During theSecond World War, theSpecial Brigades (French:Brigades spéciales, or BS) were aFrench police force inVichy France specializing in tracking down "internal enemies" (i.e.French Resistance workers), dissidents, escaped prisoners, Jews and those evading theobligatory labour service. It was dependent on theDirection centrale des renseignements généraux (RG) and worked in direct collaboration with the German civil, secret and military police, theGeheime Feldpolizei. It was based in room 35 on the first floor of the ParisPrefecture of Police. The Special Brigades was known to committorture.[1]
The Special Brigades were formed in March 1940 and tasked with suppressing communist activities.[2] The Special Brigades was organized by the Director of General Information at the Prefecture of Police Lucien Rottée, who appointed Commissioner Fernand David as Head of the Special Brigades.[3]
After the Liberation of France, 150 police officers from the Special Brigades were prosecuted. Sixty-four inspectors were sentenced, including twenty-two to the death penalty: ten were executed. Rottée and David were tried, condemned for treason and executed by firing squad atFort de Montrouge on May 5 1945.[4][5]