
1945, due to the looting of occupied European countries, this amount jumped to $580 millions
(about $5.6 billions in current terms). The Allies estimated in 1945 that some $400 millions have
transited through Switzerland towards nazis bank accounts opened at the swiss central bank,
the Banque Nationale de Suisse.
With this gold in collateral or as a mean of payment, swiss banks provided during the conflict the
nazi war machine with the Swiss Francs (SF) that it needed to perform its dirty job. From 1940 to
1944 (i.e. until almost the end of the war), the Swiss sold to Germany for 750 millions of SF in
weapons and ammunitions. Plus machine-tools, military optical material (SF 38 millions),
aluminium and locomotives. In order to avoid English bombardments, the Germans installed
armaments plants on the other side of the border with Switzerland.
From 1940 to 1944, 84% of total swiss weapons and ammunitions exports Were shipped to
Germany against 8% to the Allies; from 1941 to 1944, 89% of precision tools, 87% of mechanical
time rockets, 81% of steel and iron goods, 75% of ball bearings, 65% of electrical equipments
for vehicules exported from Switzerland were shipped to Germany.
Thus, during the war, nazi Germany was able to trade with a lot of complacent nations all to
eager to facilitate its war efforts. Sweden, behind the convenient shield of neutrality sold to Berlin
huge quantities of ball bearings and iron ore shipments (see statistics) to Germany covered
40% of German needs. It is true that International Conventions allow for a neutral nation to do
business with any of the belligerents. Article 7 of the Hague Convention on the Rights and Duties
of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land (Hague V), October 18, 1907 stipulates
that "a neutral Power is not called upon to prevent the export or transport, on behalf of one or
other of the belligerents, of arms, munitions of war, or, in general, of anything which can be of
use to an army or a fleet." And article 8 poses that "a neutral Power is not called upon to
forbid or restrict the use on behalf of the belligerents of telegraph or telephone cables or of
wireless telegraphy apparatus belonging to it or to companies or private individuals."
Thus Sweden was able to legally receive 38 tons of gold from Nazi Germany (worth today US
$430 million). Many Swedish companies, such as Ericsson, AGA and Hasselblad Cameras, as
well as the country’s paper and wood industries traded with Nazi Germany. Swedish jewelers
bought stolen diamonds, which were smuggled into Sweden by civil servants working at the
German legation in Stockholm. Sweden did however break article 5 of the Convention since it
allowed German troops and supplies to be transported through Sweden : German supply
depots existed in northen Sweden although munitions were never stocked inside Sweden. This
was a violation of article 2. Furthermore Sweden broke article 5 by allowing Danish and
Norwegian forces to be formed, trained and equiped inside Sweden.
Finally, Sweden who likes to show off about her neutrality was far from
being a neutral observer of the war : Swedish Waffen-SS volonteers
served in some time in German Konzentration Lager, Sweden had a
very Pro Nazi King, the biggest newspaper (Aftonbladet) was very Pro-
Nazi and the richest family in Sweden (Wallenberg) made a fortune of
selling goods to Germany. At the end of the war, the American wanted
to prosecute the Wallenberg family in Nüremberg, but the charges
were dropped because Europe needed Sweden for its rebuilding.
Some in Sweden have even pretended that the Russians incarcerated
Raoul Wallenberg as a punishment and retaliations against his family
whose deals with the Nazis had uselessly prolonged the war.
Same thing for Spain and Portugal who gladly delivered Germany with
very rare tungsten, iron ore, zinc and mercury. By 1941, Germany had
developed most of Spain’s wolfram mines and controlled the largest
producer through SOFINDUS. In 1941, the Nazis acquired almost all of
the wolfram ore produced. In August 1942, Spain reached agreement
with the Nazis to pay back its debt from the Civil War ($212 millions)in
four installments, in which the Nazis would use, the money to purchase
wolfram. During 1943, Germany purchased roughly 35 percent of the
total production of wolfram. Total mine production of wolfram in Spain
was roughly 4 to 5 times the production of 1940. In January 1942,
Portugal concluded a secret trade pact with Germany.
