ABSTRACT
The trial of Pierre Laval, instead of revealing the truth, did much to conceal it. Laval's faithful defenders, Albert Naud, Jacques Baraduc, and Yves Frederic Jaffre were equally dedicated. "The great merit of Laval," he said, "was to undertake the impossible—to protect France from the enemy, and to accomplish that, bears unpopularity even to the ultimate sacrifice." A letter from Pierre Taittinger, the regional prefect in Paris, warned of plots against Laval by the Paris Ultras and other documents related to Laval's last gasp August, 1945, attempt with Herriot, to reconvene the National Assembly and to restore to Parliament its powers. Laval was a horse trader, a compromiser who viewed words as his only weapons in the deadly duel with Nazi Germany. While in German captivity, Laval had started to prepare his defence for the trial he knew must come.
