Servir Vichy après novembre 1942: l’ambiguïté de la Marine (novembre 1942 - été 1944)
Serving Vichy after November 1942: The Ambiguity of the Navy (November 1942 – Summer 1944)

Summary/Abstract: After the defeat of the French Army in June 1940, Marshall Philippe Pétain, head of the new French government – renamed “État français” in place or the Third Republic- expects that all the military forces become the spearhead of its politic of Révolution nationale, progressively sets in order. A new role is granted to officers, now the leading role of national recovery and regeneration. The dissolution of the French armistice forces imposed by the German on the 27th of November 1942 puts temporarily an end to these expectations. Yet, soon, armed forces work on their rebirth in order to serve again the Vichy regime, especially the French Navy. One year long, French admiralty usher in rebuilding its forces, entirely dedicated to the regime and Marshal Pétain, and finally leading to the reopening of the Naval Academy on the 4th of January 1944. This realization comes to a sudden end on the 14th of August 1944, when the entire academy joins the French resistance and take part in the liberation’s operations. Even though its military operations are extremely limited, the former vichysto Navy quickly emphasizes this action, misrepresenting at the same time the reality of this realization.

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