Philippe Pétain

Philippe Pétain was a French military leader and politician, most known for his role during World War I as a hero after the Battle of Verdun. In World War II, he became the head of the Vichy government, a collaborationist regime that governed southern France under Nazi influence. His leadership is controversial because he cooperated with Nazi Germany, implementing policies that included repression and persecution of Jews. After the war, Pétain was sentenced to death for treason, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment due to his age and health. His legacy is marked by military heroism and association with collaboration.