Home > World War I > Henri-Philippe Pétain Biography

April 24, 1856
Cauchy-a-la-Tour, France
July 23, 1951
Port-Joinville, France

Military and political leader

Henri-Philippe Pétain had already lived a full life before historic events made him first a hero and then a traitor to the homeland he had loved and served. World War I broke out in Europe as Pétain was nearing the age of sixty and thinking of retirement from his military career. He postponed retirement to lead his troops, and his victories made the people of France love him. Decades later, as World War II (1939–45) raged, France again called on the aging Pétain, and he became premier (position like that of prime minister) of a French republic at war against Hitler's Germany. Positive the Germans could not be defeated, Pétain made a peace with the Germans—a peace that many called surrender. He not only allowed the Germans to occupy France, but his government...