Maurice Sarraut

Maurice Sarraut (September 22nd, 1869 - December 2nd, 1943) is a French journalist and politician.

Older brother of Albert Sarraut, it loses in 1887 his father Omer Sarraut, freemason and anticlerical, whereas it is eighteen years old. He is then engaged with the newspaper the Dispatch of Toulouse , while following a training of lawyer. In 1892, it organizes the Parisian agency of the newspaper and weaves many bonds with deputies and ministers. He becomes administrative director of the newspaper in 1909.

Member of the Left radical socialist of which he is president in 1926-1927, he is senator of the Aude of 1913 to 1932, date on which he resigns to become owner of the Dispatch . He supports his brother in his political career and exerts a great influence in South-west.

Following the armistice of June 1940, Maurice Sarraut approves new the Régime of Vichy which is set up, and its newspaper supports the marshal Pétain. Old figure of IIIe Republic and suspected of being freemason, Maurice Sarraut is however hated extremists of the collaboration. Briefly stopped by the Gestapo at the beginning of January 1943, Maurice Sarraut is released shortly after following the intervention of Rene Bousquet, general secretary of the police force of Vichy, from which he is the personal friend. As from 1943, Maurice Sarraut takes his distances with Pierre Laval, in particular on the question of the creation of the Milice.

He is assassinated the December 2nd 1943 in front of his residence of the suburbs of Toulouse. The newspapers collaborationnists show Resistance at once, but very quickly, the police force of Rene Bousquet stops the murderers. They are militiamans who will be released shortly after following interventions of Joseph Darnand and the German authorities.

At the end of the war, the regional chief of the Militia, Henry Frossard will be shown to have provided weapons and vehicle to the killers. Condemned to death, it will be carried out on May 14th 1945.

Random links: