Jean‑Marc Berlière examines the role of the French police during the German occupation, drawing on previously unpublished archival material from the post‑war épuration. The study traces how policing structures adapted to the constraints of occupation, the pressures of collaboration, and the moral dilemmas faced by officers confronting resistance and persecution of Jews. By situating police actions within the broader political and social upheavals of 1939‑1945, the book illuminates the complex interplay between state authority, collaborationist policies, and the everyday realities of law enforcement in occupied France. It offers a nuanced portrait of an institution caught between coercion and complicity, contributing valuable insight to the historiography of World War II and French police history.

Log in to favorite or list