Reincarnated: Vive La France
Chapter 225: "Pétain’s moral standing may serve as his invisible defense."

Chapter 225: "Pétain’s moral standing may serve as his invisible defense."

The Palais de Justice felt colder on the morning of Day Two.

Precisely at 8:57 a.m., the court usher’s baton struck the marble floor.

All rose as the judges re-entered Presiding Judge  Barbier, flanked by Judges Claudel and Levasseur.

Barbier’s spoke.

"Messieurs, mesdames, yesterday we heard the indictments. Today, pursuant to Articles 12 through 18 of the Emergency Judicial Order of 1937 and the Military Judicial Code, we proceed with testimony. General Philippe Pétain remains the first accused before this Tribunal at present."

He paused, locking eyes with the defense table.

"This court maintains the full rights of the defense counsel, cross-examination, evidence, and rebuttal. We remind all present this is not an act of vengeance. It is accountability under the laws of the Republic."

Vincent Auriol, standing as prosecutor-general, gave a curt nod and motioned to the bailiff.

"We call Colonel Étienne Marchal of logistics, 4th Military Region."

Marchal entered crisply, military bearing intact.

He stood before the oath.

"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me France."

Barbier began.

"Colonel, describe your duties and rank during 1935–36."

Marchal responded precisely.

"I served as head of logistics in the 4th Military Region, rank colonel, from May 1935 until January 1937. My responsibilities included requisitioning arms, munitions, and subsistence for frontline garrisons, and ensuring mobilization readiness."

Auriol moved forward.

"In December 1935 and January 1936, did you file requisition requests for ammunition and rifles?"

Marchal nodded.

"On January 14 and May 4, 1936, I lodged requisitions for 15,000 rifles and 150,000 rounds of infantry ammunition. Both were not fulfilled."

"And what effect did that have on readiness by spring 1936?"

Marchal opened his dossier.

"Test cases conducted April 2 showed a 22 percent failure-to-launch rate in garrisons near Limoges and Reims. We judged this to be below minimum operational levels."

A hush fell. Judge Levasseur intervened.

"Colonel Marchal, these statistics were they officially reported?"

Marchal retrieved memoranda.

"Yes, Your Honor. These are logs and attaché notes dispatched to the Minister of War and copied to General Pétain’s office."

Auriol stepped forward.

"Did you ever receive a response to these reports?"

Marchal’s voice lowered.

"Except for one memo from Pétain referencing ’political reconciliation requirements,’ no substantive directive followed."

Judge Claudel’s voice was judicial.

"May we examine the output of that memo?"

Auriol handed the memorandum to the clerk, who passed it to Judge Barbier.

The court clerk noted it on the record:

"’Political authorization pending. Hold distribution until Council review.’ - signed Pétain."

Collective murmurs followed as Lavergne stood.

"Colonel Marchal, please clarify General Pétain was acting as advisor, not Minister of War. Isn’t it possible other departments were responsible for the failure of delivery?"

Marchal looked at him steadily.

"The chain of command logistics, ministerial councils, oversight flows from advisory to execution. The delay was attributable to the interruption of orders exactly what the memos indicate."

Barbier interjected firmly.

"Counsel, ensure your questions remain within the realm of facts, not insinuations. Further cross-examination later. For now, Colonel, your testimony stands. You may sit."

Marchal stepped down.

The Tribunes scribbled rapidly.

Barbier then continued.

"General Pétain, you may now make a statement."

Pétain rose, supported by his counsel.

His age and service weighed on him, but his voice remained firm.

"Court, gentlemen, I have served France for more than six decades. I did advise that certain requisitions be paused pending political ministry consensus. I did not block supplies nor did I misappropriate funds. I acted in good faith, believing political stabilization essential."

He paused for emphasis.

"My oath is to France. If those sitting here doubt my intent, know this. I entered Verdun in 1916 and left it in 1918 with the same blood, courage, and love for this country. I seek forgiveness if my counsel brought harm. But I do not admit to betraying my duty."

He returned to his seat.

Barbier acknowledged him.

"Your statement is included in the record. We will proceed with further testimony."