The pact allowed the Nazis export licenses for up to 2,800 tons of
wolfram (tungsten). In turn, Germany was to supply Portugal with coal,
steel, and fertilizer, which Portugal needed and which the Allies could
not supply.In 1945, allied intelligence concluded Portugal had received
$143.8 million of gold from the Swiss National Bank, about half of the
increase in Portugal’s gold reserves during the war. Of this amount, the
Allies were certain that $22.6 million were from gold looted from
Belgium and of the remaining portion 72% was looted by the Nazis.
In Norway where the King fled the country in 1941, Vidkun Abraham
Jonsson Quisling, who had nazi sympathies, declared himself Minister
President on 1 February 1942 and spent considerable time building up
his imitations of the Nazi machinery. However, unlike France's Marshall
Petain, he did not have the support of the people. His puppet
government created a Norge SS division that had 1300 members and
was supported by an organisation of contributors, Støttende
Medlemmer, that had 3400 members in 1944. His government
persecuted Jews, gypsies, homosexuals and helped Germany to
secure the road of iron ore exports from Sweden to Germany through
the port of Narvik. However when Norway was occupied, the Germans
ordered all Norwegian cargoships and oiltankers to go to the nearest
German controlled port. Needles to say none obeyed that order. During
the reminder of the war the Norwegian tankers fleet, wich was the
modernest fleet in the world prior to 1939, formed the bulk of the allied
tanker fleet shiping oil from the USA to England.
being a neutral observer of the war : Swedish Waffen-SS volonteers
served in some time in German Konzentration Lager, Sweden had a
very Pro Nazi King, the biggest newspaper (Aftonbladet) was very Pro-
Nazi and the richest family in Sweden (Wallenberg) made a fortune of
selling goods to Germany. At the end of the war, the American wanted
to prosecute the Wallenberg family in Nüremberg, but the charges
were dropped because Europe needed Sweden for its rebuilding.
Some in Sweden have even pretended that the Russians incarcerated
Raoul Wallenberg as a punishment and retaliations against his family
whose deals with the Nazis had uselessly prolonged the war.
Same thing for Spain and Portugal who gladly delivered Germany with
very rare tungsten, iron ore, zinc and mercury. By 1941, Germany had
developed most of Spain’s wolfram mines and controlled the largest
producer through SOFINDUS. In 1941, the Nazis acquired almost all of
the wolfram ore produced. In August 1942, Spain reached agreement
with the Nazis to pay back its debt from the Civil War ($212 millions)in
four installments, in which the Nazis would use, the money to purchase
wolfram. During 1943, Germany purchased roughly 35 percent of the
total production of wolfram. Total mine production of wolfram in Spain
was roughly 4 to 5 times the production of 1940. In January 1942,
Portugal concluded a secret trade pact with Germany.
The pact allowed the Nazis export licenses for up to 2,800 tons of
wolfram (tungsten). In turn, Germany was to supply Portugal with coal,
steel, and fertilizer, which Portugal needed and which the Allies could
not supply.In 1945, allied intelligence concluded Portugal had received
$143.8 million of gold from the Swiss National Bank, about half of the
increase in Portugal’s gold reserves during the war. Of this amount, the
Allies were certain that $22.6 million were from gold looted from
Belgium and of the remaining portion 72% was looted by the Nazis.
In Norway where the King fled the country in 1941, Vidkun Abraham
Jonsson Quisling, who had nazi sympathies, declared himself Minister
President on 1 February 1942 and spent considerable time building up
his imitations of the Nazi machinery. However, unlike France's Marshall
Petain, he did not have the support of the people. His puppet
government created a Norge SS division that had 1300 members and
was supported by an organisation of contributors, Støttende
Medlemmer, that had 3400 members in 1944. His government
persecuted Jews, gypsies, homosexuals and helped Germany to
secure the road of iron ore exports from Sweden to Germany through
the port of Narvik. However when Norway was occupied, the Germans
ordered all Norwegian cargoships and oiltankers to go to the nearest
German controlled port. Needles to say none obeyed that order. During
the reminder of the war the Norwegian tankers fleet, wich was the
modernest fleet in the world prior to 1939, formed the bulk of the allied
tanker fleet shiping oil from the USA to England.
