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Vichy France
VichyFrance
Vichy
Country
Continent: Europe
Capital: Vichy (de facto)
Paris (de jure)
Sigmaringen (capital-in-exile)
National Language: French
Government: Client state of Germany (1940–42)
Puppet government of Germany (1942–44)
Government-in-exile (1944–45)
Status in OTL: Inactive

Vichy France, or the Vichy regime, was the de facto French government established in 1940 to 1944 during the Nazi occupation of the country during World War II.

Vichy France was established after France surrendered to Germany on 22 June 1940, and took its name from the government's administrative center in Vichy, in central France, which replaced Paris the capital. While officially neutral in the war, Vichy actively collaborated with the Nazis, including, to some degree, with their racial policies.

Vichy France in Days of Infamy[]

As Vichy France was under the thumb of Nazi Germany, it gave Germany's ally Japan the right to base their troops in French Indochina, knowing that even if they denied the Japanese access, Japan would have gone in, anyway.[1]

Vichy France in "The Last Article"[]

By 1947, the Germans were backing the Vichy French in Africa against the Free French, as the United States realised it needed to prevent German domination of the continent, and began to back the Free French colonies that still resisted German rule.

According to news reports, the armies of the Vichy French were making advances against the Free French armies.

Vichy France in Worldwar[]

Vichy France had been born in the aftermath of France's defeat in the Battle of France in 1940. When the Race landed in June 1942, they not only overwhelmed the Vichy Empire, but invaded Vichy France after they defeated the Spanish. Although reluctant to fight, forces of Vichy were forced to after pressure from not only the Germans but the French themselves.

In 1944, the Peace of Cairo recognised all of France as German territory. Southern France was handed back to the Germans, who disbanded Vichy and occupied the whole country.

References[]

  1. Days of Infamy, pg. 19, HC.
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