François Lehideux
François Lehideux | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Paris, France |
| Died | June 21, 1998 (aged 94) |
| Occupation(s) | Industrial executive, government minister |
| Known for | Member of the Vichy government, head of Comité d'organisation de l'automobile, Minister of Industrial Production |
François Lehideux (30 January 1904 – 21 June 1998) was a French industrial executive and a member of the Vichy government.
Car industry
Lehideux married the daughter of Fernand Renault in 1929, which facilitated his rapid ascent within the Renault automobile company. Serving as Louis Renault's assistant, he advocated for employing André Lefèbvre in the development division, understanding the necessity to update Renault’s vehicle designs to preserve its dominance in the French automotive sector.
Amid World War II, Louis Renault obtained governmental backing to maintain his leadership of the company, amid suspicions that Lehideux was leveraging political connections to take control. This situation underscored the interventionist industrial strategies common to both the Vichy administration and previous regimes, which had a lasting impact on the French car industry and Renault’s trajectory. After failing to gain control, Lehideux departed from Renault.
Vichy
In October 1940, Lehideux was named head of the Comité d'organisation de l'automobile (COA), responsible for coordinating between German authorities and French automobile manufacturers. Significantly, he prevented German attempts in 1943 to dismantle Ford’s newly established Poissy factory for relocation to Germany.
Lehideux belonged to a technocratic faction within the early Vichy government that promoted economic reforms aimed at restoring France’s position in Europe. In 1941, he directed the Direction Générale de l'équipement nationale, concentrating on economic revitalization and reducing unemployment. He devised a decade-long economic growth strategy that later influenced postwar plans such as the Plan Monnet.
He also held the position of Minister of Industrial Production but resigned following Pierre Laval’s return to power.
Post-war
Following Second World War, Lehideux was detained but released in 1946. On 17 February 1949, the High Court of Justice dismissed all charges against him due to "insufficient evidence." His protection of members of the OCF contributed to this outcome. By then, he had resumed a prosperous business career. In 1950, he was appointed managing director of Ford’s French operations, succeeding Maurice Dollfus. This appointment generated controversy and hostility, prompting Ford to sell its French branch to Simca in 1954.
After the war, Lehideux defended his role during Vichy and joined the Association for the Defence of the Memory of Marshal Pétain, supporting efforts to reevaluate Pétain’s legacy. He passed away in June 1998 at age 95, being the last surviving minister from the Vichy government.
Cited sources
- Michael Curtis (2003) Verdict on Vichy, London: Phoenix. .