Most people are unaware that over a century ago, it was not Germany, but France, that was arguably the most anti-semetic country in Europe. It was everywhere, of course, but in few other places was it so openly talked about and acted upon. L'affaire Dreyfus was just the one of many indicators of this. In many ways, France is simply coming full circle back to where they left off.
Another factor with the French is that the Allies found it politic to pretend, during and after WWII, that DeGaulle and the Resistance were the "real France," and that France was "really" an ally against Germany throughout the war. The pretence was sealed by the ridiculous grant to France --a second rate power since WWII and arguably since WWI -- of a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. De Gaulle then built his postwar political career on this charade: Vive la France -- virtuous, mighty, and destined for la gloire!
The upshot of all this pretending is that the French have not yet much dealt with their real WWII history, which is predominantly a history of anti-semitism, collaboration, and weasling. A couple of old creeps have been prosecuted but that sort of thing so easily becomes self-excusing -- we tossed out the bad apple so now our barrel is clean.
This, by the way, is why having the supposedly Center-Right Chirac in power does not make France a more reliable ally -- Chirac is a Guallist, and there really isn't anything to Gaullism besides the la gloire charade.