I.4. Le maréchal Pétain et la « question juive »

Abstract

Did Marshal Petain protect French Jews between 1940 and 1944, or did he help enforce the Final Solution in France? It is important to examine the opinions, choices, and policies of Philippe Petain instead of simply settling for ideological answers. Prior to the war, Petain exhibited anti-Semitic beliefs, which was typical of the French in the 19th century. While he was not overly aggressive, he was clearly prejudiced against Jews. The xenophobic aspect of his anti-Semitic attitudes can be seen in the laws his government passed starting in the summer of 1940. Petain first helped implement the Jewish Statute of October 1940, then took steps to further endanger Jews in the country. He was never fully satisfied with France’s anti-Jewish legislation, which he deemed not sufficiently targeted or effective. By enforcing German anti-Semitic ordinances, Petain sought to keep control of the country while still demonstrating his willingness to collaborate with Germany. Ultimately, however, he began to feel overwhelmed by the situation. While he did not adhere to the Nazi’s criminally racist attitudes, he refused to acknowledge its specificity. Out of blindness and selfishness, Petain insisted on framing Jewish persecution as a type of collateral damage that could not be avoided in war.