Tag Archives: Vichy

This week in the War, 7–13 October 1940: Five reasons why Hitler did not invade Britain

This week in the war, on 12 October 1940, Hitler postponed his planned invasion of Britain, Operation Sealion, until the spring of 1941. (By then, of course, he would have a new enemy and a different country to invade). Despite … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 30 Sept–6 Oct 1940: The statute of 3 October

On 3 October 1940, the first of the anti-Jewish laws was enacted by the Vichy government, which held authority in the Free Zone—that part of France that was not occupied by the German or Italian military. The statute of 3 … Continue reading

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Vignette: Venus, Victory, and the Chateau de Valencay

A few years ago, my wife and I visited the Château de Valençay some kilometres south of France’s Loire Valley. We followed hordes of French school children bent on learning about their country’s history—or having a fun time, at least—and … Continue reading

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This week in the War, 23–29 September: Failure at Dakar

This week in the war, on 23 September 1940, the Free French leader, Charles de Gaulle, arrived with a Royal Navy task force at Dakar on the coast of the Vichy-controlled colony of French West Africa. He sailed on board … Continue reading

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Vignette: The art of Jean-Pierre Gibrat—The Reprieve

La bande dessinée—loosely translated as ‘comic strip’—is a veritable institution throughout French-speaking Europe. Everyone in France (and many in North America) are familiar with the illustrated tales of Asterix the Gaul. Belgian examples include Tintin, the boy detective, and the cowboy, … Continue reading

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This week in the war, 1–7 July 1940: England’s Last War Against France

England’s last war against France—as recounted in Colin Smith’s book of that very title—was not fought in Napoleonic times. We are not talking Wellington versus Bonaparte at Waterloo. Rather: Winston Churchill versus Marshal Philip Petain, leader of Vichy France. Their war … Continue reading

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