France’s Duty is “To Trust”
See/read newspaper article from October 31, 1940 after Marchal Petain's meeting with Adolf Hitler.
Marshal Petain, France, 1940, Fall of France, Armistice, WWII, WW2, World War II, Carolyn Porter, Marcel Heuzé
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France’s Duty is “To Trust”

duty-to-trust

While doing research for the book, I found this article. After reading the first few lines, all I could do was let out a big, long sigh.

The article ran in Aberdeen, Scotland on October 31, 1940. At that time, France had been occupied for four-and-a-half months. It’s impossible to read this article without the understanding that after the war, Petain would be found guilty of treason. He would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Here are a few excerpts:

“To all those who await to-day the salvation of France, I wish to say that this salvation is first of all in our own hands…”

“To all those who through well-meant scruples might be inclined to deviate from our opinions, I wish to say that the first duty of every Frenchman is to trust…”

“He who has taken charge of the destiny of France has the duty of creating the most favourable atmosphere to safeguard the interests of the country…”

“This collaboration must be sincere. All thought of aggression must be excluded from it. It must conform to a patient and deliberate effort…”

“An armistice, after all, is not peace. France has numerous obligations towards the victor…”