Figure 1.--This is a French arms factory captured by the Germans (June 1940). The terms of the Franco-German armistice gave the Germans access to huge stocjs of military equipment and supplies. The French had to agree to secure abd not destroy it. This equipment would play a role in upcoming Germnan military adventures, especially the Sioviet Union. Some of it wa used by the Wehrmacht and much of the rest was used by Germany's Axis allies. French arms plants, hoiwever, were not integrated into the German war economy lkike that of Czechoslovakia. Image curtesy of the Military History of the 20th century.

The Franco-German Armistice was composed of 24 articles. The text reads as though the Germans believed that they had won the War and the British would soon sign a similar armistice. The terms of the June 1940 armistace between Germany and France divided France into an occupied and unoccupied zone, with a rigid demarcation or boundary line between the two. The unoccupied zone became known as Vichy because the temporary capital was established there. This left the Germans in control of three-fifths of the country, an area that included northern and western France and the vital Atlantic ports. The French had to agree to hand over any Germas the NAZIs wanted--the "surrender on demand clause". This was an obligation to arrest and turn over any Germans the occupation authorities demanded. In reality this went much beyond Germans because both Vichy ad the NAZIs saw Communists, Socialists, Jews, and other as dangerous sunservises. Former Primier Reynaud was among those detained. France was forced to disband its Army, except for a minimal, lightly armed force of 100,000 men for maintaining domestic order. (This was the same size force that Gerrmany had been allowed under the Versailles Peace Treaty.) The 1.5 million French Prisioners of War (POWs) were to remain in German prisoner of war camps, essentially hostage for Vichy's good behavior. The French government agreed to stop military units from leaving France to fight with the British. France had to agree to pay the costs the Germans incurred in occupying the country. Vichy was allowed to keep the French colonies, although they are only mentioned in passing. The French fleet was dealt with in detail. France ws allowed ton keep its fleet, although the fleet had to tie up in its bases. The French fleet was a powerful military force which in German hands would have significntly changed the naval balance in the Atlantic.

ARTICLE I

The French Government directs a cessation of fighting against the German Reich in France as well as in French possessions, colonies, protectorate territories, mandates as well as on the seas. It [the French Government] directs the immediate laying down of arms of French units already encircled by German troops.

ARTICLE II

To safeguard the interests of the German Reich, French State territory north and west of the line drawn on the attached map will be occupied by German troops. As far as the parts to be occupied still are not in control of German troops, this occupation will be carried out immediately after the conclusion of this treaty.

ARTICLE III

"In the occupied parts of France the German Reich exercises all rights of an occupying power The French Government obligates itself to support with every means the regulations resulting from the exercise of these rights and to carry them out with the aid of French administration. All French authorities and officials of the occupied territory, therefore, are to be promptly informed by the French Government to comply with the regulations of the German military commanders and to cooperate with them in a correct manner. It is the intention of the German Government to limit the occupation of the west coast after ending hostilities with England to the extent absolutely necessary. The French Government is permitted to select the seat of its government in unoccupied territory, or, if it wishes, to move to Paris. In this case, the German Government guarantees the French Government and its central authorities every necessary alleviation so that they will be in a position to conduct the administration of unoccupied territory from Paris."

The unoccupied zone becomes known as Vichy as the capital is established there. This left the Germans in control three-fifths of the country, an area that included northern and western France and the vital Atlantic ports. French colonies are mentioned in the Armistice, but the French are not required to turn them over to the Germans. The French are required to cease any military operations against Germany from the colonies and to turn over control of airforce air fields to the Germans and Italians. [Article XII]

ARTICLE IV

"French armed forces on land, on the sea, and in the air are to be demobilized and disarmed in a period still to be set. Excepted are only those units which are necessary for maintenance of domestic order. Germany and Italy will fix their strength. The French armed forces in the territory to be occupied by Germany are to be hastily withdrawn into territory not to be occupied and be discharged. These troops, before marching out, shall lay down their weapons and equipment at the places where they are stationed at the time this treaty becomes effective. They are responsible for orderly delivery to German troops."

France was forced to disband its Army, except for a minimal. lightly armed force of 100,000 men for maintaining domestic order. This was the same size force that Gerrmany had been allowed under the Versailles Peace Treaty.

ARTICLE V

As a guarantee for the observance of the armistice, the surrender, undamaged, of all those guns, tanks, tank defense weapons, war planes, anti-aircraft artillery, infantry weapons, means of conveyance, and munitions can be demanded from the units of the French armed forces which are standing in battle against Germany and which at the time this agreement goes into force are in territory not to be occupied by Germany. The German armistice commission will decide the extent of delivery.

France had a well-armed ilitary with very large quantities of arms and military equipment. As with Czechoslovakia, French equipment would prove a substantial assett to the Germans in their upcoming military campaign, especially the invasion of the Soiviet Union.

ARTICLE VI

Weapons, munitions, and war apparatus of every kind remaining in the unoccupied portion of France are to be stored and/or secured under German and/or Italian control--so far as not released for the arming allowed to French units. The German High Command reserves the right to direct all those measures which are necessary to exclude unauthorized use of this material. Building of new war apparatus in unoccupied territory is to be stopped immediately.

