French Football Star Who Joined Nazi Gestapo - And Paid For It

Alexandre Villaplane’s life is one of the most shocking transformations of the Second World War — a story of fame, greed, betrayal, and brutality. Once celebrated as the captain of the French national football team and a participant in the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, Villaplane rose from humble beginnings in French Algeria to become one of the most recognizable athletes in France. Talented, charismatic, and admired, he represented a symbol of sporting excellence during the interwar years. But behind the image of a national hero, a darker character was already forming. Gambling scandals, financial corruption, and criminal activity gradually overshadowed his football career. When Nazi Germany invaded France in 1940 and the country fell under occupation, Villaplane chose collaboration over resistance. Instead of defending his nation’s honor, he aligned himself with the occupiers. During the German occupation of France, Villaplane became deeply involved with the French Carlingue — often referred to as the French Gestapo — led by Henri Lafont and Pierre Bonny. He extorted Jewish families, participated in black market operations, and later commanded a unit of the Brigade Nord-Africaine, a collaborationist paramilitary force operating under SS authority. Holding the rank of SS-Untersturmführer, he took part in violent anti-resistance operations in southwestern France. Villaplane’s name became associated with torture, hostage extortion, and executions. His unit participated in the Mussidan massacre in June 1944, and survivors described his personal involvement in acts of brutality. After the Liberation of Paris, Villaplane was arrested, tried for treason, collaboration, murder, and acts of barbarity, and sentenced to death. On 27 December 1944, just days after his 40th birthday, Alexandre Villaplane was executed by firing squad. His fall from national sports hero to condemned war criminal remains one of the most disturbing personal transformations of the war. Narrator: Marchand Steenkamp. Join World History channel and get access to benefits:    / @worldhistoryvideos   Disclaimer: All opinions and comments below are from members of the public and do not reflect the views of the World History channel. We do not accept promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on attributes such as: race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation. World History has the right to review the comments and delete them if they are deemed inappropriate. ► CLICK the SUBSCRIBE button for more interesting clips:    / @worldhistoryvideos   #AlexandreVillaplane #WWII #ww2documentary #nazigermany #historydocumentary #Nazicollaborator #frenchhistory #francehistory #parishistory #WorldWarTwo #MilitaryHistory #worldwartwohistory #traitors #warcrimes #warcriminals #warstories #ww2history #ww2story #secondworldwar #normandylanding #battleoffrance #operationoverlord #frenchresistance Alexandre Villaplane biography, French collaborators in World War II, French collaborators in World War II, Nazi occupation of France, Nazi collaborators explained, French collaborators, French collaborators WW2, Collaborators in France WW2, France during WW2, France during WW2, World War 2 France , World War Two France, France World War 2, WW France, France in WW2, When did Germany invade France, Invasion of France, German occupation of France, Occupied France WW2, French Nazi collaborators, French collaborators, French collaboration, Collaboration in France, French collaborators WW2, Gestapo agent, French Gestapo, Gestapo Paris, Nazi Gestapo, What was the Gestapo, Nazi agent, Nazi traitor, French traitor, French traitors WW2, French Carlingue, Henri Lafont and Pierre Bonny, Brigade Nord-Africaine, Mussidan massacre, German war criminals, French Nazis, 1944 Liberation of Paris