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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| French wartime collaborator dead | French wartime collaborator dead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| French Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, convicted of sending French Jews to Nazi camps in World War II, has died, aged 96. | French Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, convicted of sending French Jews to Nazi camps in World War II, has died, aged 96. |
| He underwent surgery earlier in the week to adjust his pacemaker after being hospitalised with heart problems. | He underwent surgery earlier in the week to adjust his pacemaker after being hospitalised with heart problems. |
| Papon was the second-highest official in France's south-west Bordeaux region during the German wartime occupation. | Papon was the second-highest official in France's south-west Bordeaux region during the German wartime occupation. |
| In 1998, he was jailed for 10 years for helping to send about 1,500 French Jews to Nazi-run death camps during WWII. | In 1998, he was jailed for 10 years for helping to send about 1,500 French Jews to Nazi-run death camps during WWII. |
| He was freed in 2002 because of his age, after serving only three years of his sentence, a move which angered Holocaust survivors. | He was freed in 2002 because of his age, after serving only three years of his sentence, a move which angered Holocaust survivors. |
| His appeal for a retrial was rejected by France's highest court in June 2004. | His appeal for a retrial was rejected by France's highest court in June 2004. |
| Papon died in his sleep, said his lawyer Francis Vuillemin. | Papon died in his sleep, said his lawyer Francis Vuillemin. |
| "He fought to the end," said Mr Vuillemin. "He died a free man." | "He fought to the end," said Mr Vuillemin. "He died a free man." |
| Ministerial career | Ministerial career |
| After the war, Papon was not prosecuted and he went on to serve as France's budget minister from 1978 to 1981. | After the war, Papon was not prosecuted and he went on to serve as France's budget minister from 1978 to 1981. |
| Maurice Papon: Obituary | |
| It was only in 1981 that his actions came to light. | It was only in 1981 that his actions came to light. |
| In 1998, he was convicted of crimes against humanity for signing deportation orders for 1,690 Jews in Bordeaux in 1942-44. | In 1998, he was convicted of crimes against humanity for signing deportation orders for 1,690 Jews in Bordeaux in 1942-44. |
| He is the highest-ranking French citizen to have been convicted in such a case. | He is the highest-ranking French citizen to have been convicted in such a case. |
| After being found guilty, Papon fled to Switzerland, but he was detained there and returned to France to begin his sentence. | After being found guilty, Papon fled to Switzerland, but he was detained there and returned to France to begin his sentence. |
| He was stripped of his Legion d'Honneur award after his conviction, and was later fined for wearing the medal illegally. | He was stripped of his Legion d'Honneur award after his conviction, and was later fined for wearing the medal illegally. |
| During World War II, about 76,000 Jews were deported from France to German death camps, many to Auschwitz. Only 2,500 survived. | During World War II, about 76,000 Jews were deported from France to German death camps, many to Auschwitz. Only 2,500 survived. |