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Project Description
This project will demonstrate the links between the Nazi German state and Vichy. The domestic policies implemented -- and in fact agreed to -- by the French in Nazi-occupied France illustrate a furthering of German national priorities. Additionally, the project will also briefly touch open a few key moments in international relations with the Vichy state as well. -
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Project Description II
This timeline is meant to illustrate how quickly a democratic regime such as France fell to the Nazis and became co-opted to serve their nationalistic agenda. As such, the buildup from 1940-1942 is the main focus here, with the end of the Vichy regime also being covered. The years 1943-1944 -- when the regime is in "full swing" -- is less compelling as it has already been solidified at that point. Thus, the timeline ends with the devastation of the Vel d'Hiv raids. -
The Oath to Adolf Hitler
This speech, given by Rudolf Hess, outlines Nazi ideology and their vision for a new world order. The speech's emphasis on loyalty and subservience to the state foreshadows the treatment and operation of Nazi puppet regimes such as Vichy. -
Armistice signed between the Nazis and France
On June 25, 1940, after a brief period of fighting between the Nazis and the French forces, France signs an armistice with Germany. The French grossly underestimated the Nazis and were shocked by how quickly France fell. Historian Robert O. Paxton notes, "For Frenchmen, confident of a special role in the world, the six weeks' defeat by German armies was a shattering trauma" (Paxton, 3). -
Anglo-French relations start to weaken
Anglo-French relations begin to deteriorate as Britian becomes weary of a Nazi-controlled France. British ships raid and attack the French fleet in Algeria, fearing that the Germans would co-opt their fleet. Paxton states that, "Over 1,200 French sailors died in that painful act of Realpolitik" (Paxton, 43) -
France suspends 1875 Constitution
In a stunning turn of events, France's National Assembly votes 624 to 4 to suspend and revise the 1875 constitution. This radical step towards becoming a collaborationist state was shocking since as Paxton argues, "Although the armistice of 25 June had made a diplomatic revolution, nothing obliged France to make a constitutional one" (Paxton, 30). -
Germany starts to take over Alsace-Lorraine
The long-disputed border region, Alsace-Lorraine, is taken over by the Nazis, going beyond the terms spelled out in the Armistice agreement. This move further illustrates the Nazi's desire to expand their "empire" and further their nationalistic aims. This policy went into full force on November 18, 1940, when "Gauleiter Burckel of Lorraine expelled some 100,000 Lorrainers who wanted to keep French citizenship" (Paxton, 55). -
French Industry in the Occupied Zone directed towards the Nazi regime
After a debate over whether French industry should accept German war contracts, French government officials accede to their demands. Paxton notes that, "French industrialists were accepting anyway" even though French policy prior to this was to decline German war contracts. Perhaps in an effort to please their occupiers and decrease tensions, France formalized this working arrangement that would only heat up and build to a climax in 1942. -
Gaullist movement attempts to stop the Nazis from intervening in France's Empire
After the Nazi takeover of France, a faction emerged to bring the Empire into the war to fight Hitler. Although a month later, Vichy France would intervene herself and reassert dominance in the region, this event is exemplary of the domestic/internationalist tensions brought about by the Vichy crisis. As Paxton notes, several officers visited the capitals of French Equatorial Africa and "tipped most of the area into the Gaullist camp by a bloodless coup" (69). -
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Montoire Meetings
French collaboration policy with the Nazis get formalized during the Montoire meetings between Laval, Hitler, and Pétain. In a speech given on 31 October, Pétain said "I enter into the way of collaboration", adding that "In the near future, the weight of the suffering of our country could be lightened...occupation costs reduced...and the administration and supply of our territory easier" (Paxton, 77). -
The Government Coup of December 13
Pétain organizes a coup in which he asks all government cabinet officials to draft letters of resignation and Pierre Laval is placed under house arrest. While this "cleaning house" event is vigorously debated by historians, the record appears to show that Laval's successors pushed even harder for more collaboration with the Nazis. Thus, it is implied that some people believed Laval was not doing enough to aid Nazi interests (Paxton, 92-3). -
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Darlan's Rise and Fall
