... it had been in 1914, availed little in preventing a stunning defeat which hastily removed France from the ranks of the great powers." The fall of France, saw her overseas empire becoming ever more significant. Some members of the French empire believed that they could relocate to North Africa and carry on the war from there. However when Georges Mandel, issued a proclamation of government with himself as premier. He was quickly detained and arrested. This showed what a poor position France was now in. " The episode a minor one in the war but one symbolic of the new dependence that a shattered France had assumed toward it´s colonial empire." The Vichy government was formed after the signing of the armistice with the Germans on June 22nd. The Vichy government embarked on a collaboration policy with the Germans. The empire of France gave them some leverage over ...

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