President Macron's Petain Nazi collaborator remark creates row
7 November 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to justify paying homage to Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain during centenary commemorations marking the end of World War One later this week. Mr Macron said Marshal Petain was a "great soldier", even though he had made "disastrous choices" during WW2. Petain was praised for the defence of Verdun in 1916, but he was sentenced to death for high treason after WW2. Some French politicians and Jewish leaders condemned Mr Macron's comments. Speaking during a tour of northern France in Charleville-Mezieres, the president said: "It's right that we honour the marshals who led France to victory (in WW1)." And referring to Petain, Mr Macron said: "He was a great soldier", although he had made "disastrous choices" during the Nazi occupation of France. Petain co-operated with the Nazi invaders and headed a puppet government centred on the spa town of Vichy. Mr Macron's office later defended his comments. "I'm not forgiving anything, but I'm not going to erase anything from our history," he said, stressing that Petain was "complicit in grave crimes". And addressing reporters, he added: "You're creating controversies by yourselves." On Saturday, a ceremony will be held in Paris to commemorate the eight marshals - including Petain - who led the French army in WW1. A number of French politicians criticised President Macron. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who leads the France Unbowed party, described Petain as "a traitor and an anti-Semite". Mr Melenchon added: "Macron, this time you've gone too far! The history of France is not your toy." Meanwhile, Francis Kalifat of the CRIF association of French Jewish groups said he was "shocked" by Mr Macron's comments praising a Nazi collaborator who helped send thousands of Jews to their deaths. "The only thing we will remember about Petain is that he was convicted, in the name of the French people, of national indignity during his trial in 1945," Mr Kalifat said. He was born in 1856, and joined the French army 20 years later. Petain was seen by many in France as a national hero for restoring army morale after Verdun - the largest and longest battle in WW1. In 1918, he was made a marshal of France. In 1940, with France under attack from Germany, Petain was appointed vice-premier. He later asked for an armistice, upon which he was appointed "chief of state", enjoying almost absolute powers. The armistice gave the Germans control over the north and west of France, including Paris, but left the remainder as a separate regime under Petain. Officially neutral, in practice the regime collaborated closely with Germany, and brought in its own anti-Semitic legislation. After the end of WW2, Petain was arrested and sentenced to death for high treason. This was then commuted to life imprisonment given his age. Petain died in 1951 at the age of 95.
Speaking during a tour of northern France in Charleville-Mezieres, the president said: "It's right that we honour the marshals who led France to victory (in WW1)." And referring to Petain, Mr Macron said: "He was a great soldier", although he had made "disastrous choices" during the Nazi occupation of France. Petain co-operated with the Nazi invaders and headed a puppet government centred on the spa town of Vichy. Mr Macron's office later defended his comments. "I'm not forgiving anything, but I'm not going to erase anything from our history," he said, stressing that Petain was "complicit in grave crimes". And addressing reporters, he added: "You're creating controversies by yourselves." On Saturday, a ceremony will be held in Paris to commemorate the eight marshals - including Petain - who led the French army in WW1.
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What did Mr Macron say?
A number of French politicians criticised President Macron.
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What has been reaction in France?
He was born in 1856, and joined the French army 20 years later. Petain was seen by many in France as a national hero for restoring army morale after Verdun - the largest and longest battle in WW1. In 1918, he was made a marshal of France. In 1940, with France under attack from Germany, Petain was appointed vice-premier. He later asked for an armistice, upon which he was appointed "chief of state", enjoying almost absolute powers. The armistice gave the Germans control over the north and west of France, including Paris, but left the remainder as a separate regime under Petain. Officially neutral, in practice the regime collaborated closely with Germany, and brought in its own anti-Semitic legislation. After the end of WW2, Petain was arrested and sentenced to death for high treason. This was then commuted to life imprisonment given his age. Petain died in 1951 at the age of 95.
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Who was Philippe Petain?