| Belgian leading fascist and collaborator Leon Degrelle (1906-1994), founder of the Rexism movement, was proud to be a fanatic and an admirer of Hitler. He had a strong following and was an excellent justification for a lot of others collaborators. He did not recant after the war and even wrote several book about his nazi sympathies although "Hitler did not expect much of him", according to Albert Speer. |
| Vidkun Quisling, 1887-1945, Norwegian fascist leader, found the fascist Nasjonal Samling [national unity] party. In 1940 he helped Germany prepare the conquest of Norway. Remaining at the head of the sole party permitted by the Germans, he was made premier in 1942. Despite his unpopularity and difficulties with his German masters and within his own party, he remained in power until May, 1945, when, after the German surrender, he was arrested and shot.. |
Turkey provided its German friends in chrome: in 1941 Turkey signed a
Treaty of Friendship with Nazi Germany, just three days before Hitler
attacked Russia. In 1943 Germany received 90% of all Turkish exports,
such as chrome, cotton, oilseed, wool, leather. In November 1943,
German Ammunitions minister, Albert Speer, estimated that much of
Germany's manufacture of armaments would come to a halt within 10
months if Turkey's chromite exports to Germany were ended.Turkey
halted the export of chromite to Germany in April 1944 and suspended
all commercial and diplomatic relations with Germany in August 1944
and finally declared war on Germany in February 1945. Allied experts
estimated total German assets in Turkey at over $51 million in 1945
and possibly as much as $71 million in 1946.
As for Denmark, small neighbour in the North of Germany, after the
assault on the Soviet Union, it joined the Anti-Comintern Pact together
with the Nordic neighbour, the democratic Finland and banned the
Communist Party. Normal relations with Allied governments were cut
off and industrial production and trade were redirected toward Germany.
France, last but not least, under the tutorship of Vichy’s collaboration
policy, delivered to Germany 40% of the totality of all its productions,
agricultural, military and industrial. French people were starving but
Berlin was always provided in due time and lacked nothing to complete
his lethal works.
Treaty of Friendship with Nazi Germany, just three days before Hitler
attacked Russia. In 1943 Germany received 90% of all Turkish exports,
such as chrome, cotton, oilseed, wool, leather. In November 1943,
German Ammunitions minister, Albert Speer, estimated that much of
Germany's manufacture of armaments would come to a halt within 10
months if Turkey's chromite exports to Germany were ended.Turkey
halted the export of chromite to Germany in April 1944 and suspended
all commercial and diplomatic relations with Germany in August 1944
and finally declared war on Germany in February 1945. Allied experts
estimated total German assets in Turkey at over $51 million in 1945
and possibly as much as $71 million in 1946.
As for Denmark, small neighbour in the North of Germany, after the
assault on the Soviet Union, it joined the Anti-Comintern Pact together
with the Nordic neighbour, the democratic Finland and banned the
Communist Party. Normal relations with Allied governments were cut
off and industrial production and trade were redirected toward Germany.
France, last but not least, under the tutorship of Vichy’s collaboration
policy, delivered to Germany 40% of the totality of all its productions,
agricultural, military and industrial. French people were starving but
Berlin was always provided in due time and lacked nothing to complete
his lethal works.
Many opportunists found hard to resist the appeal of
the Nazis propaganda and pageantry. Almost the whole
of Europe succumbed to some sort of fascist
patriotism, including France, Italy, Norway
and Belgium
the Nazis propaganda and pageantry. Almost the whole
of Europe succumbed to some sort of fascist
patriotism, including France, Italy, Norway
and Belgium
Until 1944, Switzerland and other neutral powers, like Spain and Portugal, refused to limit their
shipments to Germany. In 1945, the Allies estimated that Swiss coffers were still holding between
$200 and $398 millions dollars of war-looted gold and exerted continuous pressures upon the
Swiss for its restitution. To no avail. After long and painful negotiations, the Swiss accepted to
restitute only $58 millions. As for German assets held by the Swiss banking system, evaluated by the
Allies in 1946 to 250-500 millions dollars, they were finally transferred back to their owners in …1952
only to the amount of 28 millions.
