Grave Marshal Pétain

In the Cemetery Port Joinville is the grave of Marshal Henri Pétain.

Port Joinville Cemetery contains the grave of Marshal Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain.

Pétain was one of the most important French army commanders of World War I and was promoted to Marshal of France immediately after its end. During World War 2, he was head of Vichy-France with the consent of the Germans. After the war, he was accused of collaboration and sentenced to death. He was pardoned and the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. He died on 23-7-1951 on Île d'Yeu, and was buried there.

In February 1973, Pétain's coffin, which contained his remains, was stolen from the Île d'Yeu cemetery by extremists, who demanded that President Georges Pompidou agree to his reburial in Douaumont cemetery among the war dead of the battle of Verdun. Police retrieved the coffin a few days later and he was ceremoniously reburied with a presidential wreath in Île d'Yeu as before.

In February 1973, extremists stole Pétain's coffin housing his remains from the Île d'Yeu cemetery. They demanded that President Georges Pompidou consent to its re-interment at Douaumont cemetery among the war dead of the Verdun battle. Police retrieved the coffin a few days later, and it was ceremoniously reburied with a presidential wreath in Île d'Yeu as before.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Willem Melching