A famed Holocaust historian says a recently uncovered 1940 document provides written proof of the personal involvement by the wartime leader of Nazi-occupied France in persecuting Jews.
Serge Klarsfeld told The Associated Press on Sunday that the document was given a few days ago to France's Holocaust Memorial museum by a donor who wanted to remain anonymous.
Klarsfeld says the document includes personal notes by the leader of the collaborationist Vichy regime, Philippe Petain, describing how authorities should target Jews, notably by keeping them out of public office and bar them from working in schools.
Klarsfeld says the document is "important" because it confirms Petain's personal role in determining the status of Jews at the time.
Associated press
