Figure 1.--.

France was occupied by NAZI Germany for over 4 years (1940-44). The French people were shocked by the collapse of the French Army (June 1940). After the Armistice, most of the French people thought the War was lost and the only alternative was to make an accomodation with the Germans. Most French people supported Maréchal Pétain and the Vichy Government which attempted to do just this. The Germand had no difficulty in the first years of the occupation. French Vichy authorities and the police ( Gendarmeries ) cooperated with the German occupation authorities. Unlike the German policies in the East, the Germans in France made efforts to behave correctly. The Armistace signed with the French was the only armistace the NAZIs signed with any occupied country. The terms were harsh, but not draconian. German soldiers for the most part behaved correctly. There were no rapes or widespread looting carried out against ordinary French civilians. Hitler personally ordered the occupation authorities to behave correctly. During that period there were of course many liasons between the German soldiers. These liasons were never looked on favorably by the French, but at first they were not as negatively viewed as they were in the later years of the occupation. It is not difficult to understan what happened. After the Armistace, the French Army surrendered and over 2million French soldiers were transported to the Reich as POWs. Later French workers, mostly men, were conscripted to do war work in the Reich. Many French women had to find jobs to support themselves and their families. Left alone many French women were impverished and lonely. At the same time German occupation soldiers with spending money were themselves lonely and seeking affection. These men were heathly and vigorous. The result was not brutal behavior on the part of the Germans. There was prostitution, but in most cases there were loving relationships. These relationships did not result in marriage. German military regulations prohibited this. There were, however, marriages after the War, although ant-German sentiment in France and depressed economic conditions in Gemany complicated this. There were about 0.2 million children born during the War with German fathers. Most were born in France, but a smaller number were born in Germany or Austria where French women did forced labor. Himmler was interested in adopting many of these children through the Lebensborn program. This presumbably would have been instititionalized had the the War gone differently. A French source suggests that today about 1 million French citizens have German ancestry, including these children and their descendents. A French reader writes, "I must be say, the French attitude was not honorable concerning these children. Some of the mothers went to Germany and there the children were normally well accepted. Most of the mothers stayed in France. Here the mothers and their children were looed down on. They were called " enfants de boche ". We French should be ashamed of this. France very often give advices to the wold, but we do not alwats set a good example."

German Invasion (May-June 1940)

France was occupied by NAZI Germany for over 4 years (1940-44). The French people were shocked by the collapse of the French Army (June 1940). The Germans proceeded to conquer virtually all of Western Europe. The NAZI victory in the West and the collapse of the vaunted Fench Army left Hitler the dominant force in Europe. The Germans proceeded to conquer virtually all of Western Europe. The 19 weeks beginning on May 10 and ending September 15 was perhaps the most critical period in the 20th century. As one historian explains, "Theworld changed forever during the 19 weeks in the spring and summer of 1940." [Moss] The fall of France meant that the bullwark against the Germans--the French Army was out of the War. The loss of the French Army placed Western civilization itself in jeopardy. The full horror of the NAZIs plans for Europe were nit yet fully known--except by the Poles. While the BEF was able to escape at Duukirk, it was not until September 15 with a devestating defeat of an attacking Luftwaffe force over England did it seem possible that Britain would be able to survive the NAZI onslaught. France was occupied by NAZI Germany for over 4 years (1940-44). The French people were shocked by the collapse of the French Army (June 1940).

Vichy

After the Armistice, most of the French people thought the War was lost and the only alternative was to make an accomodation with the Germans. Most French people supported Maréchal Pétain and the Vichy Government which attempted to do just this. The Germand had no difficulty in the first years of the occupation. French Vichy authorities and the police ( Gendarmeries ) cooperated with the German occupation authorities. the collaborationist policies adopted by Vichy authorities affected the attitude of the French people during the first years of the occupation. Most French people openly cooperated with the Germans. The Germans were rather surprised with the extent of cooperation by Vichy, especially cooperation with NAZI actions against Jews.

German Conduct

Unlike the German policies in the East, the Germans in France made efforts to behave correctly. The Armistace signed with the French was the only armistace the NAZIs signed with any occupied country. The terms were harsh, but not draconian. German soldiers for the most part behaved correctly. There were no rapes or widespread looting carried out against ordinary French civilians. Hitler personally ordered the occupation authorities to behave correctly.

French Men

After the Armistace, the French Army surrendered and over 2 million French soldiers were transported to the Reich as POWs. Later French workers, mostly men, were conscripted to do war work in the Reich.

Fraternization

The German soldiers felt themselves well off in France. here. Until June 1944, there was little fishingting in sharp contrast to what was happening on the Eastern Front. In France the climate was pleasant. Many German units were strationed close to beaches. The food was was good and of course the French women were beautiful and with so many French men in Germany, avaialable.During that period there were of course many liasons between the German soldiers. These liasons were never looked on favorably by the French, but at first they were not as negatively viewed as they were in the later years of the occupation. It is not difficult to understand what happened. Many French women had to find jobs to support themselves and their families. Left alone many French women were impverished and lonely. At the same time German occupation soldiers with spending money were themselves lonely and seeking affection. These men were heathly and vigorous. The result was not brutal behavior on the part of the Germans. There was prostitution, but in most cases there were loving relationships. These relationships did not result in marriage. German military regulations prohibited this. So many French girls lived a love story with the German soldiers, but they couldn't marry. Many were expecting the end of the war to do it . There were marriages after the War, although ant-German sentiment in France and depressed economic conditions in Gemany complicated this.

German Regulations

German occupation authorities did not permit fraternization between German soldiers and French civilians. The rules for the German were to be correct with the French, liasons with women much less marriage were were forbiden. The Wehrmacht was very disciplined. In addition, soldiers who violated regulations often foujnd themselves pposted to the Eastern Front.

Children

There were about 0.2 million children born during the War with German fathers. Most were born in France, but a smaller number were born in Germany or Austria where French women did forced labor. Himmler was interested in adopting many of these children through the Lebensborn program. This presumbably would have been instititionalized had the the War gone differently. A French source suggests that today about 1 million French citizens have German ancestry, including these children and their descendents. A French reader writes, "I must be say, the French attitude was not honorable concerning these children. Some of the mothers went to Germany and there the children were normally well accepted. Most of the mothers stayed in France. Here the mothers and their children were looed down on. They were called " enfants de boche ". We French should be ashamed of this. France very often give advices to the wold, but we do not alwats set a good example."

Sources

Moss, Norman. Nineteen Weeks: America, Britain and the Fateful Summerof 1940 (Houghton Mifflin, 2003), 400p.

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Created: 11:21 PM 6/29/2004
Last updated: 11:21 PM 6/29/2004