This article means that military equipment not yet delivered to the French mikitary had to maintained in good condition until the Germans decided what to do with it. Unmentioned is the future of France's substantial arms industries. The Germans in Czechoslovakia simply seized heavy industry and arms plants abd integrated them into the German war economy. This was not done in France. The reason for that was probably because the Germans were more interested in stopping French porioduction of arms than expanding them. This reflects both the German belief tht they had won the War and future pland for defeated France. The Germans would use French plants making trucks ad iother mukti-purpose equipment, but they would not use French plants to build high-tech arms like tanks and oplanes.

ARTICLE VII

In occupied territory, all the land and coastal fortifications, with weapons, munitions, and apparatus and plants of every kind are to be surrendered undamaged. Plans of these fortifications, as well as plans of those already conquered by German troops, are to be handed over. Exact plans regarding prepared blastings, land mines, obstructions, time fuses, barriers for fighting, etc., shall be given to the German High Command. These hindrances are to be removed by French forces upon German demand.

ARTICLE VIII

"The French war fleet is to collect in ports to be designated more particularly, and under German and/or Italian control to demobilize and lay up—with the exception of those units released to the French Government for protection of French interests in its colonial empire. The peacetime stations of ships should control the designation of ports. The German Government solemnly declares to the French Government that it does not intend to use the French War Fleet which is in harbors under German control for its purposes in war, with the exception of units necessary for the purposes of guarding the coast and sweeping mines. It further solemnly and expressly declares that it does not intend to bring up any demands respecting the French War Fleet at the conclusion of a peace. All warships outside France are to be recalled to France with the exception of that portion of the French War Fleet which shall be designated to represent French interests in the colonial empire."

The provisions regarding the French fleet were among the most important in the Armistice agreement. Although the fleet had to tie up in its bases. The French fleet was a powerful military force which in German hands would have significntly changed the naval balance in the Atlantic. Churchill understood this which is why he ordered the Royal Navy to decommission the French fleet leading to the action at Mers El Kebir, Oran (July 3).

ARTICLE IX

The French High Command must give the German High Command the exact location of all mines which France has set out, as well as information on the other harbor and coastal obstructions and defense facilities. Insofar as the German High Command may require, French forces must clear away the mines.

ARTICLE X

"The French Government is obligated to forbid any portion of its remaining armed forces to undertake hostilities against Germany in any manner. French Government also will prevent members of its armed forces from leaving the country and prevent armaments of any sort, including ships, planes, etc., being taken to England or any other place abroad. The French Government will forbid French citizens to fight against Germany in the service of States with which the German Reich is still at war. French citizens who violate this provision are to be treated by German troops as insurgents."

The French government agreed to stop military units from leaving France to fight with the British. Classifying French citizens who violate this provision meant that Free French soldiers fighting the Germans were not treated as POWs if captured. Insurgents could be shot.

ARTICLE XI

French commercial vessels of all sorts, including coastal and harbor vessels which are now in French hands, may not leave port until further notice. Resumption of commercial voyages will require approval of the German and Italian Governments. French commercial vessels will be recalled by the French Government or, if return is impossible, the French Government will instruct them to enter neutral harbors. All confiscated German commercial vessels are, on demand, to be returned [to Germany] undamaged.

ARTICLE XII

Flight by any airplane over French territory shall be prohibited. Every plane making a flight without German approval will be regarded as an enemy by the German Air Force and treated accordingly. In unoccupied territory, air fields and ground facilities of the air force shall be under German and Italian control. Demand may be made that such air fields be rendered unusable. The French Government is required to take charge of all foreign airplanes in the unoccupied region to prevent flights. They are to be turned over to the German armed forces.

ARTICLE XIII

The French Government obligates itself to turn over to German troops in the occupied region all facilities and properties of the French armed forces in undamaged condition. It [the French Government] also will see to it that harbors, industrial facilities, and docks are preserved in their present condition and damaged in no way. The same stipulations apply to transportation routes and equipment, especially railways, roads, and canals, and to the whole communications network and equipment, waterways and coastal transportation services. Additionally, the French Government is required on demand of the German High Command to perform all necessary restoration labor on these facilities. The French Government will see to it that in the occupied region necessary technical personnel and rolling stock of the railways and other transportation equipment, to a degree normal in peacetime, be retained in service.

ARTICLE XIV

There is an immediate prohibition of transmission for all wireless stations on French soil. Resumption of wireless connections from the unoccupied portion of France requires a special regulation.

ARTICLE XV

The French Government obligates itself to convey transit freight between the German Reich and Italy through unoccupied territory to the extent demanded by the German Government.

ARTICLE XVI

The French Government, in agreement with the responsible German officials, will carry out the return of population into occupied territory.

ARTICLE XVII

The French Government obligates itself to prevent every transference of economic valuables and provisions from the territory to be occupied by German troops into unoccupied territory or abroad. These valuables and provisions in occupied territory are to be disposed of only in agreement with the German Government. In that connection, the German Government will consider the necessities of life of the population in unoccupied territory.

