Le procès Pétain : 1945-1995

Author / Creator

Varaut, Jean-Marc

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Summary

During the trial of Pétain in 1945 the issue of his antisemitism and of the fate of Jews was not discussed. Contends that the "real trial" began in 1972 - with the publication of Robert Paxton's "V...

During the trial of Pétain in 1945 the issue of his antisemitism and of the fate of Jews was not discussed. Contends that the "real trial" began in 1972 - with the publication of Robert Paxton's "Vichy France", the screening of Max Ophuels' film "Le chagrin et la pitié", and the public discussion of Jewish memory of the Holocaust. Argues that the "Pétain trial", since 1972, concentrates only on his antisemitic policies and neglects the real history of the period. Asserts that Pétain did not know about the "Final Solution" and that he believed that the Jews were deported to occupied Poland for forced labor. Relates the fate of the Jews in France, and the consecutive steps of discrimination and deportation. Protests against equating "Vichy" with "Auschwitz", arguing that such treatment reduces the condemnation of the Vichy regime to antisemitism alone and distorts historical truth. Underlines the contribution of the mass media to this type of distortion. Pleads for a just evaluation of historical facts.

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