We explain what France was free during World War II. In addition, the leadership of Charles de Gaulle.
What was free France?
Free France was The French government in exile led by General Charles de Gaulle after the Nazi invasion of France In June 1940. It was established in the British city of London and promoted the continuation of the war against Germany and the resistance against Nazi occupation and collaborationism.
Unlike the free France of the General of Gaulle, the Marshal Government Philippe Pétain signed the armistice with Germany on June 22, 1940 and founded the France of Vichy as a client state of the third German Reich. Vichy's France was south of a demarcation line that separated it from the German occupation zone.
The British government recognized De Gaulle as leader of Free France. De Gaulle supported the French resistance fighting within France and collaborated with the military actions of the allies.
When the allies entered Paris in August 1944, Vichy's France collapsed and Gaulle headed the provisional government of France. Two years later the fourth French Republic was born.
Frequent questions
What were France Libre and France of Vichy?
Free France was the Government in the exile established by General Charles de Gaulle when the Nazis occupied France in June 1940. Vichy's France was the collaborative regime established by Marshal Philippe Pétain in the center and south of France as a client state of Nazi Germany, separated by a line of demarcation of the France occupied by the France occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French forces occupied by the French.
Who directed free France?
Free France was directed from exile by General Charles de Gaulle, who on June 18, 1940 delivered a speech on British BBC radio in which he called the French to resist against the German occupation.
What role did free France have in World War II?
Free France had an important role in the coordination of groups that integrated French resistance in the interior of France. He also participated with military forces in some operations of the allies, initially in colonial territories of Asia and Africa, and then also in Italy and in the release of France.
How was the release of France?
The liberation of France began with the Normandy Allied landing on June 6, 1944, in which some free France troops participated. He concluded on August 25, 1944 with the entrance of the allies in Paris. Charles de Gaulle settled in Paris and was recognized as president of the provisional government of the French Republic.
See also: Vichy France
The historical context
When World War II (1939-1945) began, France and the United Kingdom headed the side of the allies against Nazi Germany. However, the successful German invasion of France that began in May 1940 and ended with the occupation of Paris in June 1940 caused two different reactions among French leaders.
On the one hand, Marshal Philippe Pétain signed on June 22 the armistice with Germany and accepted the division of France in two zones: the German occupation zone and the free zone in which Pétain founded Vichy's collaboration regime.
On the other hand, General Charles de Gaulle fled to London And, on June 18, he delivered a radio speech in which called to the French to resist against the German occupation. Since then, he headed the movement of free France that was considered a French government in the exile administered since September 1941 by the French National Committee.
See also: Chronology of World War II
The history of free France
Around Charles de Gaulle the movement of free France formed That, little by little, he gained adherents inside and outside France. Some French colonies of Africa and Asia soon joined the de Gaulle movement.
On the other hand, the support inside France of figures such as Jean Moulin, an outstanding militant of the French resistance who in July 1943 was killed by the Germans, was decisive for the acceptance of his leadership.
The establishment in 1943 of the National Council of Resistance and Unification in 1944 of the various guerrilla forces in French interior forces (FFI) They gave a unity to the French resistance that strengthened De Gaulle France.
Free France Military Forceswhich had intervened in some military operations in colonial territories and in Italy, They participated in the Normandy landing initiated on June 6, 1944.
A few days before the provisional government of the French Republic had been proclaimed as a claim of sovereignty over the entire French territory. In this way, Vichy's regime's authority was unknown and ensured that France was not under a government of allied military occupation.
While Gaulle was initially seen with distrust of Americans, After the release of Paris in August 1944 He was finally accepted by the allies as the France representative who had resisted against the Nazis. De Gaulle installed his government in Paris and was recognized as the leader of the provisional government of France In September 1944.
After the surrender of Germany in May 1945, by Gaulle He got the allies to recognize France as the winning power and an occupation zone in Germany and a place as a permanent member of the UN Security Council (United Nations Organization).
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References
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2023). Free French. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Pickles, DM (2023). Charles de Gaulle. Britannica Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/
- Stone, N. (2013). Brief history of World War II. Ariel.
- Sumner, I. & Vauvillier, F. (2011). The Free France Army. Osprey Publishing.
