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Vichy France

Vichy France. (or how to run an occupied country in war-time). Battle of France. After taking Poland, Hitler set his sights on France France would provide plenty of lebensraum , or living space, for the German people. Hitler saw the United States as an example (similar to manifest destiny).

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Vichy France

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  1. Vichy France (or how to run an occupied country in war-time)

  2. Battle of France • After taking Poland, Hitler set his sights on France • France would provide plenty of lebensraum, or living space, for the German people. • Hitler saw the United States as an example (similar to manifest destiny)

  3. Maginot Line The Maginot Line was a defensive for France against an invasion of Germany. The Maginot Line was established after World War I. The line showed to be little use in 1940 when Germany invaded France for the third time.

  4. “Blitzkrieg: German soldiers being parachuted into Holland - May 10, 1940”

  5. World War II in 1939/1942

  6. Fall of France

  7. Hitler’s Major Blunder • The Germans invaded France in May 1940. • Retreating Allied forces made it to Dunkirk and found themselves trapped between the advancing Nazis and the English Channel. • British sent every boat they could get across the English Channel to pick up troops off the beaches of Dunkirk.

  8. Miracle at Dunkirk • The event at Dunkirk is called a miracle because the retreating allies had lost hope and then the British pulled through for them and rescued 338,000 men.

  9. June 22, 1940 • On June 22, 1940 France signs an armistice with Germany in occupied France. • An armistice is a cease fire or a truce. • The Franco-German Armistice divided France into two zones. One zone was under German military occupation and the other was under French control. • In 1942 Germans occupied all of France

  10. June 22, 1940

  11. Vichy France • Puppet state – a state that governs itself in day-to-day matters but is in reality under the control of a much larger state. • Vichy maintained full sovereignty only in unoccupied south. • Wermacht-occupied zone in the north

  12. Vichy France • Why would Germany occupy the north and not the south?

  13. Vichy France • Occupation would be temporary until war’s end (which seemed likely at the time) • Public supported pro-Nazi government early on to maintain some sovereignty. • Premier Marshal Petain worked out deal with Nazi’s to not divide France between Axis powers.

  14. Vichy France • Vichy worked closely with German government • Cooperated with many German racial policies, including the rounding up of undesirables. • Germany commanded most French forces in the country to prevent Allied invasion from North Africa • Government was structured in an authoritarian form, most blamed democracy on France’s fall

  15. Vichy France Propaganda picture of Marshal Petain meeting with Hitler.

  16. Vichy relationship with Allies • US gave full diplomatic recognition to Vichy. • US disliked Charles De Gaulle (commander fo French troops, exiled to UK) • USSR maintained diplomatic relations with Vichy • UK maintained recognition of Vichy until it became clear they would not fight the Germans.

  17. The Free French • Created by De Gaulle to combat Vichy and Germany • Sparked fear of civil war in France • Overseas colonies went under control of Free French Forces

  18. Liberation • Invasion of Normandy led to liberation of Paris on 8/25/1945 • Collaborators with Germany were ridiculed, prosecuted and and/or executed after war • War crimes were tried for decades after

  19. Quiz • What were 3 ways that Hitler rose to power in Germany? • How did Hitler circumvent the Treaty of Versaille’s restrictions on Germany? • Why did Hitler wish to invade the states surrounding Germany? • What was the immediate cause of World War II? • Describe the German concept of the “blitzkrieg”. • What was the miracle at Dunkirk? Why was this event important? • What was the significance of June 22, 1940? • Why did Germany leave the north of France occupied? • What was the relationship between the Vichy government and the United States like? Why would the United States want to recognize the Vichy government in 1940? • What did liberation mean for those who had worked with the Nazi occupiers?

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