FRANCE AND THE VICHY REGIME
DEGREES OF COLLABORATION
In looking at some periods of history one can always find some unanswered questions or dichotomized answers. Some of these uncertainties exist due to differing opinions (political or otherwise), distorted facts, denial of the truth, or simple lies. Some historical truths are quite evident, but remain shaded simply due to the fact that they are unacceptable or unpalatable. Such is the case of France under the Vichy regime and German occupation from 1940 to 1944. The most pressing questions of this era in French history are: How big was the role that the Vichy government played in the Nazi plan to rid Europe of all Jews? Were the Vichy leaders forced into such anti-semitic acts or were their hatreds and actions homegrown? Did Marshal Petain have knowledge of the Jewish "problems" in France? These questions haunt French history to the present day. This paper will look at these and other issues relating to Vichy France and endeavor to reach some conclusions.