The minister of veterans affairs has been a cabinet post in France since just after World War I (1914–18). The minister is responsible for former members of the armed forces, particularly the disabled and pensioners. At times the officeholder has been called Minister of Pensions (Ministre des Pensions), at times Minister of Veterans and Pensions (Ministre des Anciens combattants et pensionnés) and at times Minister for Veterans (Ministre des Anciens combattants). In recent years the ministry has been subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and the officeholder may be a secretary of state or sub-minister.
13 March 1938 – 10 April 1938: Albert Rivière – Pensions
Ministers of Veterans and Pensions
During World War II (1939–45) the office was renamed to "Veterans and the French Family" and then eliminated in the Vichy government. General Charles de Gaulle appointed commissioners for pensions and then for prisoners, deportees and refugees in his government in exile.
13 September 1939 – 21 March 1940: René Besse – Anciens combattants et pensionnés
21 March 1940 – 16 June 1940: Albert Rivière – Anciens combattants et pensionnés
16 June 1940 – 12 July 1940: Jean Ybarnégaray – Anciens combattants et de la Famille française
28 July 1942 – 7 June 1943: André Diethelm (commissaire) – Finances et Pensions
9 November 1943 – 21 November 1945: Henri Frenay (commissaire) – Prisonniers, Déportés et Réfugiés
Ministers of Veterans and War Victims
In the period up to March 1974 the office holder was generally entitled "Minister of Veterans and War Victims", sometimes simply "Minister of Veterans".