The statement continued: “Not Pétain, who was struck with national indignity for collaborating with Nazi barbarism in an odious and criminal manner.
“Pétain served in 1914. He contributed to the victory of 1918. But nothing will come to hide or forget the Pétain who betrayed, collaborated and — the ultimate infamy — signed and implemented the decree on the status of Jews.
“Nothing, no one.”
Mr Macron had said on Wednesday during a visit on Wednesday to Charleville-Mezieres, a town in eastern France that once lay on the front line between French and German troops, that he considers it “entirely legitimate that we pay homage to the marshals who led our army to victory. Marshal Petain was a great soldier in World War One.”
His remarks were swiftly condemned by Crif, the umbrella body representing French Jews.
Crif leader Francis Kalifat said: “the only thing we remember about Philippe Petain is that he was, in the name of the French people, held in national disgrace during his trial in July 1945.
“I am shocked that we can honour a man who, it must be remembered, was himself responsible for the deportation of Jews from France, including the Vel’ d’Hiv raid.”
