The Trial of Pierre Laval: Defining Treason, Collaboration and Patriotism in World War II France

In a stunning work combining historical memory, legalambiguity, and profound issues of justice, J. KennethBrody provides a picture of France in World War II thatcontinues to haunt the present. Architect in 1940 of MarshalPetain’s Vichy French regime and its prime ministerfrom April 1942 to August 1944, at war’s end Pierre Lavalwas promptly arrested on charges of treason. This booktells the story of his trial. Did he betray France, or did heserve France under terrible circumstances? What wasthe truth of "collaboration"? This book considers the pretrialproceedings, or lack thereof, the evidence, and thearguments of the prosecution, as well as Laval’s vigorousdefense in the early days of the trial.Because of irregularities in the preliminary proceedings,Laval’s defense counsel declined from the outset toparticipate in the trial. For those reasons and because ofthe prejudicial conduct of the prosecution, on the thirdday the judge, and the jury, also declined to participate.What his defense might have been in a normal pre-trialproceeding and in a fair trial are matters of conjecture.What remains clear is that political trials are a uniqueform of law and moral judgment.Trials and history share a common goal-the truth.Trial, judgment, and appeal are intended to produce fi -nality. History, on the other hand, is never final. After itsperformance in the trial of Pierre Laval, the government ofFrance continued its policy of concealment, even thoughthe truth could no longer determine the outcome of thetrial. Slowly, by persistence, courage, and loyalty, history’sclaims to truth were established. This book presents thedefense that might have been presented and then relatesthe final judgment, its grisly execution only eleven daysafter the trial opened, and its aftermath.