Pierre Laval

Pierre Laval , born the June 28th 1883 with Châteldon (Puy-de-Dôme) and dead shot the October 15th 1945, with Fresnes, is a Politician French.

Several times President of the council under the III {{E}} Republic, it is, immediately after Philippe Pétain, the most important personality of the Régime of Vichy and the principal project superintendent of the policy of collaboration of State with Germany Nazi.

Having strongly helped with the foundation of “the French State”, he is vice-president of the Council and dolphin indicated of the Marshal until his sudden ousting the December 30th 1940. He returns to the capacity with the title of chief of the government, of the April 18th 1942 with his departure of Paris the August 17th 1944.

A politician of IIIe Republic

Born from a modest family of the lower middle class, his/her father is landlord and commercial of horses with Châteldon in the Puy-de-Dôme. Pierre Laval will have in particular to be “Pion” in a Parisian college to pay his studies. Its social rise will enable him later on to repurchase the castle of the borough where it was born. It passes its baccalaureat and obtains a license natural science before choosing the right, and settling with Paris as lawyer in 1907.

Of its popular origins, Laval will keep all its life a speech direct and familiar, readily airspeed indicator, often very crusty. In testify to multiple reported remarks by the witnesses who met it. What should not dissimulate its acquired cultural luggage.

Member of the SFIO since 1905 Member of SFIO, sometimes defending of the trade unionists of the CGT in particular, in front of the courts, Pierre Laval posts like pacifist before the First World War. He is even registered with famous “the Notebook B”, the list of all the militants of the pacifist extreme-left that the ministry for the Interior initially envisaged to stop in the event of conflict.

In 1914, Laval are elected appointed SFIO of Aubervilliers, were however, because of its militant pacifism, beaten with the elections of 1919, which transfer the victory of the national Block, very marked by the spirit “war veteran”, whereas during the First World War was reformed to him.

He becomes mayor of Aubervilliers in 1923. mandate which it was to preserve until the Release It always keeps a strong pacifist feeling , maintained by its regular contacts with Aristide Briand, with which it worked to establish good relationships with the Germany and the Soviet Union. It moves away gradually from the left as its fortune increases, and slips more and more towards the parliamentary line. It had satisfaction to be re-elected appointed in 1924, as socialist independent vis-a-vis a candidate SFIO which it reproached his sympathies to the Communists. With the head of a flourishing cabinet, enjoying an excellent local establishment, it already well more seemed opportunist, before very concerned of its social success, that like a man of conviction . In 1927, it elected Senator of the Seine; Pierre Laval was made elect this same year in Puy-of-Dôme. He becomes senator, like candidate without label, but with the support of the center right and the right-hand side. He is several times Minister and president of the Council (see below).

In 1931, Laval is elected “Man of the year” by the Time magazine with the the United States.

It will follow during these various mandates a deflationary policy, which will do nothing but worsen the economic crisis and social years 1930, (although it is necessary to note that in 1935 the budget of the French State is one of rare in Europe to be in balance) and to precipitate the electoral victory of the Popular front. Another aspect of its policy is the limitation of the budget of the army at the time when Hitler remilitarizes Germany.

On the diplomatic level, whereas the threat Nazi continues, Laval multiplies overall the often unmethodical and contradictory initiatives. It meets Stalin in Moscow and concludes with him a pact from Franco-Soviet assistance (May 1935), but does not match it military agreement. It meets shortly after Mussolini in Rome, and does not react when this last the met in the confidence of the preparations of the aggression against Ethiopia. The Duce interprets that like an assent with its war, that it starts in October 1935, and accommodates with fury the sanctions of Paris and London, believer to a treason of Laval, which inter alia contributes to the Rome-Berlin bringing together and the constitution of the Axis, which will precipitate Europe in the Second world war. In November 1942, at a meeting in Munich with Hitler, where Laval is present, Mussolini will entrust to the interpreter Paul Schmidt that Laval had rendered proud service in 1935 to him, while refusing to cut the oil supply of Italy and to close Suez Canal: in this case, the Italian troops would not have had any more but to be withdrawn from Ethiopia under eight days.

