Election1914
Laval enters politics winning a seat in the Chamber of Deputies as member of the Socialist SFIO
Historical person
Pierre Laval Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Pierre Laval, based on 62 World History Database records associated with France.
62 records1914–194535 events11 places
Chronological biography
1914
1919
Election1919
Loses seat as a Socialist deputy, regarded as a defeatist during World War I
1925
Minister of Public Works1925
Appointed Minister of Public Works
1926
Election1926
Elected to the Senate
Minister of Justice1926
Appointed Minister of Justice
1930
Minister of Labour1930
Appointed Minister of Labour
1931
Minister of Interior1931
Appointed Minister of the Interior
Prime Minister of France1931
Appointed Prime Minister of France, 1st term
1934
Foreign Secretary of France1934
Appointed Foreign Secretary
Referendum4 December 1934
Accepts Edens offer to send a force to preserve order against Nazi intimidation
1935
Referendum1935
Says he will act against German intervention after referring to the League of Nations
Alliance Samuel Hoare and Pierre Laval7 January 1935
Signed by Samuel Hoare & Pierre Laval. Parts of Abyssinia are ceded to Italy, the ensuing outcry forces Hoare to resign. A settlement between Abyssinia & Italy
Visit to London3 February 1935
Flandin and Laval visit London. A memo is issued to negotiate with Germany over arms and League of Nations membership
Pact between France and Belgium7 March 1935
Re-establishment of the French-Belgian military pact
Re-establishment of the French-Belgian military pact7 March 1935
Re-establishment of the French-Belgian military pact
France complains to the League of Nations about Germany's conscription and the20 March 1935
France complains to the League of Nations about Germany's conscription and the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe20 March 1935
France complains to the League of Nations about Germany's conscription and the Luftwaffe
Stresa DiplomacyApril 1935
League-era diplomacy struggles against German rearmament.
Alliance France and Russia2 May 1935
Signs the Franco-Soviet pact, guaranteeing mutual assistance over 5 years
French-Soviet pact, effective for five years, for mutual help in the case2 May 1935
French-Soviet pact, effective for five years, for mutual help in the case of an attack by an European nation
Pact between France and Soviet Union2 May 1935
French-Soviet pact, effective for five years, for mutual help in the case of an attack by an European nation
Pact between Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia16 May 1935
Soviet-Czechoslovakian pact, valid only if France supports both parties
Political Support16 May 1935
Soviet-Czechoslovakian pact, valid only if France supports both parties
Sanctions10 October 1935
France joins League sanctions while seeking compromise with Italy.
1940
Vice Prime MinisterJuly 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister of France after the collapse of France
Vice Prime MinisterJuly 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister of France after the collapse of France
Vice Prime MinisterOctober 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Vice Prime MinisterOctober 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Vice Prime MinisterOctober 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Vichy GovernmentOctober 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Vichy GovernmentOctober 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Vichy GovernmentOctober 1940
Appointed Vice Prime Minister in the Vichy Government of Marshal Philippe Petain
Collaboration22 October 1940
Laval meets Hitler & offers to collaborate
Invasion of France22 October 1940
Laval meets Hitler & offers to collaborate
Arrest of Pierre Laval13 December 1940
Laval is dismissed and arrested, pressure from German ambassador Otto Abetz secures his release, Laval leaves for Paris and the protection of his German patron
Collaboration13 December 1940
Laval is dismissed and arrested, pressure from German ambassador Otto Abetz secures his release, Laval leaves for Paris and the protection of his German patron
1941
Collaboration27 August 1941
Laval is shot four times while reviewing the Legion des Volontaires Francais at Versailles, he survives his wounds and is returned to power in Vichy on April 18,1942
Vichy Government27 August 1941
Laval is shot four times while reviewing the Legion des Volontaires Francais at Versailles, he survives his wounds and is returned to power in Vichy on April 18,1942
1942
Arrest of Pierre Laval1942
Released from prison under Hitler's orders
Government1942
Raises an army for Hitler & allows deportation to Germany for forced Labour. Leads a German puppet Government
Prime Minister of France1942
Appointed Prime Minister of France, 2nd term
Prime Minister of France1942
Appointed Prime Minister of France, 2nd term
Trial1942
Trials held by the Vichy Government of those responsible for the 1940 French collapse
Trial1942
Blum & Daladier expose the trials & Vichy France loses American support
Vichy Government1942
Trials held by the Vichy Government of those responsible for the 1940 French collapse
Collaboration22 August 1942
Laval proclaims on that he," hoped for German victory because without it tomorrow Bolshevism will be everywhere". Laval goes on the radio to announce la Releve , under which the Germans agree to free one French prisoner for every three French workers who volunteer for work in Germany
1943
Collaboration1943
Laval institutes the Service du Travail Obligatoire (conscription for forced labor) and unleashes la Milice to enforce it
Milice, La1943
Laval institutes the Service du Travail Obligatoire (conscription for forced labor) and unleashes la Milice to enforce it
Service du Travail Obligatoire1943
Laval institutes the Service du Travail Obligatoire (conscription for forced labor) and unleashes la Milice to enforce it
1944
Capital1944
The French resistance force Laval to move his Government to Belfort & into Germany
Arrest of Pierre Laval31 July 1944
Expelled by the Spanish. flees to Austria & arrested by US troops for treason
Exile of Pierre Laval31 July 1944
Expelled by the Spanish. flees to Austria & arrested by US troops for treason
Treason31 July 1944
Expelled by the Spanish. flees to Austria & arrested by US troops for treason
CollaborationAugust 1944
Laval leaves Paris with the Germans, he joins the other Vichy exiles in Belfort and later in Sigmaringen, Germany
Exile of Pierre LavalAugust 1944
Laval leaves Paris with the Germans, he joins the other Vichy exiles in Belfort and later in Sigmaringen, Germany
Vichy GovernmentAugust 1944
Laval leaves Paris with the Germans, he joins the other Vichy exiles in Belfort and later in Sigmaringen, Germany
1945
Exile of Pierre LavalJuly 1945
Flown to Spain a few days before the German surrender, Franco has Laval arrested and turned over to the Americans in Austria who extradite him to the French authorities in July
Treason9 October 1945
The Prime Minister of France is sentenced to death for high treason
Trial9 October 1945
The Prime Minister of France is sentenced to death for high treason
Death of Pierre Laval15 October 1945
Death of Pierre Laval, executed
Execution15 October 1945
Shot by a firing squad for high treason
Treason15 October 1945
Shot by a firing squad for high treason
Titles and roles
Deputy · Deputy of Aubervilliers · Foreign Minister of France · Foreign Secretary of France · Minister of Interior · Minister of Justice · Minister of Labour · Minister of Public Works · Prime Minister of France · Vice Prime Minister
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.