ARTICLE XVIII

"The French-Government will bear the costs of maintenance of German occupation troops on French soil."

France had to agree to pay the costs that the Germans incurred in occupying the country. As the Germans set the exchange rate at an unreaslitic level, thus thge French paid much more than the actual cost of the occupation.

ARTICLE XIX

"All German war and civil prisoners in French custody, including those under arrest and convicted who were seized and sentenced because of acts in favor of the German Reich, shall be surrendered immediately to German troops. The French Government is obliged to surrender upon demand all Germans named by the German Government in France as well as in French possessions, colonies, protectorate territories, and mandates. The French Government binds itself to prevent removal of German war and civil prisoners from France into French possessions or into foreign countries. Regarding prisoners already taken outside of France, as well as sick and wounded German prisoners who cannot be transported, exact lists with the places of residence are to be produced. The German High Command assumes care of sick and wounded German war prisoners."

My understanding was that the French had to agree to hand over anyone the Germans wanted--the "surrender on demand clause". But the text in the Armistice refers specifically to Germans. This was an obligation to arrest and turn over any Germans requested by the German occupation authorities. This in actuality referred to more than just Germans. As a result of their various aggressions, the Reich by 1940 included Austria, the Sudetenland, and areas of western Poland. They also controlled the Czech Lands (Bohemia and Moravia), although they were not incorporated into the Reich. Varian Fry, a young American magazine editor, went to France to work as a representative of the Emergency Rescue Committee, a group that offered aid to political refugees who were in danger of deported to Germany. With in many cases the active support of the French Vichy government, the Germans were then in the process of creating what Fry described as 'the most gigantic man-trap in history'. [Fry] The Germans in their occupation zone arrested Communisdts, Socialists, and others whobhad bveen vocal critics. And then got around to Jews. did make arrests Communists, Socialists, as well as others who had been outspokingly critical of the NAZIs. Former Primier Reynaud and other Third Republic officals like Leon Blum were amomg those detained and deported to the Reuch, but much of this occurred in Paris and other areas of the occupied areas. We do not at this time know how many individuals the Germans demanded from Vichy under the 'surrender on demand' clause nor who they were. One source says Vichy denined a few of these requests. [Rosenberg]

ARTICLE XX

"French troops in German prison camps will remain prisoners of war until conclusion of a peace."

Large numbers of French soldiers were taken prisoner during the German western offensive and the resulting fall of France (May-June 1940). The Germans after the French surrender (June 1940), interned the French Army in POW camps in the Reich. Conditions at German POW camps varied widely. Conditions for Poles and Soviet POWs were death camps and survival rates were very low. Conditions for the Western Allies were very different. Conditions were spartan, but survivable. The French were the largest group of POWs and from the Western Allies and confined the longest period. The Germans kept the French POWs throughout the entire War, despite entrties from Vichy authorities to repatriate them. I'm not sure why the Germans did this. Perhaps it gave them leverage with Vichy. Perhaps they were seen as a valuable source of labor. A najor factot was probably that POWs would have been a likely group to have helped organize the Resistance which by 1943 was beginning to become increasingly troublesome to the Germans. The French POWs were kept in camps in both Germany and Austria. A French reader tells us about a visit from the Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois in 1943. The 1.5 million French Prisioners of War (POWs) were to remain in German prisoner of war camps, essentially hostage for Vichy's good behavior. Vichy woirked to secure their release, but they remained in German POW camps in the Reich until libberated by Anerucan anbd French troops (March-April 1945).

ARTICLE XXI

The French Government assumes responsibility for the security of all objects and valuables whose undamaged surrender or holding in readiness for German disposal is demanded in this agreement or whose removal outside the country is forbidden. The French Government is bound to compensate for all destruction, damage or removal contrary to agreement.

ARTICLE XXII

The Armistice Commission, acting in accordance with the direction of the German High Command, will regulate and supervise the carrying out of the armistice agreement. It is the task of the Armistice Commission further to insure the necessary conformity of this agreement with the Italian-French armistice. The French Government will send a delegation to the seat of the German Armistice Commission to represent the French wishes and to receive regulations from the German Armistice Commission for executing [the agreement].

ARTICLE XXIII

This armistice agreement becomes effective as soon as the French Government also has reached an agreement with the Italian Government regarding cessation of hostilities. Hostilities will be stopped six hours after the moment at which the Italian Government has notified the German Government of conclusion of its agreement. The German Government will notify the French Government of this time by wireless.

ARTICLE XXIV

This agreement is valid until conclusion of a peace treaty. The German Government may terminate this agreement at any time with immediate effect if the French Government fails to fulfill the obligations it assumes under the agreement.

Sources

Fry, Varian. Surrender on Demand: The Dramatic Story of the Underground Organization Set Up by Ameeicans in Frabce to Rescue Cultural and Political Refugees from the Gestapo.

Rosenberg, Justus. E-mail message, May 7. 2012. Dr. Rosenberg was the youngest member of the team led by Varian Fry that rescued some of Europe's artists and writers trying o escape the NAZIs in Vichy France.

Created: 3:16 PM 5/1/2012
Last updated: 8:07 PM 5/7/2012