Vichy regime

The Vichy regime was a government in France during World War II, from 1940 to 1944. After Nazi Germany invaded France, the French leaders chose to collaborate with the Germans and established a government based in the town of Vichy. Led by Marshal Philippe Pétain, it operated as a puppet state, enforcing anti-Semitic laws and suppressing resistance. While it claimed to uphold some French interests, it largely supported Germany’s goals. The regime ended as the Allies liberated France, and the Vichy government was widely condemned for its collaboration and actions during the occupation.