New Documentary Explores France's Post-WWII Purges With Unprecedented Depth

Set to air tonight on France 3, 'La France de l’épuration, entre vengeance et justice' examines the moral complexities of the Liberation-era purges using newly accessible archives and recent historical research.

• The documentary delves into the societal and moral impact of the purges following France's Liberation in 1944, marked by both justice and acts of vengeance.
• It highlights the brutal treatment of women accused of collaboration, including public humiliation and violence, as a reflection of the era's tensions.
• Over nine years, the purges evolved from extrajudicial actions to formal judicial processes, resulting in 100,000 convictions.
• The film incorporates newly available archives and testimonies, offering fresh insights and a balanced portrayal of this divisive period.
• Historian Laurent Joly's expertise ensures historical accuracy, while the documentary avoids sensationalism, focusing on the enduring societal scars.

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