I.6. Une correspondance sur Pierre Laval et la rafle du Vél’ d’Hiv en 1967 : René de Chambrun, Claude Lévy, Joseph Kessel

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La Grande Rafle du Vél d’Hiv by Claude Lévy and Paul Tillard was published in May 1967. This inquiry about the roundup that took place in Paris on July 16, 1942 caused a sensation (enthusiastic press, strong sales, etc.). What it revealed shocked public opinion—especially the role the Vichy head of government, Pierre Laval, played in handing over thousands of Jewish children born in France to the Nazis. For the first time, the anti-Semitic crimes of the Pétainist regime were widely covered by the media. Laval’s son-in-law, René de Chambrun, was incensed by the book and wrote to one of the authors, Claude Lévy. Lévy responded. These letters showcased the revisionist rhetoric about Vichy’s anti-Jewish policy that was popular in 1967. At the time, new information was emerging thanks to researchers who saw it as their role to speak on behalf of the victims. This article provides a historical context to these letters and examines this period, which had a pivotal effect on both history and memory.