July 10, 1940: Vichy government established

On this day in 1940, the pro-Axis Vichy government, known officially as L’état français (the French State), was established.

In June 1940, French Premier Philippe Pétain negotiated a truce with the Germans, who had occupied Paris. The National Assembly of the Third Republic dissolved itself on July 10 and gave Pétain authoritarian powers.

Pétain, a hero in WWI, controlled the south of France, choosing the small town of Vichy as his headquarters. He rescinded many liberal doctrines and effectively ran the Nazi line, which included the capture and deportation of Jews.

After the Allies took over North Africa in November 1942, the Germans enacted Operation Anton, occupying the Vichy state and relegating its government to puppet status. The French scuttled their fleet in Toulon rather than let it fall into Axis hands.

After the war, Pétain was sentenced to death for treason, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison by Charles de Gaulle, head of the Provisional French Government.

The Vichy regime’s motto was Travail, Famille, Patrie (Work, Family, Country) as opposed to the traditional Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood).

Vichyssoise, a soup of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock, is named after the town, although it predates WWII and was invented at the Ritz-Carlton in New York City.

For more on Pétain, visit The World at War.

Image: Philippe Pétain’s personal flag. image by Tom Lemmons