PIERRE LAVAL

“HE COOPERATED WITH NAZI EFFORTS TO ARREST AND DEPORT JEWS WHILE ALSO PROVIDING FORCED LABOURERS TO WORK IN THE THIRD REICH”

NAZI COLLABORATIONIST WHO SANCTIONED VICHY EXCESSES 1883-1945

Although he began his political career as a socialist, Pierre Laval became one of the foremost Nazi collaborators of the Second World War, and his reputation as a Nazi sympathiser is second only to that of Vichy head of state Marshal Philippe Pétain. Laval served in several positions within the Vichy regime, including vice president of the council of ministers and head of the government. He cooperated with Nazi efforts to arrest and deport

Jews while also providing forced labourers to work in the Third Reich. Laval had served as French prime minister and held numerous other offices during the 1930s.

Along with Pétain, Laval refused to commit Vichy to war against the Allies, and with the liberation of France in 1944 he was arrested by the Germans. He fled to Spain briefly but returned to France and was taken into custody by the provisional government. He was tried, convicted of treason, and executed by firing squad in October 1945.

Vichy politician Pierre Laval collaborated with the Nazis and paid with his life, executed by firing squad in 1945