Which French military leader and political figure served in both WWI and WWII, and was finally assassinated?

A French leader (picture) serving in the military from 1902 until his assassination in 1942, Jean Louis Xavier Francois Darlan (1881-1942), saw action in both WWI and WWII. As a result of his naval military service in WWI, he quickly advanced through the ranks before finally being made admiral and Chief of the Naval Staff in 1937. Two years later, Darlan was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet, a rank created specifically for him.

When France signed an armistice with Germany in WWII in June 1940, Darlan served in the Vichy regime, a common name of the French state during WWII that adopted a policy of collaboration with Nazi Germany.

Darlan, retained his position as Commander-in-Chief of the French Armed Forces and ended up in Algiers when the Allies invaded French North Africa in November 1942. When General Dwight D. Eisenhower, leader of the Allied Forces in Europe completed a deal with Darlan, Darlan ordered all French forces in North Africa to cease resistance and cooperate with the Allies.

Shortly after this agreement, Darlan was assassinated by a 20-year old monarchist and anti-Vichyiste. He was shot twice, once in the face and once in the chest.

Documented history states that Darlan was unpopular with the Allies and considered pompous. Harold Macmillan, a British advisor to Winston Churchill at the time of his assassination, described Darlan’s service and death by saying, “Once bought (by the Vichy), he stayed bought.”