World War II: Vichy France--Franco-German Amistice Priovisions (June 22, 1940)


Figure 1.--Here OKW Chief Keitel reads the preamble of the armistice to the French delegation. After this Hitler and Göring left. The text of the armistic divcument was presented to the French. There would be no negotiation. The Germans refused any modifications of the provisions. The French had to either sign the document as presented or the Grrmans threatened to continue their offensive.

The terms of the 1940 Franco-German Armistice would be the legal basis under which the Germans would administer occupied France. And as the French would find, once in control, the Germans could do whatever they wanted. The principal contrraint was the desire for stability so so the Germans could efficently exploit France to support the Germann war economy. The terms of the armistice, however, permitted them with a cooperatiuve French Vuchy regime to do most of what they wanted. The terms were dictated by the Germans. The terms were laid out in 24 articles. The terms were harsh, but not as harsh as some had anticipated. The Germans treated France very differently than Poland. There were 24 aricles. The terms of the June 1940 armistace between Germany and France divided France into an occupied and unoccupied zone, with a rigid demarcation or boundary line between the two. The unoccupied zone becoes known as Vichy as the capital is established there. This left the Germans in control three-fifths of the country, an area that included northern and western France and the vital Atlantic ports. The French had to agree to hand over anyone the Germans wanted--the "surrender on demand clause". This was an obligation to arrest and turn over anyone requested by the Germans. Thus the Germans to persue any one they wanted even in the unoccupied or Vichy zone. Initially this included Jews, Communists, Socialists, as well as political officials who had been outspokingly critical of the NAZIs. Former Primier Reynaud was among those detained. France was forced to disband its Army, except for a minimal. lightly armed force of 100,000 men for maintaining domestic order. This was the same size force that Gerrmany had been allowed under the Versailles Peace Treaty. The 1.5 million French Prisioners of War (POWs) were to remain in German prisoner of war camps, essentially hostage for Vichy's good behavior. The French government agreed to stop military units from leaving France to fight with the British. France had to agree to pay the costs the Germans incurred in occupying the country. Vichy was allowed to keep the French colonies and the fleet, although the fleet had to tie up in its bases. The French fleet was a powerful military force which in German hands would have significntly changed the naval balance in the Atlantic.

Actual Document

The terms of the 1940 Franco-German Armistice would be the legal basis under which the Germans would administer occupied France. And as the French would find, once in control, the Germans could do whatever they wanted. The principal contrraint was the desire for stability so so the Germans could efficently exploit France to support the Germann war economy. The terms of the armistice, however, permitted them with a cooperatiuve French Vuchy regime to do most of what they wanted. The terms were dictated by the Germans. The terms were laid out in 24 articles. The terms were harsh, but not as harsh as some had anticipated. The Germans treated France very differently than Poland.

Signing

The Armistice was titled, "ARMISTICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES AND FRENCH PLENIPOTENTIARIES. It was signed a COMPIÈGNE (June 22, 1940). This was the sane place that the World War I Armistice was signed. The Germans found the same railroad car that was used in 1919. The military commnders involved were: the chief of the High Command of the armed forces, Col. Gen. [Wilhelm] Keitel, commissioned by the Fuehrer of the German Reich and Supreme Commander in Chief of the German Armed Forces, and the fully authorized plenipotentiaries of the French Government, General [Charles L. C.] Huntziger, chairman of the delegation; Ambassador [Léon] Noel, Rear Admiral [Maurice R.] LeLuc, Army Corps General [Georges] Parisot an Air Force General [Jean-Marie Joseph] Bergeret.

Individual Articles

The Franco-German Armistice was composed of 24 articles. The terms of the June 1940 armistace between Germany and France divided France into an occupied and unoccupied zone, with a rigid demarcation or boundary line between the two. The unoccupied zone became known as Vichy because the temporary capital was established there. This left the Germans in control of three-fifths of the country, an area that included northern and western France and the vital Atlantic ports. The French had to agree to hand over any Germas the NAZIs wanted--the "surrender on demand clause". This was an obligation to arrest and turn over any Germans the occupation authorities demanded. In reality this went much beyond Germans because both Vichy ad the NAZIs saw Communists, Socialists, Jews, and other as dangerous sunservises. Former Primier Reynaud was among those detained. France was forced to disband its Army, except for a minimal, lightly armed force of 100,000 men for maintaining domestic order. (This was the same size force that Gerrmany had been allowed under the Versailles Peace Treaty.) The 1.5 million French Prisioners of War (POWs) were to remain in German prisoner of war camps, essentially hostage for Vichy's good behavior. The French government agreed to stop military units from leaving France to fight with the British. France had to agree to pay the costs the Germans incurred in occupying the country. Vichy was allowed to keep the French colonies. The French fleet was dealt with in detail. France ws allowed ton keep its fleet, although the fleet had to tie up in its bases. The French fleet was a powerful military force which in German hands would have significntly changed the naval balance in the Atlantic.

Sources

Freidel, Frank. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rendezuous with Destiny (Little Brown: Boston, 1990), 710p.










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Created: 10:28 PM 3/28/2012
Last updated: 1:18 PM 8/18/2018