France, Vichy state, German occupation, 2 Francs – 1941

Description

On June 22, 1940, Petain signs the Armistice with Nazi Germany, and on July 10 the third republic is dissolved by obtaining absolute powers of the National Assembly. In Vichy, Pétain set up an authoritarian and collaborative regime with the axis, although with the advantage of maintain of the areas incorporated into the Reich or Italy). Although it was nominally managed all of France, in reality its effective control zone was small, and became non -existent from the end of 1942, when Germany and Italy, occupy the entire territory in response to the torch operation (the allying landing in the North of Africa). This collaboration became evident in antijudaism, and anti -communism that were imposed. He also had to pay important taxes to Germany. The traditional republican motto (freedom, equality and fraternity) is changed to work, family and homeland, very in line with fascist principles. Initially the regime was seen with good eyes for the French opinion, but as time passed, Germany lost ground and living conditions became harder, losing support and growing the ranks of resistance. The legitimacy of the regime was always discussed by free France that considered them traitors. In fact, part of the colonies joined free France (really those closest to other British colonies, and Vichy”s France retained North Africa (until allied occupation), and Indochina, in which it allowed Japanese bases , and had to return some territories to Thailand. After the invasion of Normandia, France Libre hurried to establish the provisional government of the French Republic, to prevent allies from establishing an occupation government. This government determined the illegality of Vichy”s France and annulled all its decrees. Vichy”s hard core was taken by the axis to Germany, trying to create an illusion of French collaborationist government. The minting are those of a war economy with abundance of emissions in aluminum and zinc.