Henri Dentz

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Henri Fernand Dentz (16 Dec 1881, Roanne, Loire, France - 13 Dec 1945, Fresnes, Val-de-Marne) was a Vichy French general during World War II. He was in charge of the defence of the French Mandates of Syria and the Lebanon, and commanded the Armée du Levant of approximately 45,000 men.

After Vichy authorities allowed German Luftwaffe aircraft to refuel in the mandates, the Allies planned an invasion. On June 8, 1941, a force of approximately 20,000 Australian, Indian, Free French and British troops, under the command of Sir Henry M. Wilson, invaded Syria and Lebanon from British-controlled Palestine and Iraq. Fierce fighting ensued and Dentz and the Vichy forces were methodically surrounded over a 13-day period, causing them to abandon Damascus, the capital of Syria, on June 21.

Fighting continued in Lebanon and Dentz ordered ships and aircraft under his command to go to Turkey, where they were interned. He reached agreement on a surrender to the Allies, which came into effect on July 14.

In January 1945, Dentz was sentenced to death for aiding the Axis powers, but Charles de Gaulle commuted his sentence to life imprisonment.