In January 1936, with the approach of the Popular front, Laval is isolated capacity. It will keep of it, as of this date, a sharp hostility towards the “socialo-Communists” whom it will associate with the Third Republic. As from 1937, it inclines towards ideas if not authoritative, at least unparliamentary. Of return to private, it accumulates a commercial empire based on the newspapers, printing works and the radio.

Laval and the foundation of the Mode of Vichy

The defeat of 1940 provides to Laval the occasion to return to the capacity. It places its empire of media at the service of Pétain and the Vichy government. The shortly even after the conclusion of the Armistice of June 22nd, 1940 it enters to the Gouvernement Philippe Pétain. The July 10th, 1940, it also uses of its influence to the National Assembly to make give to Pétain the full powerss. Two days later, the July 12th 1940, Laval is called by Pétain as vice-president of the Council, the Marshal remaining at the same time Head of the State and the government.

Laval developed very close connections with Otto Abetz, ambassador German in France. Playing of its image of “francophile”, this last persuades it a little more, completely wrongly, that Führer is ready to tighten the hand with overcome and to hold in France a place privileged in Europe Nazi. October 22nd, 1940, Laval meets Adolf Hitler in Montoire and proposes that the two countries are combined very narrowly. Two days afterwards, it organizes the resounding interview of Montoire, where the handshake symbolic system between Hitler and Pétain engages France in the collaboration of State. One month later, at an other meeting with Hermann Göring, Laval suggests a military alliance with the Nazi Germany, and makes draw up plans for a common reconquest of Chad, passed to the gaullists under the impulse of his governor, Felix Éboué.

It multiplies the gestures of good will in addition, without counterpart no neither requested nor obtained. Thus, it delivers to Germany the gold of the bank of Belgium, entrusted by Brussels to France. It yields to him the French participations in the mines of Cuivre of Bor (Yugoslavia), most important of Europe to produce this highly strategic metal. It considers the return of the government in Paris, where it would be more narrowly under German glance.

Of July to December 1940, Laval follows a policy of active collaboration, with the project of alliance with the Nazi Germany evoked above. Members of the government worried about this alliance. But especially, Laval acts too independently with the taste of Pétain, jealous of its authority, and its unpopularity near the mass of the French is in the long term likely to flash back on the mode. Lastly, it is the last member of Parliament to be still sat at the government, and it displeases with holding of the national Révolution like vestige of the Republic honnie.

December 13rd, 1940, Philippe Pétain dismisses Laval abruptly, and replaces it by Flandin then by Darlan, which continues besides without much change the policy of collaboration and reinforces the authoritative character of the mode. Laval is briefly stopped, but Otto Abetz intervenes to release it and takes it along to Paris, where he will live from now on under the protection of the German army. This dismissal does not prevent Pierre Laval from continuing to take part in the public life and policy.

August 27th, 1941, whereas it reviewed the first quota of LVF, voluntary French under uniform Nazi about to leave to take part in the Opération Barbarossa, he is victim of an attack with Versailles. The ceremony organized with the Borgnis-Desbordes barracks, avenue of Paris, joined together Eugene Deloncle, president of the Central committee of LVF, Marcel Déat, founder of the popular national Rassemblement (RNP), Fernand de Brinon, acting general of the French government in the occupied territories, Marc Chevallier, prefect of Seine-et-Oise and the ambassador plenipotentiary German Schleier. The author of the 5 shots is young a 21 year old workman, Paul Collette, former member of the Cross-of-fire.

The return to the capacity (1942-1944)

The 17 April 1942, always under the German pressure, Laval, which recovered its health, is named chief of the government of the Régime of Vichy by the Marshal Philippe Pétain. He declares publicly that he believes in the final victory of Germany Nazi E and still reinforces the policy of collaboration with the occupant.

