Vichy France
Overview
Vichy France, also known as the French State (État français), was the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 during World War II. It was established after France signed an armistice with Germany following the German invasion. The Vichy regime was named after the city of Vichy, where its administrative center was located.
History
Establishment
The establishment of Vichy France was a result of the military defeat of France by Germany in June 1940. After the German invasion, the French government, led by Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, resigned. President Albert Lebrun appointed Marshal Philippe Pétain, a World War I hero, as the new Prime Minister. Pétain sought an armistice with Germany, which was signed on June 22, 1940. The armistice divided France into an occupied zone, controlled directly by Germany, and a free zone, governed by the French State with Vichy as its capital.
Policies and Ideology
The Vichy regime was characterized by authoritarian rule, anti-Semitism, and collaboration with Germany. It adopted the motto "Work, Family, Fatherland" (Travail, Famille, Patrie), replacing the French Republic's "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". The regime implemented policies of "National Revolution", aimed at rejecting the principles of the French Revolution and returning France to its pre-Revolutionary traditions.
The Vichy government enacted anti-Semitic laws, known as the "Statutes on Jews", which restricted the rights of Jews in France. These laws were similar to the Nuremberg Laws in Germany and were enacted without pressure from Germany. The Vichy regime also cooperated with Germany in the deportation of Jews from France to concentration and extermination camps.
End of the Vichy Regime
The Vichy regime ended in August 1944, following the Allied invasion of France. Pétain was arrested and later tried for treason. He was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to his age and World War I service. The Vichy regime was replaced by the Provisional Government of the French Republic, which sought to reestablish democracy in France.
Legacy
The legacy of Vichy France remains a sensitive issue in France. The French State was officially discredited, and its actions were declared unconstitutional by the post-war government. However, the issue of French collaboration with Germany and the role of the French State in the Holocaust continues to be a subject of debate and controversy.