Page "Hellé Nice" Paragraph 11

In 1949, the first Monte Carlo Rally after the war took place in nearby Monaco and Nice was there to take part.

At a large party organized to celebrate the return to racing, Louis Chiron, a multiple Grand Prix champion and Monaco ’ s favorite son, suddenly strode across the room and in a loud voice laced into Hellé Nice, accusing her of being a Gestapo agent during the war.

At the time, such an accusation could be a serious setback for anyone's career, but coming from someone as powerful as Chiron, even though he provided no proof, it spelled the end of Nice's racing career.

She denied the accusation and demanded an apology, but it was unsuccessful.

Nice considered suing Chiron, but because the accusation took part in Monaco, and since Chiron was born-and-bred Monegasque and Monaco's national hero, any court action would not have been successful.