Vichy France

Vichy France refers to the government that ruled the unoccupied southern part of France during World War II, from 1940 to 1944, after France's defeat by Germany. Named after the town of Vichy, where it was based, this regime was led by Marshal Philippe Pétain. It collaborated with Nazi Germany, implementing policies that included anti-Semitic laws and repression of dissent. While some viewed this government as a means of preserving French sovereignty, it was widely seen as a puppet state. Vichy France ended with the Allied liberation of France in 1944, and its legacy remains controversial.