During the 50s, procrastinated negotiations with Sweden, Turkey, Spain and Portugal took place and
had the same results. All those nations kept within their borders a good part of nazi looted gold or
german assets deposited in their banks even when these assets had been affected to Funds
established for the reinsertion of deportees and victims of war. The sacred selfishness of nations
prevailed upon the misery of the survivors.
However the Jewish World Consistory did not let the whole meanness of the nations lasted for ever
unchecked. At the beginning of the new millennium, after long negotiations between the American
government, the Consistory and a lot of European nations, several agreements were reached:
* The Swiss banks accepted to sign a compromise and paid $1,2 billion dollars to the survivors of
the Holocaust (they feared a Jewish boycott, now say the Swiss to justify the payment!!!)
* Norway accepted to pay $50 millions
* Spain accepted to pay $1.5 millions
But Sweden, Turkey and Argentina will get away with their stinginess by accepting to pronounce
some words of “collective regret and culpability” that did not cost a penny and were hardly noticed.
Austria had previously accepted to indemnify the survivors to the level of $5,000 per capita. A derisory
amount when you have lost all your family in an Austrian concentration camp whose most famous
were Mauthausen (near Linz where Hitler went to school), Lochau and Strasshof.
shipments to Germany. In 1945, the Allies estimated that Swiss coffers were still holding between
$200 and $398 millions dollars of war-looted gold and exerted continuous pressures upon the
Swiss for its restitution. To no avail. After long and painful negotiations, the Swiss accepted to
restitute only $58 millions. As for German assets held by the Swiss banking system, evaluated by the
Allies in 1946 to 250-500 millions dollars, they were finally transferred back to their owners in …1952
only to the amount of 28 millions.
During the 50s, procrastinated negotiations with Sweden, Turkey, Spain and Portugal took place and
had the same results. All those nations kept within their borders a good part of nazi looted gold or
german assets deposited in their banks even when these assets had been affected to Funds
established for the reinsertion of deportees and victims of war. The sacred selfishness of nations
prevailed upon the misery of the survivors.
However the Jewish World Consistory did not let the whole meanness of the nations lasted for ever
unchecked. At the beginning of the new millennium, after long negotiations between the American
government, the Consistory and a lot of European nations, several agreements were reached:
* The Swiss banks accepted to sign a compromise and paid $1,2 billion dollars to the survivors of
the Holocaust (they feared a Jewish boycott, now say the Swiss to justify the payment!!!)
* Norway accepted to pay $50 millions
* Spain accepted to pay $1.5 millions
But Sweden, Turkey and Argentina will get away with their stinginess by accepting to pronounce
some words of “collective regret and culpability” that did not cost a penny and were hardly noticed.
Austria had previously accepted to indemnify the survivors to the level of $5,000 per capita. A derisory
amount when you have lost all your family in an Austrian concentration camp whose most famous
were Mauthausen (near Linz where Hitler went to school), Lochau and Strasshof.
As for Marshall Petain’s France, this model of democracy and resistance to
Nazism, it was stated by the Matteoli commission that Vichy allowed during the
war the theft of $1.3 billions of Jewish assets and the seizure of 38,000
appartments owned by Jews. More than 300,000 Jews were spoliated by Vichy'
measures during WW2: frozen share accounts totalled FFR 1940 6 billions and
current account totalled FFR 1940 1,2 billions, 100,000 objets d'art and works
were pillaged. However, the same commission established that 70% of stolen
assets had been given back to their legitmate owners after the war but works of
arts, current and share accounts were lost for ever. A decree of July 2000
decided that Jewish orphans from parents dead in deportation would be
granted a lump sum of 180,000 FF or a monthly pension of 3,000FF. At the
same date, French museums were still displaying or storing some 2000 art
works stolen during the war to Jewish families and never restituted.
Finally, Romania of dictator Antonescu, Germany's staunchest ally, provided the
Nazis with food, fuel and more combat troops than all of Germany's other allies
combined. Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, supported by
almost one million Romanian troops. Romania's army lost 309.000 men in its
fight against Soviet Union. The Russians did not forget the treachery of
Antonescu and found wise after the war to have a Communist in control of the
country, the dictator Ceaucescu.
