Darlan, Jean François definition of Darlan, Jean François in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Darlan, Jean François (zhäN fräNswä` därläN`), 1881–1942, French admiral. A career naval officer, he became commander of the French navy in 1939 and joined the Vichy government (see under Vichy Vichy government was the regime set up there by Marshal Henri Pétain in July, 1940, subsequent to the Franco-German armistice of June 22. Its effective control extended only to unoccupied France and its colonies.
..... Click the link for more information. ) in 1940 as minister of the navy. After the fall of Pierre Laval Laval, Pierre (pyĕr läväl`), 1883–1945, French politician.
..... Click the link for more information. , Darlan was made (Feb., 1941) vice premier, foreign minister, and successor-designate to Marshal Pétain; he was the actual head of government. Laval returned to power in Apr., 1942; Darlan lost his cabinet posts but was given command of the French armed forces. In Algiers during the Allied landing (Nov. 7, 1942) in North Africa, Darlan ordered the cessation of French resistance to the Allies. Although publicly repudiated by Pétain, he assumed control over French N and W Africa in the marshal's name and brought them to the side of the Allies. He was assassinated in December. He was succeeded as high commissioner by Gen. H. H. Giraud Giraud, Henri Honoré (äNrē` ōnôrā` zhērō`), 1879–1949, French general.
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