Quote Originally Posted by MilesGregarius
The exact definitions of fascism vary, but they usually include, as Watchman said, a charismatic "great leader". No cult of personality ever developed around Petain akin to those that did around Hitler, Mussolini, or even Franco.
Although it is difficult to understand nowdays, Petain WAS a charismatic leader. He was the only man in the vichy's regime that was widely trusted by the population and his reputation from WWI gave him the possibility to present himself as France's savior. The regime in itself was constituted by different groups ranging from cold blooded opportunists to nazis, including reactionaries, fanatic catholics, anti-democratic right wingers and many others.
It was his person that sticked all this together.
In a sense he can be compared to Franco that also led this kind of heterogeneous regime.
His person was the absolute reference of every action perpetrated by his regime, his picture was produced everywhere it could, his personal glory sung at every opportunity.
The anthem of his regime was 'maréchal nous voilà!', something like 'marechal here we are' and was totaly dedicated to his person.
He was closer to Franco than to any other fascist leader, but his regime had big bits of nazism and italian fascism into it.