François de Wendel

François de Wendel was a French industrialist and politician. He inherited the leadership of a major steel manufacturer in Lorraine at a time when it was part of Germany, and in Meurthe-et-Moselle in France to the west. He entered national politics just before World War I (1914–18), holding office first as a deputy and then as a senator until after the defeat of France in World War II (1939–45). His position as a deputy and also as head of the largest industrial enterprise in France inevitably led to accusations that he was manipulating policy in favor of his business empire.