If Pétain still does not have personal affection for Laval, it shares with him the same options of foreign policy, and approves its decisions in the Council of Ministers. In June 1942, the Marshal very clearly declares in public that the remarks and the orders of Laval are like and that all owe him obedience as with itself. As showed it Henri Michel, Robert Paxton, Jean-Pierre Azéma and many other historians, it forever existed of differences between “Vichy de Pétain” and “Vichy of Laval”, than the apologists of Pétain invented after the war in order to reject on only Laval the responsibility for turpitudes of the Régime of Vichy.

Set on diplomacy, closely persuaded to be the only French able to negotiate with Hitler, Laval put all on an unambiguous collaboration which consists in pre-empting the German desires and multiplying the pledges of good will towards the winner, without expecting counterpart from it. He thus hopes to obtain Joachim von Ribbentrop or of Hitler the decisive interview, during which he makes in advance liberally confidence with the capacities of personal charm that he lends himself to allure the Nazis chiefs, and to convince them to reserve in France a choice place in German Europe. Laval never seems to have been aware neither of the radical specificity of the ideology Nazi and the mode hitlérien, neither of the complete absence of will of Führer to treat France nor no other vassal like a partner.

Deeply convinced to be right alone against all, and persuaded that the posterity alone will include/understand the merits of its policy, Laval forever held any account either of the unpopularity of its person and the Collaboration near the mass of the French, not more than of the warnings which reach him more and more of all shares. From where, among so much of other testimonys, this significant dialog with the general Weygand, in November 1942, at the moment when this last must leave Vichy because of advanced German troops in the " zone libre" :

- Mr Laval, you have against you 95% of Français.
- Said rather 98%, but I will make their happiness in spite of them.

Pierre Laval enferre thus without return in a policy of increasingly expensive Collaboration humanly and morally for France, without counterpart. It does not vary any, including in 1943-1944, whereas the German defeat however became foreseeable.

Toughening of the collaboration of State

June 22nd, 1942, Laval pronounces with radio operator resounding speech from which the sentence is detached: I wish the victory of Germany, because without it the Bolchevism would settle everywhere . The effect on the public opinion is disastrous, the proper advisers and ministers of Laval are ploughed up.

Preparing this speech, Laval had announced with its advisers that it would put to the French sulphuric acid on their wounds . Whereas all require of him not to insert this sentence, it absolutely holds to keep it, estimating that it must dissipate any ambiguity towards the Germans and resolutely anchor France in the camp of the Axe. He agree however to show his text with the marshal Pétain. This last is satisfied to make him modify the initial version - “I believe in the victory of Germany” - since a civilian does not have according to him to make military forecast. To have emitted the wish of the German victory definitively discredits Laval in the spirit of the mass of the occupied French.

Laval will reconsider several times in public this sentence, always to refuse to repudiate it. He declared later at the time of his lawsuit which this sentence was worth to him the confidence of Führer and which to have pronounced it the life saved to him when he had to go precipitately to Munich in November 1942 to see Adolf Hitler which worried about a possible reversal of the Vichy government following the unloading combined in North Africa. Hitler was persuaded that the presence of Darlan in Algiers was not fortuitous and feared that its rallying with the American forces received the downstream of Vichy.

In September 1942, it authorizes the Gestapo to pursue resistant French in free Zone (“Desloges mission”). During the invasion of the Southern Zone on November 11th, he does not resign and remains with the capacity, like Pétain. The morning of November 27th, it in extremis tries to prevent by telephone the scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon, with the risk that its many warships all fall to the hands from Hitler.

As a public as into private, Laval will reaffirm until fine its visceral refusal of any idea of double-play. In fact, this man so often stigmatized by his contemporaries like a “maquignon” and “opportunist” a cheek until the end only one play: that of the agreement with Germany.

