Vichy, France after defeat in World War II

Vichy France, officially known as the French State  was the government of France from July 1940 to September 1944 during World War II. It was headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain and named after the city of Vichy, which served as its seat of government.

 

After the defeat of France by Nazi Germany, the Franco-German Armistice of June 22, 1940 divided France into two zones: one under German military occupation and one left to the French in full sovereignty, at least nominally. The unoccupied zone comprised the southeastern two-fifths of the country, from the Swiss frontier near Geneva to a point 19 km east of Tours and thence southwest to the Spanish frontier, 48 km from the Bay of Biscay.

 

The Vichy regime adopted a policy of collaboration with Nazi Germany and implemented policies that were aligned with those of the Nazis, including anti-Semitic laws and the deportation of Jews to concentration camps. The regime was eventually overthrown by the Allied forces in September 1944.

 

The public reaction to the policies of the Vichy regime varied. Some people supported the regime and its policies, while others were opposed to it. There was a cult of personality around Marshal Philippe Pétain, the leader of the Vichy government, and many people saw him as a hero who could save France. However, as the war progressed and the true nature of the Vichy regime’s collaboration with Nazi Germany became more apparent, public opinion began to shift. Many people became disillusioned with the regime and its policies, and opposition to it grew.

 

There has been much debate over the years about the extent to which the Vichy regime was a willing collaborator with Nazi Germany or a puppet government. Some historians argue that the Vichy government actively collaborated with the Nazis and implemented their policies, while others believe that the regime was forced into collaboration by the circumstances of the war. Regardless of this debate, it is clear that many people in France were opposed to the Vichy regime and its policies, and that opposition to it grew over time.

 

After World War II, many officials of the Vichy regime were put on trial for their actions during the war. Some were convicted and sentenced to prison, while others were acquitted or received lesser sentences. Marshal Philippe Pétain, the leader of the Vichy government, was convicted of treason and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life in prison due to his advanced age. Pierre Laval, who served as Prime Minister of the Vichy government, was also convicted of treason and executed in 1952. Many other officials of the Vichy regime were also tried and punished for their actions during the war.