Vichy France (1940-1944) “Maréchal, nous voilà !“ (1941)

Vichy France is the common name of the French State (État français), following its relocation to the town of Vichy, headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain from 1940 to 1944 during World War II. During this period, Paris remained the de jure capital of France. From 1940 to 1942, while the Vichy regime was the nominal government of France as a whole, Germany militarily occupied northern France. Following the Allied landings in French North Africa in November 1942, southern France was also militarily occupied by Germany and Italy. The Vichy government remained in existence, but was very aware that it had to please Germany. It vanished in late 1944 when the Allies occupied all of France.