Most of the French public initially supported the regime, but opinion gradually turned against the French government and the occupying German forces when it became clear that Germany was losing the war, and living conditions in France worsened. ![]() French police were ordered to round up Jews and other "undesirables" such as communists and political refugees, and at least 72,500 Jews were killed as a result. French soldiers were kept hostage to ensure that Vichy would reduce its military forces and pay a heavy tribute in gold, food, and supplies to Germany. Germany kept two million French prisoners-of-war and imposed forced labour ( service du travail obligatoire) on young Frenchmen. In practice, however, Vichy France became a collaborationist regime. ![]() Despite heavy pressure, the French government at Vichy never joined the Axis powers and even remained formally at war with Germany. The terms of the armistice presented certain advantages, such as keeping the French Navy and French colonial empire under French control and avoiding full occupation of the country by Germany, which maintained a degree of French independence and neutrality. The media were tightly controlled and promoted antisemitism and, after Operation Barbarossa started in June 1941, anti-Sovietism. Conservative Catholics became prominent, and Paris lost its avant-garde status in European art and culture. Shortly thereafter, Pétain signed the Armistice of 22 June 1940.Īt Vichy, Pétain established an authoritarian government that reversed many liberal policies and began tight supervision of the economy. Paul Reynaud resigned as prime minister rather than sign an armistice, and was replaced by Marshal Philippe Pétain, a hero of World War I. The French government began to discuss the possibility of an armistice. By mid-June, the military situation of the French was dire, and it was apparent that it would lose the battle for Metropolitan France. The German Army rapidly broke through the Allied lines by bypassing the highly fortified Maginot Line and invading through Belgium, Luxembourg, and as an extension, the Ardennes. The Third French Republic had begun the war in September 1939 on the side of the Allies. Though Paris was ostensibly its capital, the Vichy government established itself in the resort town of Vichy in the unoccupied "Free Zone" ( zone libre), where it remained responsible for the civil administration of France as well as its colonies. The Occupation of France by Nazi Germany at first affected only the northern and western portions of the country, before the Germans occupied the remainder of Metropolitan France in November 1942. Officially independent, but with half of its territory occupied under the harsh terms of the armistice with Nazi Germany, it adopted a policy of collaboration. fcpxml file (info.Vichy France ( French: Régime de Vichy 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ( État français), was the French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |