What role did Maurice Papon play in the World War II in french collective memory - Research Paper Example

Task: What role did Maurice Papon play in the World War II in French collective memory? Maurice Papon was born in third September 1910 in Gretz-Armainvilliers and died on 17th February 2007. He was a French citizen who became a businessperson then later joined police and rose through ranks until he became a cabinet minister. Papon undertook his studies in Lycee Louis-le-Grand School after which he proceeded to the specialty university for future civil servants and politicians where he enrolled in Sociology, Psychology, and Law. It is at school that Papon met his compatriots whom he worked together when he became a police officer for instance Rene Brouillet who became a cabinet minister during Charles de Gaulle's tenor and Georges Pompidou who later on became president of France.His life was turf and hectic since a police commissioner, he had to protect the government during the French colony. Therefore, he engaged in inhuman activities in the history of French. After completion of his studies, Papon was employed in different jobs, which gave him the courage and experience to deal with humanity. Papon’s participation in the World War II was contributed by the fact that he rose through rankings. At age of twenty, Papon was employed in Radical-socialist department in ministry of Air. In July 1935, he worked in ministry of interior. Later in 1936; he became leader of staff in departmental ministry. In 1938, Francois de Tessan appointed him as parliamentary attache. From these experiences, the leaders who entrusted him a role to play in the Second World War trusted Papon. During 1943 German Nazi, Papon collaborated to exterminate Jews in France. In the onset of Second World War, Papon was appointed a senior police officer in the era of Vichy who respected and trusted him with the responsibility to defend the French administration during the Second World War. At this juncture, he was a senior official in the Bordeaux region and responsible to guard and be answerable to Jewish communities in the region. Due to this authority, Papon collaborated fully to see off the deportation of approximately 1560 men, children, women, and the elderly. The Jewish were transported forcefully to various concentration camps in France for instance Auschwitz, Drancy internment camp, and Merignac camp. Auschwitz was a house made by German Nazi to imprison captives who do wrong from different countries especially political elites and leaders who refuse to subscribe to Nazi regime ideas and policies. Papon was so powerful that he organized twelve ships to transport the Jewish to Auschwitz. Since he operated single handedly, he feared losing the captured Jewish who are already in custody. Humanitarian’s agencies believe that the ships used by Papon were livestock ships whereby people were put together without comfort .The ships were dirty and filthy therefore not conducive for human transport. Despite the world, community regards this process as inhuman, it continued from July 1942 to August 1944 taking many resources and time for instance the 12 trains dispatched to deport the people used a considerable amount of fuel. Papon designated children and over age people homes under police command. Religious leaders throughout the world such as Catholics, Jewish and Muslim staged complains and protests but Papon said he is respecting the Vatican rules because Auschwitz was a place meant to take care of fragile children and the old who cannot fend for themselves therefore it is not a punishment camp (Leila 271). During the deportation process many Jewish never reached the destination Papon suggested. They were killed along the way by Papon who kept it a secret to the other government official except president Guelle. It was after a massive killing that Papon was bestowed the title “Carte d’Ancien Combattant de la Resistance” by Guelle. Later Papon however in collaboration with French administration passed Anti-Semitism laws, which discriminated against the Jews. This was a form of racism against Jews culture heritage and color. Jews underwent through ungaugable suffering and taunting. The state and Papon forcefully confiscated their properties. Inhuman acts were practiced on the Jews ranging from attacks by mob, police oppression, and military invasions. After the implementation, Jews lost their companies, businesses, and land. Vichy government played a crucial role in the extermination of the Jews community, which is contrasting the role of a government to protect citizens from aggression. Papon was tried by Comite departmental deliberation court after consistent complains from humanitarian organizations, which were observing Papon’s inhuman acts on the Jewish people. Gaston Cusin rescued him with a claim that Papon was part of the individuals who were championing for the immediate end of the suffering of the Jews. After which he was released. In March 1958 crisis, Papon whole-heartedly defended Gaulle and ensued, he ascended to power after being named prefect of police in Paris department. Continuous loyalty to the government led to president awarding him the French Legion of Honor to serve the state. Immediate massacre occurred in 1962 involving Algerian peaceful demonstrators and police who formed a curfew, which led to Paris Massacre. Many people were arrested without trial and later on killed and their bodies were found floating in river Seine. Police records illustrate that Papon unleashed police to the people while at the same time assuring them security and protection from the state if they engage in persecutions. Numerous demonstrators were maimed when they were flocked towards river Seine while others were forcefully thrown into bridges. In addition, arrested demonstrators were beaten and killed by police in the police station compounds. Papon and Guelle government denied the death toll of hundreds of people admitting only two was claimed during the incident. Algerians, Spaniards, Italians and Portuguese were drowned and hanged during the massacre. Papon clearly cheated during trial about what happened to the Algerians as well as the people behind the torture of the people and those responsible for the deaths, which are contrary to his 1961, and 1988 memoirs, Les Chevaux du pouvoir. True