Vichy France: The Nation Under Incognito
Vichy France was a client state in Nazi Germany.
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World War II is the most devasting war in human history. It involved more than 50 nations, and 100 million soldiers from both the Allies and Axis soldiers were mobilized in this worldwide conflict.
Among these countries is France, which endured defeat under the strength of a revitalized German army. The French nation became Vichy France and lasted four years under the occupation of and collaboration with the Nazi regime.
How did Vichy France come to be, and did it become an ally of Nazi Germany?
Was Vichy France a puppet government or a nation trying its best to survive under the might of its enemies?
This article will shed light on the issues surrounding Vichy France and its stand during the rest of World War II. It will provide information on the policies of this French government while under the control of Nazi Germany.
Finally, this write-up will share insights into facts about the French resistance against invasion despite its surrender and apparent “collaboration” with the Axis powers.
During the Second World War, soldiers of both Allied and Axis powers fought not only against each other but also against diseases.
One of these diseases is typhus which became an epidemic during those bloody years. This disease caused fever, chills and, in some cases, excessive sweating as the body attempted to regulate its temperature.
The Political Atmosphere of France After Surrender
After six weeks of vicious and successful blitzkrieg, from May 10 to June 25, 1940, France finally surrendered to Nazi Germany.
The country, represented by French Field Marshal Philippe Petain, signed the surrender before Adolf Hitler inside the same train car where the Germans signed the armistice during the first world war.
After the armistice, France was divided into two regions. The first was a German-controlled France, and the other was a government that would be “free” and independent, called Vichy France.
Immediately after the armistice, or, as many have called it, France’s surrender, the French statesman Pierre Laval quickly rose into the position and headed the new Vichy regime.
On July 10, 1940, the National Assembly confirmed the Vichy government and thus the start of more than four years of ambivalence and juxtaposition with the Nazi war machine.
By December of 1940, Laval was replaced by Admiral Jean Darlan and then by Petain himself.
Unlike Laval, who favored a more “collaborative” relationship with Hitler, Petain and Darlan wanted a “wait and see” policy, which kept the country from becoming a tool of Germany.
From Vichy France to Liberation
The name “Vichy France” came from the city, which became the capital of this new government.
After the surrender of French forces battling the Germans, Vichy France started its existence under the shadow of the Nazi regime.
Though the country didn’t actively participate in the war as part of the Axis powers, the collaborative country followed the policies imposed by Germany, including anti-Semitic laws.
Military-wise, Vichy France technically still had an army that could defend and “consolidate” its colonies. In fact, in June 1941, the French “army of the Levant” clashed with British forces in its attempt to conquer Lebanon and Syria.
Also, in 1942, during Operation Torch, when Allied forces started the invasion of North Africa, Vichy France forces were part of the German defense.
However, French forces were more than willing to lay down their arms and join the Allies than wage a stiff resistance. From 1942 to 1944, Vichy France didn’t exert any effort to wage war against the Allies.
France’s liberation seemed imminent when the Normandy invasion happened in June 1944. Revitalized by the presence of Charles de Gaulle, the French military slowly worked with the Allies to liberate French cities, towns, and villages, one by one.
Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944. By the next day, de Gaulle entered the city triumphantly. After four years of occupation, the French government was reestablished. De Gaulle worked with the French resistance to consolidate the rest of the country.
Field Marshal Petain and Laval were arrested and sentenced at the end of the war. Petain’s sentence was changed to life imprisonment, while Laval was executed.
Looking back at the history of Vichy France, one can see a country hardpressed to keep its ideals, identity, and prestige while reluctantly bowing its head to its German superiors.
Vichy France is a part of French history and part of the legacy of a nation that supported the idea that the people have power over the country’s course, not kings or queens.
World War II is one of the most devastating events in human history. It’s a testament to humanity’s capability to be the vilest of all villains and also the pinnacle of heroism, selfless love of country, and protectors of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
References
Explore WWII History https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/explore-wwii-history
Source: Vichy France https://www.britannica.com/event/Vichy-France
Pierre Laval https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-Laval
Source: Was Vichy France a Puppet Government or a Willing Nazi Collaborator?
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"Vichy France: The Nation Under Incognito" History on the Net© 2000-2024, Salem Media.
May 3, 2024 <https://www.historyonthenet.com/vichy-france-the-nation-under-incognito>
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