France has officially accepted its role in the Holocaust for the first time – admitting its government freely sent thousands of Jews to their deaths during World War II.
The Council of State, the country's highest judicial body, said the Vichy government of the time held 'responsibility' for deportations.
It ruled that Nazi officials did not force them to betray their fellow citizens, but that anti-Semitic persecution was carried out willingly.
But today's ruling stated there would be no payments for the survivors or families of victims, because all had been compensated 'as much as was possible, for all the losses suffered'.
Thousands of Jews were deported from France to concentration camps during the Occupation, which lasted from 1940 until 1944.
Post-war French governments refused to acknowledge any role in the Holocaust by the collaborating Vichy regime. >>> By Peter Allen in Paris | Monday, Febraury 16, 2009
TIMES ONLINE: 'Jewish War Victims Have Had Enough Compensation' French Court Says
The French State was responsible for deporting Jews during the Second World War, the top judicial authority ruled for the first time yesterday, but it dismayed families of victims by declaring that they had already been compensated. >>> Charles Bremner in Paris | Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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