Philippe Pétain was a French general and statesman, best known for his role during World War I and as the leader of the Vichy government in France during World War II. He gained fame for his leadership at the Battle of Verdun in 1916, where he became a national hero. After France's defeat by Nazi Germany in 1940, Pétain became the head of the Vichy regime, which collaborated with the Nazis. His government implemented policies that included anti-Semitic laws. After the war, Pétain was tried for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment, dying in 1951.