The destructive effect of 'deformation professionnelle.' (case of French war criminal Maurice Papon shows that employment can affect moral sense)(Column)

Article Abstract:

The case of Maurice Papon, who is shortly to stand trial accused of crimes against humanity during the second world war, reflects the extent to which the nature of an individual's employment can affect that person's moral sense. Papon was an employee in the interior ministry of the Vichy regime during the second world war, and was responsible for arranging for Jews to be rounded up in Bordeaux, France. He was probably not really anti-semitic, and the zeal with which he performed this task was a reflection of the institutions he served, rather than of any political principle.

Author: Smith, Andreas Whittam
Column

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Papon's sins put post-war France in dock

Article Abstract:

The trial of Maurice Papon for complicity in crimes against humanity raises some very important questions for France as a whole. He admits that he organized the arrest of 1,558 Jews between 1942 and 1944, but claims that he was merely doing his job. The prosecution will claim that he took action against Jews willingly in order to further his career. No action was taken against Papon after the second world war, and he went on to have a distinguished political career. This is because De Gaulle deliberately fostered the myth that the Vichy regime was the work of a wicked few.

Author: Lichfield, John

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Papon goes on the run to avoid 10 years' jail

Article Abstract:

Maurice Papon, who is now 89, was involved in arresting and transporting Jews for the Nazis during the second world war. He has been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for complicity in crimes against humanity, but has disappeared before starting his sentence. He has stated that he plans to seek the assistance of the European Court of Human Rights. It had been widely anticipated that he would flee, but his actions have caused considerable embarrassment to the French government.

Author: Lichfield, John
Crimes against humanity

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Subjects list: Cases, War criminals, Papon, Maurice
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