Language:
English
Year of publication:
1996
Titel der Quelle:
Partisan Review
Angaben zur Quelle:
63,4 (1996) 553-570
Keywords:
Blum, Léon,
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Abstract:
The Vichy government arrested in September 1940, and placed on trial 17 months later at Riom, several of France's political leaders of the late 1930s, including Leon Blum and Edouard Daladier. Criminal charges against the defendants included dereliction of duty and policies which had led to the defeat of France by Germany. The trial was suspended by Joseph Barthelemy, Vichy's Minister of Justice, prior to a verdict in order to avoid publicizing the embarrassing fact that Petain himself had favored "pacifistic" policies which the Riom defendants were accused of advocating. Observes that the defense lawyers involved with the Riom trial demonstrated spirit and vigor in opposing the government's position, a vigor which French lawyers and jurists did not evince against Vichy's anti-Jewish laws. Suggests that in addition to the charges formally made against him, Blum was tried for being a Jew.
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