Laval and persecution anti-semite

The 27 March 1942, three weeks before the return of Laval to the capacity, the first convoy of Jewish deportees in direction of Auschwitz takes place at the beginning of Drancy and Compiegne. Dannecker, chief of the Gestapo in Paris, envisages the deportation initially all adult Jews living in or not occupied occupied France. It needs for that for the contest for the police force in occupied zone and for collaboration for the Vichy government in nonoccupied zone. At the beginning of July, Pierre Laval proposes to deliver the foreign Jews living in nonoccupied zone by uniting their children there, in exchange of the collective exemption of the Jews of French nationality of the two zones. Solicited to reconsider this decision, in particular by the Pasteur Boegner, chief of the Protestants of France, he refuses: “ not only one of these children should not remain in France ”. Pasteur Boegner will pay later: “ Which could I obtain from a man which German had made them accept - or which made pretense believe - that the taken along Jews of France went to Poland of the South to cultivate the grounds of the Jewish State there that Germany affirmed to want to constitute. I spoke to him about massacre, it answered me gardening ”. The responsibilities for Laval in the Parisian raid of Vel' d' Hiv' and in that perpetrated on August 26th, 1942 in southern zone are overpowering. August 23rd, 1942, following the departure of three convoys of Haute-Garonne, Mgr Saliège, archevèque of Toulouse, fact lira in all the churches of the diocese of Toulouse a letter of protest.

Laval forever shown feelings personal anti-semites, contrary to Pétain and of many men of Vichy. But he intends to show his good will with the Germans in all the questions which interest them, and to prove to them the effectiveness and the reliability of the administration and the police force Frenchwomen.

He never seems to be himself worried particularly of the exact fate which could await the off-set families. He will claim after the war to have delivered the foreign Jews to avoid the deportation of the French Jews. But without same speech of the singular character and at the very least éthiquement debatable of this bargaining, Laval forever requested nor obtained the least written insurance of the Germans from this subject, trusting obviously vague verbal insurances never held, since thousands of French Jews are off-set later on in their turn. In addition, Laval holds shortly after the Parisian raid of Vel' d' Hiv' its only remarks known anti-semites, stating with the prefects to make “social disease prevention” by removing France from foreign Jews which “would have misused his hospitality” and makes Hexagon a “dump” human. The General police station with the Jewish questions, directed by Darquier de Pellepoix, is under the direct authority of Laval since July 1942.

For the only year 1942, more: 43000 Jews are off-set, the majority stopped by the French police force. In August 1943, Laval however refuses dénaturaliser the French Jews, which would have made it possible to the Germans to accelerate their deportation. : 11000 Jews are not off-set yet of it this year, and: 17000 in 1944. 80% of them were stopped by the French police force.

97% of the off-set Jews perish in the gas chambers or are exterminated by work in the concentration camps. : 11000 children of less than 16 years off-set, the majority on the personal insistence of Laval, none returned.

Worker sending forced in Germany

As of on May 12th, 1942, Laval written to the German Minister for the Foreign affairs, Joachim von Ribbentrop, to propose the participation of France to him in the German effort of war, through worker sending. Reich misses indeed cruelly labor, its workmen being massively mobilized on the face of the East.

At the time of its speech of June 22nd, 1942, Laval announces the decision very discussed to create the Relève, ancestor of STO. It is a question of sending the best workers in Germany in exchange of prisoner of war French. But Laval conceals until August 11th the true ratio of exchange: three workmen specialists against only one country prisoner . Moreover, the majority of the prisoners released by Reich are old or sick men, not very productive thus, and who would undoubtedly have been repatriated in any event. At the beginning of September, the Changing is a failure, with only: 17000 candidates at the beginning.

On the impatience of the Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel, it “ slave trader of Europe ”, Laval passes then to forced recruitment. September 4th, Pétain promulgates a first law at the origin of the departure forced of: 250000 workmen in Germany in hardly six months. The following requirements of Sauckel receive full satisfaction pareillement: February 16th, 1943, a signed law of Laval allows the sending in Germany of all young people born between 1920 and 1923. On the whole, in July 1943, more: 600000 workers were sent in Germany.

