Maurice-Ivan Sicard (nom de plume Saint-Paulien; 21 May 1910 in Le Puy-en-Velay – 10 December 2000) was a French journalist,

far right Far-right politics, also referred to as the extreme right or right-wing extremism, are political beliefs and actions further to the right of the left–right political spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of being ...

political activist, and Nazi collaborator.

Biography

Initially a teacher and journalist for such mainstream publications as ''Spectateur'' and ''Germinal'' Sicard joined the

Parti Populaire Français The French Popular Party (french: Parti populaire français) was a French fascist and anti-semitic political party led by Jacques Doriot before and during World War II. It is generally regarded as the most collaborationist party of France. ...

in 1936 and soon took over the editorship of their journal ''Jeunesses de France''. Philip Rees, '' Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890'', 1990, p. 356 He took over editing duties on their main journal ''L'Émancipation nationale'' in 1937 and soon became a leading figure within the party, joining their Politburo in 1938. He also served the PPF as Propaganda Secretary. As a writer Sicard was noted for his highly pro- German and

anti-Semitic Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...

views and so it was no surprise that he became involved in collaborationism following the Nazi occupation. As well as continuing to edit ''L'Émancipation nationale'' for the duration of the occupation he was also appointed national secretary for press and propaganda for the Vichy regime in 1942. He also served on the central committee of Philippe Pétain's ''Rassemblement pour la Révolution nationale'' and was a member of the '' Comité d’action antibolchévique''. As well as in government Sicard's standing within the PPF also grew as the war went on. He was part of the directorate that ran the party during Jacques Doriot's service with the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism. In this role he demonstrated a rare instance of non-collaboration in December 1943 when, by then the effective leader of the PPF, he boycotted a German-organised rally for Marcel Déat's attempt at creating an umbrella movement in the National Revolutionary Front.Littlejohn, ''The Patriotic Traitors'', p. 272 Nevertheless, in September 1944 Sicard was one of a number of French collaborators who went into exile in Germany, although unlike supporters of the former Vichy regime housed at Sigmaringen, the PPF was based at Mainau. Following the war he went into exile in Madrid. Sentenced to prison in absentia he was amnestied and returned to France to write under his Saint-Paulien alter ego. Arguing in defence of the collaborators, his work appeared in the likes of ''Minute'', ''Ecrits de Paris'', '' Rivarol'', ''Arriba'' and Dominique Venner's ''Europe-Action''. He also became an active supporter of Jeune Nation.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sicard, Maurice-Yvan 1910 births 2000 deaths People from Le Puy-en-Velay French fascists French collaborators with Nazi Germany French Popular Party politicians French male non-fiction writers 20th-century French journalists 20th-century French male writers