Vichy government
The Vichy government, (AUDIO: Scorched Earth) also known as Vichy France, (PROSE: The Turing Test) was a puppet government set up by Nazi Germany during World War II after the defeat of France. Based in the town of Vichy in the south of France, they were, essentially, Nazi collaborationists. (AUDIO: Resistance)
History
France, together with the United Kingdom, declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939 in response to the invasion of Poland. In May 1940, Adolf Hitler directed the German forces against the west in the Blitzkrieg campaign, (PROSE: Timewyrm: Exodus) to which France succumbed after only a month. The victorious Germans occupied Paris. (PROSE: Just War)
Under the direction of the Germans, a new French government was formed in Vichy which operated in the Zone Libre or free zone in the south of France. Its laws were enforced by the secret police force, the Milice, a French version of the Gestapo, (AUDIO: Resistance) and Marshal Pétain was appointed at the head of the administration, (AUDIO: Scorched Earth) although in practice, the Germans held all the power. (PROSE: The Turing Test) It was opposed by the French Resistance (AUDIO: Resistance, Scorched Earth) and the forces under Charles de Gaulle. (PROSE: The Dying Days)
The administration was not only confined to France but, through the French Empire, also ran the French colonies in North Africa, such as French Guinea (PROSE: The Turing Test) and the city of Casablanca. The Nazis increased their presence in Casablanca in December 1941. The Silurians infiltrated the ranks of the French police and government officials with the intent of flooding humanity to extinction, but they were thwarted by the Eleventh Doctor. (COMIC: As Time Goes By)
The Allies considered invading French Africa. By June 1942, Graham Greene was running a network of 50 agents in Sierra Leone, bordering French Guinea, (PROSE: The Turing Test) while the North Africa Campaign was ongoing. (COMIC: The Instruments of War) Later that year, American forces sent to fight the war in Europe landed in North Africa (PROSE: Autumn Mist) and Vichy France's grasp on power began to unravel. By January 1943, the Allies were confident the invasion spelled the end for the Vichy regime. (PROSE: The Turing Test)
Southern France was subsequently occupied by the Germans, although the Milice continued to operate against French Resistance cells. In February 1944, the Second Doctor, Ben Jackson, Polly Wright, Jamie McCrimmon and aided members of the Resistance to evade the Nazis and the Milice during their attempt to cross the Pyrenees into neutral Spain. (AUDIO: Resistance)
On 6 June, the Allies invaded France via Normandy (PROSE: The Taint) and began the battle to liberate France. By July, the Resistance fighter Lucien, who had been directing the Furio against the Germans, also tried to turn his efforts against the collaborators in the Vichy regime. To Lucien, Pétain and his government were a disgrace that had tainted the soul of France. However, he gave up his quest after the Sixth Doctor, Constance Clarke and Flip Ramon convinced him revenge was not the way to go, and he released the Furio. (AUDIO: Scorched Earth) Paris was soon liberated from Nazi control. (COMIC: Trust)
