Language:
French
Year of publication:
2001
Titel der Quelle:
Revue d'Histoire de la Shoah
Angaben zur Quelle:
173 (2001) 9-34
Keywords:
Vallat, Xavier,
;
Antisemitism History 1800-2000
Abstract:
Analyzes Vallat's antisemitic speech, aimed at Léon Blum, delivered in the Chamber of Deputies in June 1936. Traces his political career outside the Chamber and his reactionary standpoints as a Catholic and nationalist M.P. between 1919-24 and 1928-40. Vallat rarely expressed anti-Jewish views before 1936; his reputation as an antisemite dates back to that year. The speech (excerpts of which are quoted here) owes its fame to its coherence and calm tone, as well as to the fact that it marked the first time antisemitism was expressed in a serious, official context in France. Describes various reactions to it and Vallat's subsequent development into the leader of French antisemitism. His central idea was that a Jew, who was un-French by nature, could not represent France. He conceded, however, that some patriotic, right-wing, Catholic Jews could be considered French. Concludes that Vallat's speech prepared the ground for Vichy's antisemitic policies, which he helped put into effect as the head of the Commissariat Général aux Questions Juives between 1941-42.
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