Vichy France

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the ascendency of the Vichy regime. It looks at the main players in the regime, its changing leadership, the fall of France to Germany, and Vichy's attempt at collaboration with Germany, which contributed to the fall of France. Also examined are the resistance movements against Vichy and the Germans, the role that de Gaulle played in the resistance movements, and how members of the movements were able to assist the Allied invasion of Normandy. The paper concludes with a brief biographical sketch of Marshal Philippe Petain.

From the Paper:

"In April 1942, Laval returned to power and contrived to convince the Germans that they could get more active collaboration from him. Germany was now engaged in a massive war with the Soviet Union, and with the United States, and needed greater security in western Europe. Six months later, in October 1942, however, the whole basis of Vichy's position was transformed. In October, U.S. and British forces landed in North Africa. The main units of the French fleet were scuttled by their crews at Toulon, and on November 11th 1942, Germany occupied the whole of France and disbanded the "armistice army" of Vichy."

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