Laval actively puts the Factory inspectorate, the police force and the gendarmerie with the service of the forced taking away of labor and the tracking of refractories to STO. June 11th, in a speech broadcast, he openly threatens refractories of reprisals on their family. He hardens also measurements against those which help them, and removes the exemptions of the students and the young peasants.

The price to be paid is heavy, without any counterpart: the economy is disorganized by the bleeding as workers, the unpopularity of the mode is seen considerably increased, of the thousands of young refractories to STO are thrown in the arms of the Résistance and at the origin of the birth of the Maquis.

Tardily conscious that the STO undermines the mode, Laval ends up being opposed to the new exorbitant requests Fritz Sauckel at the time of a very stormy interview on August 6th, 1943. The latter is rather hard so that Laval is taken of a syncope and disappears. Supported by the Minister for the German Armament Albert Speer, which prefers from now on that overcome on the spot produce for Reich rather than to exploit them in Germany, Laval obtains a suspension of the departures, but in exchange of a considerably increased integration of French industry to the saving in war Nazi (agreements Albert Speer - Jean Bichelonne, September 15th, 1943).

Previously, Laval was the only head of government of Europe occupied “to have filled to 100% the program of labor” (telegram of plenipotentiary of Schleier embassy in Berlin, April 1943), and thanks to its essential assistance, Sauckel always obtained all that he wanted until the summer 1943.

The increased repression of Resistance

In January 1943, Laval creates the French Milice, force of political police under the control of Joseph Darnand, but of which he is officially the president. In six months, it recruits more: 35000 men and then plays the principal part in the tracking of the Jews and the resistant ones, which either are tortured and carried out summarily on the spot, or off-set towards the concentration camps. Recruiting largely among the ultra collaborationnist S convinced, but also the adventurers of all kinds and the criminals of common right, the Militia is also illustrated by many flights, rapes, extortion of moneies, ways in fact on the public highway or aggressions against civils servant and police officers.

Laval will never repudiate its official support for the Militia. In November 1943, he proclaims that he goes “hand in the hand with Darnand” because “the democracy, it is the anteroom of the Bolchevism”. In July 1944, it appears sincerely horrified by the assassination at his former friend and colleague at government, Georges Mandel, liquidated by the Militia. But it will hardly show particular emotion for many the other exactions of this authentic instrument of civil war, which it encouraged itself to prevail.

This same year 1943, it delivers Leon Blum, Paul Reynaud and Edouard Daladier with the Nazis.

Increasing concentration of the capacities

Since his return to the capacity, Pierre Laval obtains unceasingly increased prerogatives on behalf of Pétain, with the support of the Germans.

Laval cumulates wallets more and more and places its creatures at all the key positions. As of the summer 1942, he is at the same time Information and Foreign affair, Minister of Interior Department. The gendarmerie is directly placed under its authority since June 1942. Equipped with the new title of “chief of the government” in April 1942, Laval becomes again official dolphin of the Marshal in November 1942, after the admiral Darlan changed camp and passed to the Americans at the time of the unloading combined in North Africa. November 26th, a constitutional act of Pétain authorizes it to only sign all the decrees and the laws. In 1943, it obtains even constituent capacities. He is officially the chief of the French Milice. Rene Bousquet, which it placed at the General secretary of the police force, shows in all circumstances one of its protected most faithful. This large person in charge of the deportations of Jews will be besides still at his sides in his cell of Fresnes to share his last moments (Pascale Froment, Rene Bousquet , Fayard, 2001). The specialized Police stations in charge of the persecution of the Jews or the delivery of labor in Germany concern also directly the chief the government. Several other ministers are allies and friendly close, thus Pierre Cathala with Finances or Jean Bichelonne with the Industrial production and Transport.

