Mouvement Social Révolutionnaire
Encyclopedia
The Mouvement Social Révolutionnaire (MSR) was a Fascist movement founded in France
in September 1940. Its founder was Eugène Deloncle
, who was previously associated with La Cagoule
(CSAR).
The MSR supported the return of Pierre Laval
to the Vichy government
of Petain
, after he was removed from government in December 1940. They collaborated with the Rassemblement National Populaire (RNP), which was founded in January 1941 and of which the MSR became a faction.
A split in the RNP came after the Eastern Front
opened up in July 1941 and the LVF
was formed. Another frontman in the RNP was Marcel Déat
, who had the confidence of Laval. When he found out Deloncle was plotting against him, he had him and his faction removed from the RNP. Deloncle also took many member of the RNP's paramilitary wing with him.
In October 1941, Deloncle plotted against seven Parisian synagogues with the help of a local SS officer, Hans Sommer
, who provided the explosives for the attack.
Further splits in the MSR happened over the next year, as Deloncle became more occupied with the LVF. The other factions at that time were based around Jean Filliol
, a former Cagoulard, and the revolutionaries around Georges Soulès and André Mahé. A coup against the Deloncle faction was completed on May 14, 1942, which left Deloncle without a political future. He was killed two years later in a shootout with the Gestapo
, who suspected him of having obtained ties to the Allies. For a time in 1942 leadership passed to Jean Fontenoy
.
Filiol saw himself plotting against Laval, whose government interned him in October 1942. The remaining faction of the MSR around Soulès moved into an anti-German position, but would have completely disappeared at the end of the war.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in September 1940. Its founder was Eugène Deloncle
Eugène Deloncle
Eugène Deloncle was a French engineer and Fascist leader, and the adoptive father of Jacques Corrèze....
, who was previously associated with La Cagoule
La Cagoule
La Cagoule , officially called Comité secret d'action révolutionnaire , was a violent French fascist-leaning and anti-communist group, active in the 1930s, and designed to attempt the overthrow of the French Third Republic...
(CSAR).
The MSR supported the return of Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
to the Vichy government
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
of Petain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
, after he was removed from government in December 1940. They collaborated with the Rassemblement National Populaire (RNP), which was founded in January 1941 and of which the MSR became a faction.
A split in the RNP came after the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
opened up in July 1941 and the LVF
Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
The Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism was a collaborationist French militia founded on July 8, 1941. It gathered various collaborationist parties, including Marcel Bucard's Mouvement Franciste, Marcel Déat's National Popular Rally, Jacques Doriot's French Popular Party, Eugène...
was formed. Another frontman in the RNP was Marcel Déat
Marcel Déat
Marcel Déat was a French Socialist until 1933, when he initiated a spin-off from the French Section of the Workers' International along with other right-wing 'Neosocialists'. He then founded the collaborationist National Popular Rally during the Vichy regime...
, who had the confidence of Laval. When he found out Deloncle was plotting against him, he had him and his faction removed from the RNP. Deloncle also took many member of the RNP's paramilitary wing with him.
In October 1941, Deloncle plotted against seven Parisian synagogues with the help of a local SS officer, Hans Sommer
Hans Sommer
Hans Sommer was a German national who served as SS Obersturmführer in the Sicherheitsdienst during World War II. After the war, he found a working relationship with Gehlen Org...
, who provided the explosives for the attack.
Further splits in the MSR happened over the next year, as Deloncle became more occupied with the LVF. The other factions at that time were based around Jean Filliol
Jean Filliol
Jean Filliol was a French militant, who was active in La Cagoule before the Second World War. After the war, he fled to Spain, where he worked for the local office of L'Oréal....
, a former Cagoulard, and the revolutionaries around Georges Soulès and André Mahé. A coup against the Deloncle faction was completed on May 14, 1942, which left Deloncle without a political future. He was killed two years later in a shootout with the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, who suspected him of having obtained ties to the Allies. For a time in 1942 leadership passed to Jean Fontenoy
Jean Fontenoy
Jean Fontenoy was a French journalist, fascist politician and collaborator with Nazi Germany.Born in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, Fontenoy worked as a journalist for the Havas news agency from 1924 to the mid 1930s in Russia then China...
.
Filiol saw himself plotting against Laval, whose government interned him in October 1942. The remaining faction of the MSR around Soulès moved into an anti-German position, but would have completely disappeared at the end of the war.