France on Trial

Julian Jackson's 'France on Trial' uses Marshal Pétain's three-week trial in 1945 as a lens to examine the central crisis of twentieth-century French history, including the defeat of 1940 and the Vichy regime's policy of collaboration.

The book delves into the complexities of leadership during wartime, highlighting the moral compromises made by leaders like Pétain.

It also explores how Pétain's actions were perceived by different factions in France, both during and after the war.