Editing Paul Touvier (section)

== War years ==
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Joining the French [[8th Infantry Division (France)|8th Infantry Division]], Touvier fought against the German [[Wehrmacht]] until, following the bombing of [[Chateau-Thierry]], he [[desertion|deserted]]. Touvier returned to Chambéry in 1940, which was then occupied by the [[Kingdom of Italy]]. His life took a new course after the [[Milice]] (the Vichy French militia) was established.

Touvier had become known for womanizing and for trading in the [[Black market in wartime France|black market]]. Disgusted by his son's libertine lifestyle, his devoutly Catholic father persuaded him to join the Milice, hoping that a little military discipline would "make a man out of his son."

Touvier was eventually appointed head of the intelligence department in the Chambéry Milice under the direction of the [[Gestapo]] and [[Sicherheitsdienst|SD]], serving as a subordinate. In January 1944 he became its second regional head.

In Paris on 28 June 1944, 15 members of the [[French resistance|Résistance]], dressed as members of the Milice, [[assassin]]ated Vichy France Minister for Propaganda [[Philippe Henriot]] as he slept in the Ministry building where he lived and worked.  As it was suspected that the assassins were from Lyon, Touvier was ordered to conduct reprisal killings. On 30 June, Touvier found seven French Jewish prisoners already in custody, and had them [[executed]] by [[firing squad]].