The French Militia, known simply as the Militia and notorious for its brutality, was a French political and paramilitary organization created on January 30, 1943, by the collaborationist Vichy government. Militia members were primarily involved in hunting down communists, Jews, members of the Resistance, and those who refused to participate in the STO.
On Hitler’s orders—concerned about the growth of the Resistance—Pierre Laval, head of the Vichy government under Marshal Pétain, established the “French Militia” on January 30, 1943. Joseph Darnand became its leader.
The French Militia, known simply as the Militia, was responsible for maintaining order and spreading propaganda. It was anti-republican, anti-Semitic, anti-communist, and nationalist… On August 8, 1943, Joseph Darnand swore a personal oath of allegiance to Hitler. Many Milice members joined the Waffen SS, the Nazi military organization. In January 1944, the Milice was expanded to northern France and had 15,000 active members.
It collaborated with the Nazi political police, the Gestapo, and worked to physically eliminate the Jews. Militia members carried out murders throughout France. They attacked members of the Resistance (notably on the Glières Plateau) or threw dozens of Jews refugees into a well in St-Amand-Montrond (Cher). Paul Touvier, head of the Lyon Militia, was behind numerous massacres. He ordered the killing of Jews, either individually or in groups. He was responsible, for example, for the execution of seven Jewish hostages at the Rillieux cemetery (Ain). He also targeted, among other organizations, the iconic League for Human Rights. Its president, Victor Basch, aged 80, was murdered along with his wife.
The Militia brutally killed random people but also sought to target prominent anti-Nazi figures: Jean Zay, a progressive and innovative minister of the Popular Front; Victor Basch, an academic; and Georges Mandel, a conservative politician and member of the Resistance—all were assassinated in June and July 1944.
By an order dated August 9, 1944, the Milice was dissolved by the Provisional Government of the French Republic (GPRF). Joseph Darnand, captured in Italy and handed over by the British, was sentenced to death and executed on October 10, 1945. In 1994, the former leader of the Lyon Militia, Paul Touvier, who had been hiding in Catholic institutions, was found, pardoned, and then sentenced to life imprisonment for “crimes against humanity.”
References:
— Azéma, Jean-Pierre, 1990, “La Milice,” *Vingtième Siècle: Revue d’histoire*, no. 28.
— Michel Cointet, 2013, *The French Militia*, Paris, Fayard
