The Milice française (French Militia), generally called la Milice (), was a political paramilitary organization created on 30 January 1943 by the Vichy regime (with German aid) to help fight against the French Resistance during World War II. The Milice's formal head was Prime Minister Pierre Laval, although its Chief of operations and "de facto" leader was Secretary General Joseph Darnand. It participated in summary executions and assassinations, helping to round up Jews and "résistants" in France for deportation. It was the successor to Darnand's "Service d'ordre légionnaire" (SOL) militia. The Milice was the Vichy regime's most extreme manifestation of fascism. Ultimately, Darnand envisaged the Milice as a fascist single party political movement for the French state.