The History of Vichy France
Vichy France is the formal name of the French government during World War II. Vichy France, or the Vichy regime, was established in the town of Vichy to carry out the policies of the Nazi German government and its occupying army from 1940-1944. The government enforced all Nazi laws, including the deportation of Jews to death camps.
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Background
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France declared war on Germany following Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939. Eight months of non-action, known as the "phony war," followed until May 1940, when the German military defeated the French Army and occupied the country. Debate raged over whether to move the French government to North Africa or to remain in France. Ultimately, France surrendered its government to Germany.
French Split
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French society since the 1789 revolution was often split over accepting a Republican form of government or one with more fascist overtones. French attitudes on fascism and democracy can be traced to the monarchists' "White Terror" counter-revolution and the Bourbon Restoration pro-monarch movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The 1894 case of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French military officer falsely convicted of treason, also exacerbated anti-Semitism. By 1940, many French people were ambivalent about the occupation.
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New Government
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In July 1940, Vichy France replaced the Republic. The new government was identified as the French State. Henri-Philippe Pétain was installed as president. France was divided into the northern zone, which was occupied by the German military, and the unoccupied southern free zone.
Free French
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French General Charles de Gaulle opposed Vichy France and established the Free French Forces in London and in Algiers. He encouraged the French Resistance, a loosely knit underground movement in which French civilians carried out acts of sabotage against German occupiers. When the Vichy fell in 1944, de Gaulle established the Provisional Government of the French Republic.
Collaboration
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Vichy France ostensibly was independent of Germany, but in reality, it was a puppet regime. It collaborated with the German military throughout the occupation. Vichy France was instrumental in ensuring that all French Jews surrendered to the Germans. It ensured French citizens did not fight against Germany, and it disbanded the French army. Vichy France also paid the expenses of the occupation.
The Milice
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Vichy France created the Milice secret police. The Milice was under the authority of Germany SS officers. By 1944, the Milice had more than 35,000 members who investigated, captured and tortured members of the French Resistance and their collaborators. The Milice also rounded up Jews for deportation.
Liberation
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The Allies liberated France in August 1944. Vichy members fled to Germany to establish a government-in-exile. Ultimately, most Vichy officials were captured as war criminals. Many were convicted and executed. Henri-Philippe Pétain was sentenced to life in prison.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit A memorial for victims of Vichy France, Pere Lachaise/picasaweb; todoslosrostros.blogspot.com;