record of those who lost their lives was not clearly identified because Papon sanctioned anyone who inquired about the incident. This however was an inhuman act, which was sheltered by dictatorship of Papon and Guelle (Golsan1440). Conversely, in February 1962, French Communist Party staged a demonstration against terror groups in the country. Maurice Papon and the government prohibited the demonstrations but the communist groups continued without heeding. As a result, police following order by Papon killed nine communists. In this incident Michel Debre who was the Prime minister and Roger Frey Interior Minister aided Maurice Papon in the execution of the trade Union communists. Government used force over the protesting group without considering their claims. Papon was not however held liable because the authority power shielded his actions. From this occurrence, Guelle’s government is perceived as an Autocrat whereby rights and claims of citizens are never given priority and consideration it deserves (Golsan 31). Maurice Papon was compelled to resign in October 1965 after the mysterious disappearance of Moroccan leader. Mehdi Ben Barka was a dissident leader of Tricontinental Conference in Paris. It is believed that Papon directed the kidnapping of the leader by police agents and secret agents. Mehdi was a prominent man in Morocco government so his demise could have soiled good relationship between France and Morocco. To guard the relationship, president Guelle sacked papon from his post to allow for adequate propping and investigations. This action was not justified because the same government named papon head of Concorde Plan Company still inside the government. Justice usually prefers the wealthy and sturdy people in society and undermines the poor. Papon was just given a different job away from the military to pacify the international community (Sarat 5). Despite working as a head of different companies in France including the Concorde plane, he was tried starting 1981.There were many-claimed put against him for example deportation, murder and violation of human wants. His efforts to petition were marred by document evidences which he signed ordering the deportation of Jews to Dancy. Concisely, historians and survivors of the massacres gave evidence of his cruel acts .Nazi members orchestrated his sentence to jail by representing the victims and bringing to book the collaborators of the process. In 1998, he was convicted and sent to jail for ten years but later fled to Switzerland using the name Robert Rochefoucauld. Unfortunately, he was arrested and deported back to France where he was arraigned in court and imprisoned. Papon's conviction brought a halt to the barbaric and stubborn operations of Vichy and the ruling class. Although equally is being hyped in France, the whole notion is more regarded and appreciated in American opinion. Papon’s case is only comprehended when we compare American and France politics, history, and culture. Issues are attended to differently in America than in France (Fleury 315). German Nazi and papon collaborated in doing harm to non-French citizens in the country. Papon in the other hand is criticized for giving the Nazi delicate details about the French government, which was not good for political stability. Anti-Semitic legislation was government policy to disseminate all Jews in the country without spearing French Jews who were thirty-two percent compared to Foreign Jews who amounted to sixty eight percent. Non-French became stateless for they were denied state rights. Popan never regarded children born to French citizens abroad as French rather he deported them with the Jews (Curtis 105). France was a peaceful nation before the Guelle ascended to power and Papon became a cabinet minister. Citizens were merchants, businesspersons and coexisted peacefully. During their regime, France was divided in different class’s for instance racial, color and ethnic lines. Religion was portrayed as the main cause of acrimony between people. The country never ceased to be owned by citizens but rather by leaders. Guelle implemented policies, which sentenced many people to death penalty without trial. To make sure they are not found guilty to crimes, Papon and Guelle merged the responsibilities of Judges and persecutors. This reduced the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial systems. They were exposed to corruption and embezzlement of their funds by the leaders (Curtis 348). Maurice Papon was a controversial man who never admitted guilt. No one knows whether he was wrong or right. All claims leveled against him are still unsolved because every time he was charged he could do all that he could to free himself. He was imprisoned twice whereby he still appealed his sentence. After being sent to jail ten years of jail, he only served three months then he left jail because of sickness. He greatly contributed to the history of French after the Second World War both negatively and positively. Maurice Papon’s strengths and weaknesses were contributed by the powers bestowed to him by the government. He made decisions on behalf of the state in a secret way, which on the other hand implicated and tainted the state image in general. After the World War II, Maurice Papon therefore played a major role in collective French memory. Works cited Beatrice, Fleury & Jacques Walter. Le proces papon: medias, temoin-expert et contre-expertise historiographique: Vingtieme siecle. Revue d'histoire, 88 (2005): 63-76. Blanchard, Emmanuel. The judicial police and special practices during Algerian war. Vingtieme siecle. Revue d'histoire, 90 (2006): 61-72. Curtis, Michael. Verdict on Vichy: power and prejudice in the Vichy France regime. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003. Print. Golsan, Richard J. Papon, the good, the bad, and the ugly. substance, 25, (2000): 139-152. Golsan, Richard. The Papon affair: memory and justice on trial. New York: Taylor & Francis group, 2012. Print. Leila, Sadat W. & Mark Zaid. Prosecutions for crimes against humanity in French municipal law: international implications, Proceedings of the annual meeting. American society of international law, 91. (1997): 270-276. Sarat, Austin, Lawrence Douglas & Martha Merrill U. Lives in the law. Michigan: the university of Michigan press, 2006. Print. Read More