French police nailed as collaborators after the liberation?

Just Jim said:

There were trials of some after the war, some executions. De Gaulle commuted Petain's death penalty to life imprisonment, and that seems to have almost set the standard for consequences for members of the Vichy government. Many of the high-ranking police were sentenced to a set term of "degredation nationale"--loss of civil and political rights, and professional licensures. (Many of the Milice also received this sentence.)

Bousket, head of the French police, received a sentence of degredation nationale after the war, was pardoned with everyone else in the '50s, and once again rose in politics. In the '80s, he was a friend and advisor to Mitterand. In '91 (I think), he was finally criminally charged for some of the deportations of Jews. He was assassinated in '93 before the trial actually began.

Darnand, one of the leaders of the Vichy government and the founder and leader of the Milice (and an officer in the Waffen SS) was captured, sentenced, and executed shortly after the war.

As the invasion progressed, many of the police and Milice were subject to judgement (and often, capital punishment) by the French Resistance or Free French forces. Perhaps more were subject to summary execution in combat. As the invasion moved forward, members of the Milice (and to a lesser extent, the police) were often severely beaten and arrested, taken to prison, and for the most part eventually sentenced (often to degredation nationale). Many were murdered by members of the Resistance or by civilians.

Many members of the Carlingue (sometimes called the "French Gestapo") were murdered before they could be arrested, those arrested frequently received capital punishment. Most who were able fled the country

As with some of the people who served in the Charlemagne Division of the Waffen SS, were allowed to serve a term in Indochina in the Foreign Legion. I know of at least a couple of police officers who did the same. I have the impression that in the mind of the civilians this was seen as at least acknowledging the effect of their actions during the war, but that is just an impression.

if you're interested in pursuing the subject, there's an extensive body of literature. As with all things dealing with the Axis, there are apologists on both sides: you'll want to choose your references carefully.

Click to expand...

Just Jim said:

There were trials of some after the war, some executions. De Gaulle commuted Petain's death penalty to life imprisonment, and that seems to have almost set the standard for consequences for members of the Vichy government. Many of the high-ranking police were sentenced to a set term of "degredation nationale"--loss of civil and political rights, and professional licensures. (Many of the Milice also received this sentence.)

Bousket, head of the French police, received a sentence of degredation nationale after the war, was pardoned with everyone else in the '50s, and once again rose in politics. In the '80s, he was a friend and advisor to Mitterand. In '91 (I think), he was finally criminally charged for some of the deportations of Jews. He was assassinated in '93 before the trial actually began.

Darnand, one of the leaders of the Vichy government and the founder and leader of the Milice (and an officer in the Waffen SS) was captured, sentenced, and executed shortly after the war.

As the invasion progressed, many of the police and Milice were subject to judgement (and often, capital punishment) by the French Resistance or Free French forces. Perhaps more were subject to summary execution in combat. As the invasion moved forward, members of the Milice (and to a lesser extent, the police) were often severely beaten and arrested, taken to prison, and for the most part eventually sentenced (often to degredation nationale). Many were murdered by members of the Resistance or by civilians.

Many members of the Carlingue (sometimes called the "French Gestapo") were murdered before they could be arrested, those arrested frequently received capital punishment. Most who were able fled the country

As with some of the people who served in the Charlemagne Division of the Waffen SS, were allowed to serve a term in Indochina in the Foreign Legion. I know of at least a couple of police officers who did the same. I have the impression that in the mind of the civilians this was seen as at least acknowledging the effect of their actions during the war, but that is just an impression.

if you're interested in pursuing the subject, there's an extensive body of literature. As with all things dealing with the Axis, there are apologists on both sides: you'll want to choose your references carefully.

Click to expand...