Laval also has customers of compatriots auvergnats whom it places at important functions. The Prefect of police of Paris, Amédée Bussière, one of the principal organizers of Vel' of Hiv', is a Clermontois which he knew with the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme. With the head of the French Legion of the combatants, Laval installs the mayor of Ambert Raymond Lachal, in favor of a line plus collaborationnist. Another Auvergnat, Grasset, become Minister for Health. The prison authorities, which collaborate in the guard of resistant captured, are directed by Baillet, which he knew as police chief in Aubervilliers of time that he was appointed by it.

Far from interested by the national Revolution, without prejudices particular antimaconnic anti-semites or, Laval does not hesitate to pronounce the word honni “Republic” in its speeches. Too much insulated and too unpopular to neglect possible supports, it is ready to be pressed on republicans rejoined with the mode, passing in addition to the recriminations of the collaborationnists and the petainists. Thus Laval makes probe inter alia the former prefect of Chartres revoked by Pétain, Jean Moulin, to see whether he wants to take again service with the profit of the French State. That whose Laval was unaware of that it had meanwhile become one of largest resistant French opposed obviously an end not-to receive.

But at the end of 1943, Laval accepts also the progressive fascisation of the mode while making enter to its government the ultra-collaborationnistes posted Joseph Darnand, Philippe Henriot and Marcel Déat. It leaves the French Milice, organization of the type openly fascistic, to take an increasingly large role in the State, a militiaman becoming even prefect of Montpellier.

The escape and the lawsuit

In August 1944, after the D-day, Laval resigns but is taken along by the Germans to Belfort then to Sigmaringen to Germany. In May 1945, he flees in Spain, is stopped with Barcelona and, the July 30th, given to the French provisional government promulgated by the general de Gaulle.

Laval compared in front of the High court of justice in October 1945. Particularly unconscious about the gravity of the acts which are reproached to him, Laval frequently spoke with its close relations about the day when it would take again its political career… It seemed sincerely persuaded to still be able to convince its judges of the cogency and the need of its policy. The general hatred accumulated against him during the Occupation bursts at the great day at its entry in the dock: very quickly, Laval is hooted and insulted by sworn (from which several are former colleagues at the Parliament, which it inconsiderately began to familiarly address as tu), it is in fact prevented speaking and from defending themselves. It is excluded from its lawsuit, and defense refuses to plead in protest. The resistant press itself will condemn the painful shipwreck of the lawsuit. Laval too much less much is not compromised of it so that the verdict of guilty is in any event the slightest doubt. He is condemned to died the October 9th for “high treason while having helped the enemy and having violated the safety of the State”. If he had been judged later on, the load of Crime against humanity could undoubtedly have been retained against him.

Execution

Having tried to commit suicide the day of its execution by swallowing a capsule of Cyanide, the doctors made him two punctures of camphor, then carried out a washing of stomach. Its state being appreciably improved, it was brought in front of the firing squad which shot it the October 15th 1945, in the court of the Prison of Fresnes. In the Laval Lawsuit. Shorthand report (1946), realized under the direction Maurice Boy, the last moments of Laval is described in these terms:

“on October 15th, towards 9:00 of the morning, Mr. Mornet Public prosecutor, accompanied by Mr. President of the Commission of Bouchardon Instruction, presented himself to the prison of Fresnes in the cell of condemned, announced to him that the moment had come from expier. Pierre Laval was laid down and appeared not to hear. Quickly it was understood that it was under the blow of an intoxication and Doctor Paul, medical examiner, who was present, made him a morphine puncture. One found on the covers of the bed a bulb which had contained poison that condemned had just absorbed, not wanting, it had written, to fall under French balls. It became obvious at the end of little time that the poison was ventilated. The doctors made two punctures of camphor, then carried out a washing of stomach. Condemned most of the toxic substance returned which it had absorbed and revived itself rather quickly. Its state being improved, it was decided, since it could be held upright and go, that the stop would be carried out. Pierre Laval, who had gotten dressed and which now appeared restored, walked of a firm step to the door of the prison and got into the van which led it behind the prison of Fresnes in front of a hillock which during the war had been used with German of place as execution. A few minutes were enough to lead it to the post. He refused the stool that one proposed to him to sit down, let himself bind to the post and died courageously. ”

He was buried with the Cimetière Montparnasse.

