FRANCE: The Case of Paul Chack

Before the Paris Court of Justice stood white-haired Paul Chack, 68, Captain of the French Navy, once-honored veteran of World War I, author of patriotic children’s books—and paid Vichy propagandist. His hours were numbered.

Slowly, Presiding Judge Jean Pailhé read from editorials written by Chack for the Paris Aujourd’hui, whose Editor Georges Suarez had been No. 1 on the list of collaborators already tried and executed (TIME, Nov. 6): “The American Army is an army of brutal gangsters . . . living on the fat of the land and raping women. . . .”

Judge Pailhé paused, looked at the accused, solemnly observed: “At the front these Americans are dying today.”

Chack bowed his head, whispered: “Yes, they are at the front indeed. I confess my error. . . .”

Judge Pailhé read on: “The Jewish gang behind the White House. . . . The English, who, Bible in hand, seek to destroy Europe. . . . Allied airmen who are nothing but flying assassins. . . .”

From the prisoner’s dock came a groan. Chack had slumped to the floor. Attendants carried him to a chair. Again he whispered: “I confess my error. . . . Americans have come to comfort me in my cell. . . . Now I understand America in her humane aspect . . . her aspirations not to become the greatest but the best. . . . That is what I would write now. . . .”

Judge Pailhé summoned the witnesses. They testified, and their evidence was damning. Chack had received 68,000 francs a month from the Vichy Government, had founded a French “Aryan Club.” The public prosecutor pointed at the defendant, cried: “I demand that you be shot. . . . Such a man as you can expect no mercy. . . .”

A jury of four citizens swiftly returned a verdict: guilty of collusion with the enemy. Judge Pailhé pronounced the sentence. Paul Chack must die.