Jean Darlan

Jean Darlan (1881-1942), French admiral, commander of the French naval forces early in World War II. In 1941 and 1942, after the surrender of France to Germany, Darlan served as vice premier in the pro-German Vichy regime of unoccupied France under Marshal Henri Pétain. When the Allied forces invaded Algeria in November 1942, Darlan was captured, and after negotiations with Allied forces, ordered a ceasefire. The Allies appointed him High Commissioner of French North Africa later that month, but his leadership was repudiated by the “Fighting French” partisan forces led by Charles de Gaulle. Darlan was assassinated soon afterwards in late December.