Photos execution pierre laval biography

French politician (1883–1945)

This article is about the French politician. For the American judge, see Pierre N. Leval.

Pierre Jean Marie Laval (French:[pjɛʁlaval]; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician.

He served as Prime Minister of France three times: 1931–1932 and 1935–1936 during the Third Republic, and 1942–1944 during the Vichy France. After the war, Laval was tried as a collaborator and executed for treason.

Photos execution pierre laval biography wikipedia

A socialist early in his life, Laval became a lawyer in 1909 and was famous for his defence of strikers, trade unionists and leftists from government prosecution. In 1914, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies as a member of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), and he remained committed to his pacifist convictions during the First World War.

After his defeat in the 1919 election, Laval left the SFIO and became mayor of Aubervilliers. In 1924 he returned to the Chamber as an independent, and was elect