Maurice Papon 1910 – 2007

Biography

Maurice Papon was born on September 3, 1910, in Gretz-Armainvilliers, a small commune in the Seine-et-Marne region of France. He spent his long life serving in various administrative capacities throughout the twentieth century, occupying positions of civil authority during a complex and troubled period in French history. His early years in the Armainvilliers region shaped his formative years before his career in public service would take him across France.

During World War II and the subsequent occupation period, Papon’s role as a civil servant placed him at the center of significant historical events. His administrative decisions during these years remained a subject of historical scrutiny and controversy for decades following the war’s conclusion. The responsibilities he held during this era would define much of how his life and career were remembered in later years.

Papon lived to an advanced age, remaining in France throughout his final decades. He passed away on February 17, 2007, in Pontault-Combault, succumbing to heart failure at the age of ninety-six. He was laid to rest in Gretz-Armainvilliers, returning to the region where his life had begun nearly a century earlier. His long life spanned nearly the entire twentieth century, a period of profound transformation for France and Europe.