Philippe Petain (Henri Philippe Pétain)

Henri Philippe Pétain was a French military leader and politician, most notably known for leading France during World War I's Battle of Verdun, earning national admiration. During World War II, he became the head of Vichy France, a government that collaborated with Nazi Germany after France's defeat in 1940. His leadership during this period is controversial because of his role in implementing policies aligned with the occupying Nazis, including anti-Semitic laws. After the war, Pétain was tried and convicted for treason, reflecting the complex and often conflicting aspects of his legacy in French history.