Vichy Regime: The Vichy Regime, as it was popularly called, was an emergency government appointed as defeat loomed, which worked to protect what little sovereignty France still had by willingly collaborating with the Nazis. It was famous for using its spies to infiltrate and ultimately turn over resistance workers and fighters to the Nazi authority.
The Vichy government ruled out of the "free" south of France. This area was referred to as Free because it was not occupied by the Germans. Though the Vichy government did, to an extent, capture and prevent spies from entering the south, it worked with the Germans to turn over thousands of Jews, resistance fighters and former politicians, many of whom were executed or sent off to forced labor camps. Because of this Collaboration, Vichy party members were often the targets of assassination by allied spies and Free French alike.
The Vichy government at first held control over a substantial number of French soldiers in Africa. However, by 1943, most of these soldiers had either deserted or been defeated by the Allies.
The Vichy Government was headed by Philippe Pétain, a hero from the First World War, who was given the title "Head of State" and had nearly absolute control of the government. Though at first welcomed as the savior of France, his harsh ultra-conservative polices and collaboration with the Nazis soon turned most of France against him. He also instituted a series of laws favoring Catholics as well as laws that stripped Jews of their citizenship thereby allowing the Nazis to arrest them.
Petain was eventually forcibly exiled to Germany as the Allies invaded France. After the war he was tried and found Guilty of treason. Though at first sentenced to execution, De Gaulle intervened and the "Head of the State" lived his few remaining years in prison.
The French Provisional Government, also known as the Free French Government, was composed of advisors and former military aids headed by General Charles de Gaulle who acted as prime minister. As a government in exile stationed in England, the French Provisional Government’s main interest was the expulsion of the Nazis from France. The Free French were the largest and most organized of the Resistance movements. They delivered radio broadcasts with uncorrupted news of the war via the BBC to France as well as providing weapons, information, orders, and men to the resistance. They worked with plants in France to smuggle Jews and enemies of the Vichy and Nazi government out of France as well as orchestratrating assassinations of prominent members of the German army and the Vichy Regime.
Another main goal of the Free French Forces was to keep control of colonies in North Africa. Free French African soldiers and foreign legion members fought those loyal to the Vichy Regime or the Nazis. By 1943 the Free French had bought a large amount of Armor and weapons via the lend-lease act and were able to commit to a stronger offensive. On top of this, many French soldiers in the Vichy forces deserted or surrendered to join the Free French cause. By late 1943 the main opponent of the French in North Africa were the Nazis.
The main mastermind behind the Free French Forces was De Gaulle. A strong opponent of appeasement for years before the war, and one of only a handful of commanders to have led the French on any successful counter attacks against the Nazi invasion, De Gaulle was greatly admired. He was on the war cabinet as the Nazis advanced across France and was the most vocal opponent of surrender. However, when he and his fellows were voted down, they fled with bags of golden franks given to them by the former French prime minister, and sailed across to England. There De Gaulle organized attacks against the Germans with the allies despite his great mistrust of the British. De Gaulle is also famous for preventing the execution of the Vichy Regime's "Head of State" Philippe Patain, whom he instead sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Legitimacy of these two governments was debated constantly. However, by late 1942, the Free French Forces had the moral and mental backing of the majority of France, despite being in exile.
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