French Prisoners

The return of French war prisoners was not the occasion for important festivities. Suspicion of treason and cowardice weighed heavy on the war prisoners as public opinion believed they escaped combat and the true sacrifices of the war. Some had great difficulty in obtaining their veteran’s cards. Roger Salengro was pursued by his appearance before the War Council although it acquitted him. Charles de Gaulle would later relate how he suffered from his imprisonment and this forced period of inactivity.