Whereas eight demands for revision of the Pétain lawsuit were rejected, no defender of Vichy took the trouble, or risks it, to ask the revision of the lawsuit of Laval. Only the family of Laval and in particular its son-in-law Rene de Chambrun, husband of her only daughter Josée and burning defender of her memory, militated for her rehabilitation, but to no purpose.

Jean Garden (1904-1976), his principal private secretary, was also its 3eminence grise and continued to play this part after the war near other personalities.

Ministerial career

Public Minister for Labor from April 17th to October 29th, 1925 in the Government Paul Painlevé (2)
Under-secretary of State to the Presidency of the Council from November 28th, 1925 to March 3rd, 1926 in the Government Aristide Briand (8)
Minister for the Justice from March 9th to July 19th, 1926 in the governments Aristide Briand (8) and Aristide Briand (9)
Minister for Labor and Social Welfare from March 2nd to December 13rd, 1930 in the Government Andre Tardieu (2)
Minister of Interior Department from January 27th, 1931 to January 14th, 1932 in the government Pierre Laval (1) and Pierre Laval (2)
Foreign Minister from January 14th to February 20th, 1932 in the Government Pierre Laval (3)
Minister for Labor and Social Welfare from February 20th to June 3rd, 1932 in the Government Andre Tardieu (3)
Minister for the Colonies from February 9th to October 13rd, 1934 in the Government Gaston Doumergue (2)
Foreign Minister from October 13rd, 1934 to January 24th, 1936 in the governments Gaston Doumergue (2), Pierre-Etienne Flandin (1), Fernand Bouisson and Pierre Laval (4)

He exerted the functions of President of the Council of the ministers (Third Republic) with four recoveries, then those of chief of the government (Régime of Vichy) twice:

of the January 27th 1931 with the June 13rd 1931: to see Government Pierre Laval (1) succeeding Theodore Steeg (government Steeg),
of the June 13rd 1931 with the January 12th 1932: to see Government Pierre Laval (2) following one another itself (resignation given to the new president of the Republic, Paul Doumer, which renewed the cabinet with identical),
of the January 14th 1932 with the February 6th 1932: to see Government Pierre Laval (3) following one another itself, and being in its turn replaced by Andre Tardieu (3 {{E}} government),
of the June 7th 1935 with the January 22nd 1936: to see Government Pierre Laval (4) succeeding Fernand Bouisson (government Bouisson), and being in its turn replaced by Albert Sarraut (2 {{E}} government),
of the July 16th 1940 with the December 13rd 1940: to see Government Pierre Laval (5) succeeding the marshal Pétain (government Pétain), and being in its turn replaced by Pierre-Etienne Flandin (2 {{E}} government),
of the April 18th 1942 with the August 19th 1944: to see Government Pierre Laval (6) succeeding the admiral Darlan (government Darlan), and being in its turn replaced by the general de Gaulle (1 {{er}} government, resulting from the Release).

Personality of Laval, parts various

1. the December 17th 1940, Otto Abetz, the German ambassador, protests at Pétain of what Pierre Laval was dislocated of the French government.

Führer regards the control of the French government towards Laval as a personal affront. Germany does not want to deteriorate the liberty of action of the French government in some way that it is. However, in the event of French refusal (to restore it) it would not continue the policy of co-operation made possible with Montoire.

