Charles de Gaulle

The provisional government led by de Gaulle nationalised Renault by ordinance on 16 January 1945. The decision had a specific punitive context, linked to the government's judgement of the company's wartime collaboration, as well as a place in post-war reconstruction. Renault became a state-owned manufacturer rather than merely a privately owned firm receiving support. Compare this with later investment-led nationalisations: the legal mechanism may look similar while the political grounds differ substantially.