The prosecution called Major René Aubry to the stand.

After the oath, Barbier directed him.

"Major Aubry, describe your role in the 4th Region."

"Second-in-command to Colonel Marchal. I oversaw troop transport and field readiness."

Auriol began.

"Major, did logistical shortages reach the field?"

Aubry nodded.

"There was no ammunition for target practice. Several battalions went without assigned rifles for weeks in May 1936."

He produced a field log showing weapon counts.

"The shortage was evident on June 1, 70 percent turnout with working rifles during the review."

Judge Levasseur interjected.

"And this was communicated?"

"Yes, my memoranda copy Marchal’s requests."

Lavalergne rose again.

"Major, was delay due to political caution or military incompetence?" he asked.

Aubry paused thoughtfully.

"I believe the pause was political advised from above. But I do not know who in the ministry signed off."

Barbier tapped his gavel softly.

"Next witness."

Auriol rose.

"We call Mademoiselle Jeanne Barthélemy, administrative clerk in Pétain’s office during 1936."

She approached, terrified but composed.

"I swear to tell the truth," she affirmed.

Barbier inquired.

"Miss Barthélemy, what documents passed through this office related to requisition delays?"

She drew in breath.

"Several, Your Honor. On June 2, I forwarded Colonel Marchal’s requisition to Minister Daladier. It returned with a Pétain stamp and marginal note. ’Delay until reconciliation with Treasury.’"

A stipple of surprise traveled the courtroom.

Auriol leaned forward.

"Do you recall handwriting on the stamp?"

She hesitated.

"It matched General Pétain’s handwriting samples."

Lavalergne, visibly perturbed, retorted.

"Mademoiselle, under pressure, could your recollection be flawed?"

She looked him in the eye.

"I copied the note daily. My ledger confirms it."

Judge Claudel nodded.

"Entry will stand as Exhibit D."

Auriol thanked her. She stepped down.

Barbier checked his watch already 1:30 p.m.

He announced a forty-minute recess.

Outside strikers distributed fresh editions titled "Can Pétain Stand Accountability?"

Inside resumed at 2:10 p.m.

Barbier addressed the defense.

"Maître Lavalergne, you have twenty minutes for your statement."

Lavalergne rose with calm precision.

"Esteemed judges, this Tribunal assesses whether General Pétain’s actions were criminal. I assert they were not. He was an elder statesman reserved, cautious, yes. Wrong at times maybe, but guided by a desire to preserve France’s equilibrium in unstable European times."

He drew attention to Pétain directly.

"His decades of sacrifice the defense of Verdun, rebuilding our poilus, fortifying the Maginot Line are no mere rhetorical flourish. They are his record."

He produced a letter dated July 1936, from the Minister of War.

"In it, the minister writes. ’Your guidance has thus far prevented revolutionary fracturing. Continue your counsel as you see fit.’ That stands on official letterhead."

He paused as judges reviewed it.

Auriol rose.

"With respect, that letter names caution as his legacy. But caution does not excuse dereliction of duty. In times when France needed swift preparedness, our frontline soldiers waited for gunpowder."

He drew from a stack.

"Estimate, 150,000 rounds of small arms ammunition delayed and 30 cannon barrels unreplaced. Official logs."

He placed the evidence in court record.

Barbier signaled acceptance.

"Let the Tribunal proceed." Judge Levasseur took copious notes.

Lavalergne countered.

"If we treat every advised delay as a crime, we dismantle the chain of command. Ministers feared political backlash. General Pétain warned them do you punish the messenger when politics falters?"

He returned to his seat.

Barbier called the court to rise at 4:40 p.m.

He addressed reporters in hushed tone as the session closed.

"Cross-examination will resume tomorrow, along with defense witnesses. The Tribunal adjourns."

Journalists jostled, papers rustling.

One from The Times wrote, "Pétain’s moral standing may serve as his invisible defense."

Another from Der Tagesspiegel noted, "France’s old hero unlikely to be convicted politics, not justice, leans heavy today."

Inside, Pétain sat, silent.

His counsel whispered in his ear.

"Your stature they cannot convict a living symbol."

He closed his eyes.