2. April 18th 1942, George Orwell, radio program of BBC:

Bad news: Laval was allocated to the French government. If the Diable had a heart, it would call it Laval. This Laval is an arrived millionaire, of rich new style, known since years to be a French agent directly with the service of the Nazis.
He played a great part in the intrigues which brought the fall of France and for him, the armistice firmly functioned for what he calls the collaboration between France and Germany, meaning that France should bind its fate with that of the Axis by sending an army to take part in the war against the Russia, and employing its fleet against the Great Britain.
During more than one year, it was held out of the government, thanks to the American pressure, but it seems that the diplomatic relations between France and the the United States will finish soon. The US government pointed already out William Leahy, her ambassador, and advised with his nationals to leave France.
This rupture is perhaps not a bad thing in oneself, because there is hardly doubt that the underwater German of the Atlantique usually made use of the French ports, in France but also in Africa and with the the Western Indies. And if these relations are stopped, the Americans will not estimate themselves not held by the alleged neutrality of France.
Nevertheless, there is a very large danger that at a certain time, Laval cannot succeed in throwing the French fleet in the Bataille of the Atlantic against the marine British, who fights already against the ships of three nations.

3. April 22nd 1942, letter of Pierre Laval to the US ambassador William Leahy.

In the event of a victory over Germany of the Soviet Russia and England, the Bolchevisme would inevitably settle in Europe. In these circumstances I would prefer to see Germany gaining the war. I estimate that an arrangement could be reached (with Germany) which would have like consequence a durable peace in Europe. I believe that a German victory is preferable with a British and Soviet victory.

4. Events of April 1942, William Leahy, ambassador of the United States close the government of Vichy, wrote about Pierre Laval in his memories, “I were” there (appeared in 1950).

The figure of Laval clung as a bad shade above Vichy while the year opened. The former Prime Minister was an astute politician and crafty one who built his future and that of France on a victory of the Axe. In April 1942, a showdown between Germany and the the United States proceeded in Vichy and finished for the benefit of this one, when Abetz obliged the Marshal to take again Laval with the government, event which made necessary my recall to Washington.
It was a small man, sheepskin, complexed, neglected in its personal aspect, but with a speech charmer. In a very frank political discussion, Laval gave the impression to me to be fanatically dedicated with its country, with a conviction that the interests of France were irrevocably dependant on those of Germany. This idea was necessarily built on persistent signals and it had employed its political career to increase its personal fortune. It is true that, started from nothing, the poor boy of delivery in a provincial grocer of city had become one of the men richest (and powerful) of his country.
He had convinced me that its government had been entirely designed to collaborate with Germany and to help with the defeat of what he named “the Bolchevisme soviéto-British”

5. June 22nd 1942: Laval, radio program explaining “the exchange-arrangement” of STO

Working French: it is for the freedom of the prisoners that you will work in Allemagne ! It is for our country that you will go into large nombre ! So that France can find its place in new Europe which you will answer my call.

6. September 1942, speech of Laval to a meeting of the French politicians.

Clearly, for France in its current location, the intelligence consists in practicing a policy of agreement with Germany in order to survive. But same intelligence constrained Germany to practice the same policy. I defy no matter whom - and I said this to the Germans - to build solid Europe, articulated and viable without the assent of France. France cannot be destroyed. It is a motherland who, in spite of her misfortunes, has, and will always have, thanks to its past, an enormous prestige in the world, that which the destiny gave him.

7. September 1942, letter of Laval with Jacques Barnaud:

If the Germans are beaten, the Général de Gaulle would return. It would be supported by 80 or 90 percent of the French who acclaimed me.

8. the April 17th 1945, after the defeat of the Nazi Germany, Laval makes a desperate attempt escape in Espagne : text of the telegram sent to the Spanish government.

It is neither the statesman nor the friend who asks for your assistance, but simply the man. I ask you as well as in my own name in that of my wife and my faithful friend, Maurice Gabolde, the permission to enter to Spain and to wait there during better days. Today, the old tired and used man who writes to you, in memory of our long friendship, thanks you in advance.

9. after the war, Andre Guenier, the former personal secretary of Laval, tried to defend its former owner.

Laval forever suspecté the inhuman system and the atrocities to which people who were stopped and expelled towards the East were subjected. If it had known, none the considerations which have constrained it to be devoted to control the country, in some manner that is, their validity would not have kept. He would have denounced the fact before the civilized world and would have refused any contact with the representatives of such a government.

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