Darlan's desires to control Vichy foreign policy and create a collaborationist state gain traction then fail in April 1942. The reason for this failure was due to "...his failure to improve the conditions of French life by loosening the armistice constraints. He had failed to win any concessions from Hitler, despite the most dramatic offers of the whole Vichy period" (Paxton, 131). -
France and Germany seemingly break off relations
Following the removal of Pierre Laval from the Vichy government on December 13, 1940, Admiral Francois Darlan assumes command. However, due to various tensions between Darlan and Nazi officials over his willingness to concede to key Nazi objectives, this regime quickly deteriorates. Paxton states that, "Even upon acquiescing in the new Darlan regime, Abetz pointed out that France had 'forfeited' all possibility of good relations with Germany by the exclusion of Laval" (Paxton, 109). -
Darlan assumes the offices of foreign minister, Vice-President of the Council, and minister of information
Despite Darlan's "cold shoulder" treatment by Nazi officials, he quickly rises through the ranks of the Vichy government. Paxton states that, "Compared to Laval's two ministries in late 1940 and four in 1942-44, it was the greatest accumulation of offices during the Vichy regime" (Paxton, 109) -
Darlan's government is officially recognized by the Germans
Darlan pursues a policy of keeping the British out of the war by intervening in areas where the British were planning attacks. This thaws relations between Germany and Vichy somewhat, and the government is recognized as "more than merely temporary" (Paxton, 114). -
Hitler decides to meet with Darlan
Hitler finally recognizes Darlan as a "legitimate" leader of Vichy France. Darlan's approach to foreign policy, aligned with the German aims to exploit the colonial crisis make this resolution possible. Paxton states, "It was neither Darlan's economic proposals nor his anti-British ardor but German desert visions that thawed the cold shoulder finally in late April 1941" (Paxton, 116). -
German gain rights to use military bases in France's Empire
These military concessions to the Nazis allowed France to escape the constraints imposed in 1940. In a deal to lower occupation costs, Darlan enabled the Nazis to exploit their military bases in order to support their goals. Paxton notes, "What unfolded in the next few months was nothing less than Darlan's Grand Design: a peace treaty..." (Paxton, 118). This momentous event marks a turning point in Nazi-Vichy relations since France is now explicitly willing to be associated with the Nazis -
Darlan's "note verbale"
Darlan begins to realize that his Protocols of Paris policies were failing to keep the war effort afloat in France's Empire. Furthermore, he states that the armistice agreement of 1940 is no longer adequate for the current moment. Therefore, "...Darlan proposed nothing less than releasing France from the restraints of the armistice and restoring normal relations with Germany" (Paxton, 122). -
Darlan's note verbale gets rebuffed
Darlan's request for outright collaboration with the Nazis gets rebuffed because according to them, as Paxton notes, "...the French government's record was insufficient for the demands made...Germany did not envisage 'turning the Armistice into collaboration" (Paxton, 123). -
Pierre Laval returns to power in Vichy, replacing Darlan
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The "Peak" of the Vichy Regime
The buildup to the full-fledged Vichy regime that is outlined begins to reach its peak with Laval's return to power. A heavier police state as well as more explicit German collaborationist policies lead to a stronger Vichy state. It is during this period where Vichy domestic policy includes the July 1942 Vel d'hiv roundup of French Jews, as well as various episodes in foreign affairs to aid the Nazis -
Nazis demand more labor recruitment from France
Paxton notes that, "On April 25, 1942, Rudolph Schleier, Abetz' deputy in the German embassy in Paris, warned Laval informally that the voluntary recruitment of labor for Germany in France had been insufficient and that far more was going to be expected" (Paxton, 311). -
Order No. 4
"Fritz Sauckel's Order No. 4 of 7 May 1942 authorized the use of force to obtain labor in all occupied countries" (Paxton, 311). Laval implemented a system where a French POW would get released for every three volunteers sent to Germany. This did not meet German needs, however, and in September 1942, the Nazis authorized the conscription of workers "in individual cases" (311). Conscription for entire age groups would later be implemented in February 1943 (311). -
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Vel d'Hiv Roundup
French Police aid Nazi officials in rounding up French Jews in what is now known as the infamous Vel d'Hiv Roundup. This event arguably marks the height of Vichy collaboration as the regime is now aiding the Nazis in their "Final Solution". That is to say, this can be seen as the point of no return for Vichy, as everything that occured from 1940-1942 built up to this moment.