French Forces

King without a crown.

Marshal Philippe Pétain, Head of State of the Etat Francaise, with, to his left and behind, his Prime Minister Piérre Laval, process to a chruch service at Vichy. Pétain is one of those difficult figures of the period who defies satisfactory categorisation. He was Head of State; but not exactly President - if there was one thing that the various strands of power and influence that made up the Vichy collaborationist régime, it was an anti-republicanism that resisted such notions as "president". Pétain, an instinctive Monarchist, seems to have regarded himself as a King without a crown - he was inclined to identify himself as "We", as in the royal "We". I suppose that this would place him in a similar class to Admiral Horthy, the "Regent" for an effectively extinct Hungarian Monarchy. Any alternative suggestions from constitutional experts in here would be very interesting. Pétain loathed his companion in treason, Laval, a low politician, (surprise, surprise) and their relationship was, to say the least, uneven. All in all, the Vichy régime is an interesting study, to which I intend to give some time (if I am allowed any). Best regards, JR.