Jean Leguay (29 November 1909 – 2 July 1989) was the second-in-command of the French National Police during the Nazi
Occupation of France. He was complicit in the 1942 roundup of Jews in Paris and their
deportation from France to Nazi extermination camps, which resulted in the murders of thousands of people, both adults and children.
World War II
During
Vichy France
Vichy France (; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was a French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II, established as a result of the French capitulation after the Battle of France, ...
, Leguay was second-in-command to
René Bousquet, the general secretary of the National Police in Paris. Leguay participated in organising the
Vel' d'Hiv Roundup (''Rafle du Vel' d'Hiv''), the
mass arrest of more than 13,000 Jews on 16 and 17 July 1942 in Paris. They were deported to
extermination camps in
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic connotations. Its eastern boundary is marked by the Ural Mountain ...
, where most were killed.
Postwar
After the war, Leguay became president of
Warner-Lambert, Inc. of London, which is now merged with
Pfizer. Later, he became president of Substantia Laboratories in Paris.
In 1979, Leguay was charged with
crimes against humanity
Crimes against humanity are certain serious crimes committed as part of a large-scale attack against civilians. Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity can be committed during both peace and war and against a state's own nationals as well as ...
for his role in the organisation of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, the
mass arrest of more than 13,000 Jews on 16 and 17 July 1942 in Paris.
Death
Leguay died of cancer in 1989, aged 79.
The French judiciary officially stated after his death that Leguay's involvement in crimes against humanity had been ascertained beyond doubt.
["Jean LEGUAY, délégué en zone occupée du Secrétaire Général de la Police René BOUSQUET, est décédé"](_blank)
''L'Humanité'', accessed 28 May 2012.
References
External links
"Jean LEGUAY, délégué en zone occupée du Secrétaire Général de la Police René BOUSQUET, est décédé" Humanité.fr; accessed 16 July 2018.
1909 births
1989 deaths
Deaths from cancer in France
French mass murderers
French police chiefs
Holocaust perpetrators in France
{{France-bio-stub
Vichy French war criminals