Finally, in January 1939, there was even a Swedish member of Parliament who
nominated Adolf Hitler for Nobel Peace Prize for 1939. As any member of a
national Parliament everywhere in the world, Mr. Brandt was entitled to do so.
He was probably encouraged in it by the fact that the same month TIME
magazine had chosen Adolf Hitler as man of the year for 1938.
In conclusion, one easily realizes how much European nations, to the exception
of England, may be shameful of their nazi past. All have shamelessly benefited
from the nazi era or more contributed to its outrageous deeds of infamy.
(1) I have received e-mails from members of the Axis Forum accusing me of
exaggeration, pointing out that Switzerland's case was not shocking at all but it
was just business as usual. Well, all tastes and moralities are in the nature.
After all, the Arabs (2) also dealt with the Nazis and they got away with it in 1945.
Even von Braun, the father of the V1s and V2s that killed thousands of Brits got
away with it while Albert Speer, only minister of Armaments, got twenty years in
jail at Spandau. According to who you are, you will be honoured or blamed for
the same deeds.
(2) For more information about the collusion between the Nazis and the
Muslims, please read this article by Jewish scholar Seth J. Frantzman
Nazism, it was stated by the Matteoli commission that Vichy allowed during the
war the theft of $1.3 billions of Jewish assets and the seizure of 38,000
appartments owned by Jews. More than 300,000 Jews were spoliated by Vichy'
measures during WW2: frozen share accounts totalled FFR 1940 6 billions and
current account totalled FFR 1940 1,2 billions, 100,000 objets d'art and works
were pillaged. However, the same commission established that 70% of stolen
assets had been given back to their legitmate owners after the war but works of
arts, current and share accounts were lost for ever. A decree of July 2000
decided that Jewish orphans from parents dead in deportation would be
granted a lump sum of 180,000 FF or a monthly pension of 3,000FF. At the
same date, French museums were still displaying or storing some 2000 art
works stolen during the war to Jewish families and never restituted.
Finally, Romania of dictator Antonescu, Germany's staunchest ally, provided the
Nazis with food, fuel and more combat troops than all of Germany's other allies
combined. Germany invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, supported by
almost one million Romanian troops. Romania's army lost 309.000 men in its
fight against Soviet Union. The Russians did not forget the treachery of
Antonescu and found wise after the war to have a Communist in control of the
country, the dictator Ceaucescu.
Finally, in January 1939, there was even a Swedish member of Parliament who
nominated Adolf Hitler for Nobel Peace Prize for 1939. As any member of a
national Parliament everywhere in the world, Mr. Brandt was entitled to do so.
He was probably encouraged in it by the fact that the same month TIME
magazine had chosen Adolf Hitler as man of the year for 1938.
In conclusion, one easily realizes how much European nations, to the exception
of England, may be shameful of their nazi past. All have shamelessly benefited
from the nazi era or more contributed to its outrageous deeds of infamy.
(1) I have received e-mails from members of the Axis Forum accusing me of
exaggeration, pointing out that Switzerland's case was not shocking at all but it
was just business as usual. Well, all tastes and moralities are in the nature.
After all, the Arabs (2) also dealt with the Nazis and they got away with it in 1945.
Even von Braun, the father of the V1s and V2s that killed thousands of Brits got
away with it while Albert Speer, only minister of Armaments, got twenty years in
jail at Spandau. According to who you are, you will be honoured or blamed for
the same deeds.
(2) For more information about the collusion between the Nazis and the
Muslims, please read this article by Jewish scholar Seth J. Frantzman
Henri Philippe Benoit Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French general, later Head of State of Vichy France, from 1940 to 1944. Due to his military leadership in World War I, he was viewed as a hero in France, but his actions during World War II resulted in him being convicted and sentenced to death for treason, which was commuted to life imprisonment by Charles de Gaulle. In modern France, he is generally considered a traitor, and pétainisme is a derogatory term for certain reactionary policies. An Association pour la défense de la mémoire of Marshal Pétain is still active but is obviously leading a losing battle |
Accomplices from outside