Marshal Philippe Pétain was a French military leader and politician, best known for his role during World War I and World War II. He gained fame for his leadership at the Battle of Verdun in 1916, where he became a national hero in France. During World War II, Pétain became the head of the Vichy government, which collaborated with Nazi Germany after France's defeat in 1940. His regime implemented policies that included anti-Semitic laws. After the war, Pétain was tried for treason and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to his age.