Behind the Bastards Part One: The Evilest Football Player of All Time
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Aug 19, 2025 
In this episode, Dana Schwartz, host of the Hoax and Noble Blood podcast, dives into the dark legacy of Alexandre Villaplane, a once-celebrated French football star who turned into an SS enforcer during the Nazi occupation. The discussion unveils his transformation from an athlete to a figure of moral decay, framed against the complexities of French-Algerian history. They also explore the psychology of hoaxes and misinformation while humorously examining the nuances of sports villains. It's a fascinating blend of history, sports, and ethical dilemmas.
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Colonial Roots Shaped A Football Star
- Alexandre Villaplane rose from colonial Algeria to become a celebrated French football star before his later crimes.
- His colonial background and identity tensions shaped his trajectory from fame to brutality.
Conquest Prioritized Land Over People
- France's conquest of Algeria began in 1830 and became a long, violent occupation that reshaped identities.
- The colonizers prioritized land and extraction over Algerian lives, seeding deep resentment and structural inequality.
Occupation Fueled Racism And Resistance
- French occupation relied on brutal military governance and theft to finance control of Algeria.
- Long-term violence and extraction entrenched racism and created an Algerian underclass in France.
