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Vichy France facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Vichy France was a government set up in southern France during World War II. This happened in 1940, after Germany had taken over much of France.

The government was led by Philippe Pétain. He was a famous general who helped France win World War I. Vichy France was like a "puppet state" of Germany. This means it was officially in charge, but Germany really controlled it.

The Vichy government controlled the southern part of France. The German army directly controlled the northern part. In 1944, as the war was ending, the Vichy government moved to Nazi Germany. It was later officially ended.

Images for kids

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 121-0404, Frankreich, Französische Kriegsgefangene

    French prisoners of war are marched off under German guard, 1940

  • Laval-shot0038

    Pierre Laval and Philippe Pétain in Frank Capra documentary film Divide and Conquer (1943)

  • Pierre Laval and Carl Oberg in Paris

    Pierre Laval with the head of German police units in France, SS-Gruppenführer Carl Oberg

  • Moneta FRANCIA 1943

    1943 1 Franc coin. Front: "French State". Back: "Work Family Homeland".

  • Mers el Kebir Memorial at Toulon, France

    Memorial to the 1,297 French seamen who died during the British bombardment of their ships at Mers El Kebir.

  • Japanese troops entering Saigon in 1941

    Japanese troops entering Saigon in 1941.

  • Degaulle-freefrench

    Henri Giraud and de Gaulle during the Casablanca Conference in January 1943.

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S69238, Frankreich, Internierungslager Pithiviers

    French Police registering new inmates at the Pithiviers camp.

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1975-041-07, Paris, Propaganda gegen Juden

    Poster above the entrance of an anti-semitic exposition called "The Jew and France".

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0619-506, Paris, Jüdische Frauen mit Stern

    Two Jewish women in occupied Paris wearing Yellow badges before the mass arrests

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-141-1258-15, Russland-Mitte, Soldaten der französischen Legion, Fahne

    Légion des Volontaires fighting with the Axis on the Russian front.

  • French coins zinc & aluminum World War II 1940s

    Vichy French zinc and aluminum coins made during the war. These coins circulated in both the German–occupied zone and unoccupied zone.

  • France map Lambert-93 with regions and departments-occupation evolution

    Progressive end of the Vichy regime

  • Milice poster

    A recruitment poster for the Milice. The text says "Against Communism / French Militia / Secretary-General Joseph Darnand".

  • Sigmaringen schloss

    The Sigmaringen operation was based in the city's ancient castle.

  • Photo-le-molay-littry-4-1944

    Liberation of France, 1944.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Francia de Vichy para niños

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Vichy France Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.