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Laval, Pierre 1883-1945
French politician

He was born in Châteldon, Puy-de-Dôme. He became an advocate, deputy (1914), senator (1926) and premier (1931-32, 1935-36). At first a Socialist, he moved to the Right during the late 1930s, and in the Vichy government was Philippe Pétain's deputy (1940), rival and Prime Minister (1942-44), when he openly collaborated with the Germans. After the liberation he fled from France to Germany and Spain, was brought back, charged with treason and executed.

Bibliography: David Thompson, Two Frenchmen: Pierre Laval and Charles de Gaulle (1951)