Special Section of the Appeals Court of Paris Section spéciale de la cour d'appel de Paris (1941-1944)

Files of the Special Section of the Appeals Court of Paris judging individuals arrested for infractions against the pre-war penal code for communist or anarchist activities as well as “social and national subversion” and “crimes and misdemeanors against State security.” The sentences, ranging from prison with or without fines, to forced labor for life, or death, were to be executed immediately. Most of those arrested were communist, and entire cells were arrested at the same time – Spanish Republicans, Armenians, and Polish Jews. Copyright Holder: Archives nationales (France) In 1941, under pressure from the German authorities and in response to attacks against German soldiers organized by Resistance networks, the Vichy government cobbled together an extra-ordinary judicial system, adding “special sections” to military, marine, and civilian courts in order to judge individuals arrested as they committed an infraction against the pre-war penal code for communist or anarchist activities, without any preparation or defense possible. The verdicts could not be appealed or challenged for irregular procedures. The sentences, ranging from prison with or without fines, to forced labor for life, or death, were to be executed immediately. On August 26, 1941, the Section spéciale de la Cour d’appel de Paris was inaugurated and in November, 1942, its duties were expanded to judge “social and national subversion” and “crimes and misdemeanors against State security”. The court operated until August,1944, but the number and severity of sentences diminished as time went on. Most of those arrested were communist and entire cells were arrested at the same time – Spanish Republicans, Armenians, and Polish Jews. According to statistics established shortly after the Libération of Paris by a commission in charge of purging the judicial system of collaborationist judges, 1,513 individuals were charged and judged by this court. 3 death sentences were pronounced, 11 of those judged were sentenced to a lifetime of forced labor (3 in abstentia), 183 sentenced to forced labor with specific time spans (1 in abstentia), 1,040 were sentenced to prison without any reduction in time or deferment (22 in abstentia), 213 of those tried were found not guilty, and 63 minors were acquitted because the court esteemed that they acted without discernment.