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The Vichy regime. The author is unknown.

Top 10 Facts about The Vichy Regime 1940-1944

The Vichy regime was the French government that reigned under Philippe Petain after the defeat of France. Vichy France came to be after the surrender of France to German in June 1940. The regime succeeded the Third Republic from July 1940 to August 1944 after the German military surrendered and the general commander was apprehended.

The Vichy Regime began on the 10^th of June 1940, when the National Assembly gave full power to the proclaimed Marshal Philippe Petain. The parliament committed a democratic suicide by turning the regime into a non-democratic government that collaborated with the Germans.

Petain majorly as a World War 1 hero and the winner of Verdun. Vichy administration actively collaborated with the Nazis and mostly administered southern France which was unoccupied while the German administration administered the occupied territory.

Below are the top 10 facts about the Vichy Regime 1940 鈥� 1944

1. It Began after the Fall of France’s Military

Photo courtesy of

The Vichy regime began after the fall of France’s military into the hands of the Germans. France forged war on German after they invaded Poland on 3^rd September 1939. The war continued for months until when the Germans invaded the west and the French soldiers were overwhelmed. Shortly, the military collapsed and the current government had to deliberate on the way forward following the defeat.

The debate to move the government to safer grounds in North Africa continued for some duration of time. After major deliberations and several forced relocations, the cabinet agreed to seek an armistice with Germany.

2. Philippe Petain replaced Prime Minister Paul Reynaud

P茅tain in May 1940. Author is unknown.

Then prime minister, Paul Reynaud was unsatisfied with the proposal to seek armistice terms from Germany, and he resigned. President Albert Lebrun appointed Philippe Petain to replace him as the prime minister. At this time, Petain was eighty-four years old.  He stood firm with the support of the Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs and Maxime Weygand who advised him on several matters.

Under his authority, the French administration enacted and enforced antisemitic laws. He acted ruthlessly on the Jewish with his collaborationist German government and send a few French citizens and Jewish refugees into Nazi death camps. 

3. The National Assembly Voted Full Powers to Philippe Petain

Philippe P茅tain. Photo courtesy of

Raphael Alibert and Laval started convincing the French representatives, Assemblymen, and Senators to vote for full power to Petain. This was in a meeting held in Vichy which was at the center of France where the government and parliament had gathered on the 1^st of July 1940.

On the 10^th of July 1940, the National Assembly voted full powers to Philippe Petain with the parliament composed of the senate and National Assembly. Five hundred and sixty-nine votes were cast in support of the motion against eighty which later became to be known as Vichy 80. However, after the war, several historians disagreed with the legality of the contest claiming it was non-respectful and to some extent unconstitutional.

4. Petain Officialised and Declared the Collaboration between French and German states

P茅tain meeting Hitler. Photo by Bundesarchiv.

The collaboration between France and German states was majorly propagated and organized by Laval. This collaboration took place on the 24^th of October 1940, in a meeting between Petain and Hitler who represented both states. They both shook hands agreeing to this cooperation. The events and shaking of hands were photographed allowing the Nazi propaganda to gain roots and convince more civilians. The declaration was made official on a radio station with Petain declaring “l enter today on the path of collaboration鈥︹��

5. Pierre Laval was the Main Architect of the Vichy Regime

Pierre Laval played a major role during the Vichy regime Being a German ally. He was responsible for propagating and manipulating the French representatives to vote full power to Petain. He became part of the government after the signing of the armistice.

He also organized the collaboration between the French and German where Hitler and Petain shook hands. After the collaboration between the two states was finally stable, a plot was formed against Laval and he fell from power in December 1940 until two years later when he returned to power.

6. The Vichy Regime Enacted the Anti-Jewish Laws

The Vichy government enacted the Anti-Jewish Laws in 1940 and 1941. The laws affected both metropolitan France and its overseas borders. However, these laws were the decrees of the head of state Petain who together with the help of collaborationists sent Jewish refugees into Nazi death camps.

The laws deprived them of their citizenship and this led to their many problems with deportation and extermination. The laws prevented Jewish from holding any public office and viewing them as low class. Nevertheless, after the liberation and restoration of the republic, the laws were declared null and void.

7. The Resistance Movement fled to the Hills to escape German Forced 鈥揕abour Laws

The Germans had taken control of every part of France for four years. At the beginning of 1944, a group of resistance grew rapidly and fled to the open country and the hills. They were against both the Vichy and the Germans and mostly involved young men who were willing to fight for liberation. They received supplies by aircraft from Great Britain as they awaited the arrival of their allies. The next six months were proceeded by civil wars between the resistance and the German soldiers in collaboration with Vichy militias.

8. The Normandy Invasion led to the French Liberation

Following six months of civil wars between the resistance and the Germans soldiers, finally, the allied invasion of France was launched on the 6^th of June 1944. The Normandy invasion involved the British, U.S., and Canadian forces who landed in five separate beachheads. The invasion was quite successful and by the end of August, Northern France was liberated.

9. Petain鈥檚 French State and its laws were Abolished after Liberation

After the liberation of France in September 1944, following the allied invasion of Normandy, the Vichy regime collapsed. Petain’s French state and its laws were abolished when the provisional government of Charles de Gaulle moved to France.

10. Petain and Laval Fled after Liberation but were Captured and Convicted

Petain during trial. Author is unknown.

After the liberation, the co-architects of France fall, Laval and Petain escaped from France and fled to other nations. Laval escaped to German and later Austria. However, in 1946 he was captured, tried, and executed. Petain escaped to German but he voluntarily returned to France where he was convicted and sentenced to death. However, he was sent to solitary confinement for life by Charles de Gaulle where he died in 1951 in prison.

The Vichy Regime was a historical event that described the fall and rise of the French from the hands of German. Adolf Hitler the leader of the German military invaded and captured France. However, the Normandy invasion resulted in liberation of France.