France on Trial

The Case of Marshal Pétain

By: Julian Jackson

Narrated by: Michael Chance

In October 1940, few things were more shocking than the sight of Marshal Philippe Petain—supremely decorated hero of WWI, now head of the French government—shaking hands with Hitler. Pausing to look at the cameras, Petain announced that France would henceforth collaborate with Germany. Five years later, after a wave of violent reprisals following the liberation of Paris, Petain was put on trial for his conduct during the war. He stood accused of treason, charged with heading a conspiracy to destroy France's democratic government and collaborating with Nazi Germany. The defense claimed he had sacrificed his personal honor to save France and insisted he had shielded the French people from the full scope of Nazi repression. Former resisters called for the death penalty, but many identified with this conservative military hero who had promised peace with dignity.

Julian Jackson uses Petain's three-week trial as a lens through which to examine one of history's great moral dilemmas. Was the policy of collaboration "four years to erase from our history," as the prosecution claimed? Or was it, as conservative politicians insist to this day, a sacrifice that placed pragmatism above moral purity? Jackson blends courtroom drama, political intrigue, and brilliant narrative history to highlight the hard choices and moral compromises leaders make in times of war.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Julian Jackson (P)2023 Tantor

Michael Chance gives an excellent narration.

I was hoping both sides could lose. Petain was an unappealing defendant set upon by an equally unappealing prosecution. The story spotlights the shameful failure of France to defend itself from the German invasion, followed by both sides' arrogant attempts to whitewash either their complicity or their impotence. The book is fascinating and we'll read by Michael Chance, but you'll find yourself shaking your head at the French leaders' perverse attempts to rehabilitate their tarnished national honor after barely putting up a fight, in the process ignoring the real problems the common people faced after the war. I recommend.

Excellent writing. Highly educational. Complexity abounds.

Simply an excellent and masterful historical volume. First rate. One learns a lot from this balanced account.

Great book, so detailed

The people come alive through all these details. Lots of viewpoints are expressed and reactions to them. Prevalent viewpoints keep changing — it’s all fascinating. I love France, their history, their language. The reader/performer seems to love all these too. One pronunciation I don’t understand: why pronounce the S on the end of Camus?

Been waiting for this!

A thoroughly fascinating view into the Judgment of Marshall Petain. I loved this but it’s worth noting that the actual “trial” is only a part of the book. I found the last part the most interesting as Jackson went into detail examining Petains legacy on French politics.

Through and Thrilling at times

A very through telling of all points of the story surrounding the Trial and it's aftermath. does drag in the middle at some points. ending stays strong tho. also wonderful narration.