Laurent Joly discusses the enduring legacy of the Vichy regime
Historian Laurent Joly, in an interview with Le Monde, states that the shameful weight of Vichy's past has not vanished in contemporary France. In his new book, he examines the Vichy regime's active role in the Holocaust. This analysis highlights current echoes of that dark period.
Laurent Joly, a historian specializing in the Occupation period, publishes a book that reexamines the Vichy regime's role in the persecution of Jews. In an interview with Le Monde on October 2, 2025, he states: « The weight of Vichy's shameful past has not disappeared today ».
The Vichy regime, led by Marshal Pétain from 1940 to 1944, is often seen as merely carrying out Nazi orders. Joly challenges this view, highlighting French initiative in the « Final Solution ». His book details how the French state actively participated in the identification, internment, and deportation of 76,000 French Jews to death camps.
Joly highlights archives recently consulted that reveal the extent of state antisemitism under Vichy. « Vichy was not passive; it anticipated and amplified Nazi measures », he explains. Key facts include the law of October 3, 1940, excluding Jews from public service, adopted without direct German pressure.
Today, Joly links this past to contemporary phenomena. He mentions the resurgence of the far right and antisemitic discourses that echo Vichy propaganda. « Negationism and the trivialization of Vichy persist in certain political circles », he notes, calling for increased vigilance to preserve collective memory.
This reflection occurs in a context where France regularly commemorates Holocaust victims, such as during the July 16 Vél d'Hiv ceremonies. Joly's book, based on primary sources, aims to counter historical revisions and strengthen education on this crucial period.