Terror und Champagner: Hitlers Stellvertreter in Paris is a documentary film which premiered in 2025. In that year it was shown on French and German television (arte).
The topic of this film is World War Two with special focus on France and Nazi Germany.
In 1940, France was defeated by Nazi Germany. After the German victory, France was divided into two zones:
The Northern and the Western parts were occupied by German troops, while the Eastern and the Southern parts were declared an independent country known as Vichy France, because Vichy was the capital of the so-called independent country.
This film covers the history of France during World War Two with special focus on the two zones and the relationship with Nazi Germany:
** The German-occupied zone
** The non-occupied zone
Here is some basic information about this film:
** Directors: Pierre Olivier François and Jean-Marie Dreyfus
** Language: French or German
** Subtitles: French or German
** Run time: 53 minutes
In this film, the focus is on two persons:
Hitler's ambassador in Paris
** Otto Abetz (1903–1958)
The ambassador of Vichy France
** Fernand de Brinon (1885–1947)
The following persons are also presented in the film. They are presented, because they all had some connection with Nazi Germany. Here are the names:
Arno Breker (1900-1991)
** A German sculptor
** Hitler's favourite sculptor
Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989)
** An Austrian conductor
** A member of the Nazi party
** Worked with the Nazis on several occasions during the war
Ernst Jünger (1895–1998)
** A German writer
** A German soldier in World War One and World War Two
** A conservative but not a member of the Nazi party
Jean Cocteau (1889-1963)
** A French poet and playwright
** A friend with Arno Breker
Louis-Ferdinand Céline (1894-1961)
** A French writer
** Anti-semitic
** Pro-German
Coco Chanel (1883-1971)
** A French fashion designer
** A controversial character
Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
** A French singer
** A controversial character
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Otto Abetz and Fernand de Brinon were good friends during the war. They worked well together. What happened to them when the war was over?
Otto Abetz was tried in a court of law where he was found guilty. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but he did not have to serve the whole sentence. He was released in 1954. He died four years later, in 1958.
Fernand de Brinon was tried in a court of law where he was found guilty. He was sentenced to death. The sentence was implemented in 1947.
*****
What do reviewers say about this film?
On IMDb it has a rating of 72 percent. The rating is quite good, as you can see. But in my opinion, it is not good enough.
I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of 100 percent.
REFERENCES
The Shameful Peace: How French Artists and Intellectuals Survived the Nazi Occupation
By Frederick Spotts
(2009 = hardcover)
(2010 = paperback)
And the Show Went On:
Cultural Life in Nazi-Occupied Paris
By Alan Riding
(2010 = hardcover)
(2011 = paperback)
The Devil’s Captain:
Enst Jünger in Nazi Paris, 1941-1944
By Allan Mitchell
(2011 = hardcover)
(2021 = paperback)
Otto Abetz and His Paris Acolytes: French Writers Who Flirted with Fascism, 1930-1945
By Martin Mauthner
(2016)
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Adolf Hitler's ambassador in Paris:
Otto Abetz
(1903-1958)
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The ambassador of Vichy France in Paris
Fernand de Brinon
(1885-1947)
*****
