Maurice-Yvan Sicard
Encyclopedia
Maurice-Yvan Sicard was a French
journalist and far right
political activist.
Initially a teacher and journalist for such mainstream publications as Spectateur and Germinal Sicard joined the Parti Populaire Français
in 1936 and soon took over the editorship of their journal Jeunesses de France. He took over editing duties on their main journal L'Émancipation nationale in 1937 and soon became a leading figure within the party, joining their Politburo in 1938. He also served the PPF as Propaganda Secretary.
As a writer Sicard was noted for his highly pro-German
and anti-Semitic views and so it was no surprise that he became involved in collaborationism
following the Nazi occupation. As well as continuing to edit L'Émancipation nationale for the duration of the occupation he was also appointed national secretary for press and propaganda for the Vichy regime in 1942. He also served on the central committee of Philippe Pétain
's Rassemblement pour la Révolution nationale and was a member of the Comité d’action antibolchévique.
As well as in government Sicard's standing within the PPF also grew as the war went on. He was part of the directorate that ran the party during Jacques Doriot
's service with the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
. In this role he demonstrated a rare instance of non-collaboration in December 1943 when, by then the effective leader of the PPF, he boycotted a German-organised rally for Marcel Déat
's attempt at creating an umbrella movement in the National Revolutionary Front.
Nevertheless in September 1944 Sicard was one of a number of Franch collaborators who went into exile in Germany, although unlike supporters of the former Vichy regime housed at Sigmaringen
, the PPF was based at Mainau. Following the war he went into exile in Madrid
. Sentenced to prison in absentia he was amnestied and returned to France to write under his Saint-Paulien alter ego. Arguing in defence of the collaborators, his work appeared in the likes of Minute, Ecrits de Paris, Rivarol
, Arriba and Dominique Venner
's Europe-Action. He also became an active supporter of Jeune Nation
.
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...
journalist and far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
political activist.
Initially a teacher and journalist for such mainstream publications as Spectateur and Germinal Sicard joined 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...
in 1936 and soon took over the editorship of their journal Jeunesses de France. He took over editing duties on their main journal L'Émancipation nationale in 1937 and soon became a leading figure within the party, joining their Politburo in 1938. He also served the PPF as Propaganda Secretary.
As a writer Sicard was noted for his highly pro-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and anti-Semitic views and so it was no surprise that he became involved in collaborationism
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
following the Nazi occupation. As well as continuing to edit L'Émancipation nationale for the duration of the occupation he was also appointed national secretary for press and propaganda for the Vichy regime in 1942. He also served on the central committee of Philippe Pétain
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...
's Rassemblement pour la Révolution nationale and was a member of the Comité d’action antibolchévique.
As well as in government Sicard's standing within the PPF also grew as the war went on. He was part of the directorate that ran the party during 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:...
's service with 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...
. In this role he demonstrated a rare instance of non-collaboration in December 1943 when, by then the effective leader of the PPF, he boycotted a German-organised rally for 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...
's attempt at creating an umbrella movement in the National Revolutionary Front.
Nevertheless in September 1944 Sicard was one of a number of Franch collaborators who went into exile in Germany, although unlike supporters of the former Vichy regime housed at Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen is a town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the upper Danube, it is the capital of the Sigmaringen district....
, the PPF was based at Mainau. Following the war he went into exile in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Sentenced to prison in absentia he was amnestied and returned to France to write under his Saint-Paulien alter ego. Arguing in defence of the collaborators, his work appeared in the likes of Minute, Ecrits de Paris, Rivarol
Rivarol (magazine)
- External links :* ...
, Arriba and Dominique Venner
Dominique Venner
Dominique Venner is an award-winning French historian, journalist and writer. Venner is a former militant of the ultra-right and later became a European nationalist before withdrawing from politics to focus on a career as a historian. He specializes in military and political history...
's Europe-Action. He also became an active supporter of Jeune Nation
Jeune Nation
Jeune Nation was a French nationalist movement founded by Albert Heuclin, and with members including Jean Marot, Jacques Wagner and the brothers Sidos, François Sidos , Jacques Sidos and Pierre Sidos .-History:The emblem of Jeune Nation was the Celtic cross, "symbol of universal life" and an...
.