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Anonymous
Vichy France
2016-06-09 17:35:34 Post No. 1263178
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Vichy France
Anonymous
2016-06-09 17:35:34
Post No. 1263178
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What can you tell me about Vichy France, /his/?
From the little I know, some Vichy supporters went great lengths to support Germany, particularly opportunistic bootlickers like Robert Brasillach who published the names of Jews and members of La Résis. Brasillach shared Charles Maurras's contempt for republicanism. Fascists opposed Pétain on grounds of failing to sufficiently collaborate with Germany. Those French national parties who sought to achieve the type of National revolution seen in Italy/Spain/Germany considered Vichy too tame, leading to the country's leaders fearing nationalist radicals would try to seize power from Pétain on account of his poor health.
Other conservatives saw the fall of the Third Republic as an opportunity to start fresh, stamp out corruption and rejuvenate society under Pétain, whose personality cult was well entrenched as a well known and beloved figure since WWI. Some were patriotic German-hating WWI vets who thought Pétain was doing his best to preserve France, angered by both de Gaulle's and the Brits' perceived desertion. Among them were even a few who thought about getting back into the fight.
A common debate is whether Pétain was a traitor, a senile figurehead puppet for Laval or merely a well-intentioned veteran working with a dire set of circumstances. The discussion is quite controversial, as Éric Zemmour caused a furor by upholding the pro-Pétain thesis. Zemmour also pointed out that Vichy actually saved Jewish lives. His statement is based on the deal Vichy France made with Germany that it would assist the deportation of immigrant Jews, in exchange for which French Jews be granted immunity. While Vichy aided in the Holocaust, France had the lowest Jewish death rate of any occupied country aside form Denmark.
So, tell me, /his/. What do you think of Vichy France?