2006-12-27 00:45:46 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
First of all, the French defeat occurred in may-june 1940 and the armistice was signed in Rethondes on June 22, 1940. Hitler was very clever in his dealing with the French. The situation was simple: if he entirely occupied France, claimed its fleet and colonies, it was obvious that they would join Britain since they were out of German reach at that point. Instead, France was divided in two: the Northern part and Atlantic coast were under German occupation, while a semi-independent state emerged in the South: the Vichy regime led by Marshal Pétain. The free zone was officially independent (it had its own embassy in Washington D.C. for example), and could command the French colonies of Asia and Africa and its powerful fleet based in Toulon. However, Hitler could do pretty much what he wanted with Pétain, and the independence was fictitious. Thus, he could avoid the French Empire to join Britain in its fight against Nazi Germany. The British were unsure whether the French fleet under Vichy command might attack them so they attacked by surprise the port of Oran (Mers-el-Kébir) in Algeria. Many French seamen were killed and a very valuable fleet was sunk. To sum up, the Germans created a puppet state which they could easily put pressure on so as to keep an eye on the French Empire and fleet which would have otherwise joined Britain. It was the best thing they could do since anyway they could not invade Algeria because the English fleet would have destroyed their invasion army.
2006-12-27 03:35:25 · answer #1 · answered by timarnera 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It was in June 1940.
Because the French wouldn't ever accept those conditions. They were allied to the British, remember, and in order to sign a separate peace with Germany, the French had to reassure the Brits that their Fleet and Northern African colonies wouldn't be discussed in the armistice deal with Germany.
2006-12-27 01:13:02 · answer #2 · answered by rtorto 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heyy Erica I had a chum from Mauritius named Ashee who's community language grew to become into French, (and that's all she spoke)?? this is East Africa yet what approximately Djibouti?? wish I Helped
2016-11-23 19:26:34 · answer #3 · answered by hannigan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They wanted to keep on semi-good terms with the French. They had hoped to form a union with France for the benefit of all Europe after their goals had been met. A type of EU, without the royal families involved.
2006-12-27 00:50:00 · answer #4 · answered by Alea S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A blunder. Hitler still thought England might go for a separate peace.
2006-12-27 01:03:49 · answer #5 · answered by Isis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