Paul Marion
Encyclopedia
Paul Jules André Marion (27 June 1899, Asnières
– 1954) was a French journalist and communist who later served as a member of the Vichy government
.
Marion joined the French Communist Party
in 1922 and wrote for L'Humanité
as well as being elected to the party's central committee in 1926. After a spell in Moscow working for Comintern
he left the Communist Party to join the more moderate Union Socialiste et Républicaine, which counted Marcel Déat
amongst its membership, in 1929. He switched his allegiance to the Parti Populaire Français
(PPF) in 1936. Despite his political origins Marion was quoted as saying that the PPF would ally itself with the Devil
and his grandmother in order to defeat communism. In 1938 he published the Programme of the PPF, a document that defended capitalism as well as endorsing corporatism
. He also wrote for a number of right-wing journals, including Jean Luchaire
's Notre Temps.
The same year he was one of a group of leading members who split from the PPF, feeling that Jacques Doriot
had become too fulsome in his support for Adolf Hitler
whilst also endorsing accusations that Doriot had been using his position to personally enrich himself.
Reunited with Doriot under the Vichy regime, he served as Minister of Information
from 1941 to 1944. His power grew as he was elected to the controlling committee of the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
and, along with Jacques Benoist-Méchin
, pushed to Pierre Laval
the idea that the group should become an official arm of the Vichy government. In his government office he also helped to create an Association of Friends of the Waffen SS, which played a central role in recruitment. He also attempted to use his position to politicise France's youth groups although in this endeavour he was unsuccessful. He remained in office until 1944 when a group of radicals briefly took power and he was replaced by Philippe Henriot
. Marion returned to office soon afterwards following Henriot's death and served in his former position when the Vichy government was shifted to Belfort
, although by then it was effectively powerless.
Sentenced in 14 Dec. 1948 to ten years in prison, he was pardoned in 1953 for medical reasons, and died of illness in 1954.
Asnières
Asnières is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Asnières, Eure, in the Eure département* Asnières-en-Bessin, in the Calvados département* Asnières-en-Montagne, in the Côte-d'Or département...
– 1954) was a French journalist and communist who later served as a member of 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...
.
Marion joined the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
in 1922 and wrote for L'Humanité
L'Humanité
L'Humanité , formerly the daily newspaper linked to the French Communist Party , was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès, a leader of the French Section of the Workers' International...
as well as being elected to the party's central committee in 1926. After a spell in Moscow working for Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
he left the Communist Party to join the more moderate Union Socialiste et Républicaine, which counted 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...
amongst its membership, in 1929. He switched his allegiance to the Parti Populaire Français
Parti Populaire Français
The Parti Populaire Français was a fascist political party led by Jacques Doriot before and during World War II...
(PPF) in 1936. Despite his political origins Marion was quoted as saying that the PPF would ally itself with the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
and his grandmother in order to defeat communism. In 1938 he published the Programme of the PPF, a document that defended capitalism as well as endorsing corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
. He also wrote for a number of right-wing journals, including Jean Luchaire
Jean Luchaire
Jean Luchaire was a French journalist and politician who founded the weekly Notre Temps in 1927 and the Collaborationist evening daily Les Nouveaux Temps in 1940. Luchaire supported the Vichy regime's Révolution nationale.Born in Siena, Italy, he was a grand nephew of historian Achille Luchaire...
's Notre Temps.
The same year he was one of a group of leading members who split from the PPF, feeling that Jacques Doriot
Jacques Doriot
Jacques Doriot was a French politician prior to and during World War II. He began as a Communist but then turned Fascist.-Early life and politics:...
had become too fulsome in his support for Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
whilst also endorsing accusations that Doriot had been using his position to personally enrich himself.
Reunited with Doriot under the Vichy regime, he served as Minister of Information
Minister of Information (France)
The Minister of Information was a cabinet member in the Government of France from 1938 to 1974. The position no longer exists.-Ministers of Information:*Ludovic-Oscar Frossard 13 March 1938 - 10 April 1938...
from 1941 to 1944. His power grew as he was elected to the controlling committee of the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
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...
and, along with Jacques Benoist-Méchin
Jacques Benoist-Méchin
Jacques Benoist-Méchin was a French far right politician and writer.Although active as both a writer and rightist political figure he did not fully come to prominence until the German occupation of France during World War II, which was somewhat welcomed by the Germanophile...
, pushed to 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...
the idea that the group should become an official arm of the Vichy government. In his government office he also helped to create an Association of Friends of the Waffen SS, which played a central role in recruitment. He also attempted to use his position to politicise France's youth groups although in this endeavour he was unsuccessful. He remained in office until 1944 when a group of radicals briefly took power and he was replaced by Philippe Henriot
Philippe Henriot
Philippe Henriot was a French politician.Moving to the far right after beginnings in Roman Catholic conservatism in the Republican Federation, Henriot was elected to the Third Republic's Chamber of Deputies for the Gironde département in 1932 and 1936...
. Marion returned to office soon afterwards following Henriot's death and served in his former position when the Vichy government was shifted to Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
, although by then it was effectively powerless.
Sentenced in 14 Dec. 1948 to ten years in prison, he was pardoned in 1953 for medical reasons, and died of illness in 1954.