World Jewish News

Plaque honoring French Nazi collaborationist removed in New York

A plaque honoring French Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain in New York has been removed by order of the city's Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Pétain was a hero French general in World War One, but then became a Nazi collaborator.

The plaque, which was placed as part of New York’s “Canyon of Heroes” on Broadway in 2004, commemorated Petain’s 1931 ticker-tape parade in the city, which he earned for defending his country during WWI.

In 1940, Marshal Petain became the leader of France’s Nazi-collaborationist Vichy government, which was responsible for rounding up more than 10,000 Jews and handing them over to Hitler's regime.

Petain even went further and put in place his own anti-Jewish laws, including property confiscation and exclusions from certain professions.

At the end of WWII, he was tried for treason and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison where he died in 1951.

Jewish leaders have called on city hall to remove the sidewalk plaque.

“After the violent events in Charlottesville, New York City will conduct a 90-day review of all symbols of hate on city property,” Bill De Blasio said.

New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who wrote a letter and met with De Blasio to discuss the issue, applauded the mayor and added that “New Yorkers have an obligation to say, ‘Not in our city.’”

“It’s time to remove all of New York City’s monuments and markers that glorify bigotry and strengthen that which perpetuates these ignorant beliefs,” he wrote in a statement.

In France, many streets have been named in honor of Petain throughout the years, but all were renamed by 2013. The last street in his name was located in a village in the northeast of the country.

EJP