During WWII, what was life like in the French Free Zone? Was it life as usual for some? Was there some German occupation?
I have no personal experience but I have read a good many books describing this.
In general, nothing much changed at first, but as the Germans took over the administration, either directly or by proxy, things really did change. I think that for many French civilians, the big change was when their nice Jewish doctor or schoolteacher was rounded up and shipped off
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It was only a free zone for roughly two years, and it was administered by Pétain’s Franco-lite “État Français”. So although German troops weren’t everywhere, there was heavy political repression (show trials of Third Republic politicians, particularly those of the 1936-8 Popular Front government, to blame them for the defeat), economic dislocation as trade was interrupted and the Germans took stuff, anti-Jewish measures, and pressure to send young men off to work in Germany in order to “buy back” French POWs.
Thanks to both of you. Helpful information.
And of course it changed quite a bit for those who were the Jewish doctor or schoolteacher (or in one of the multiple other groups who were taken off to camps.)
My great-parents were there.
My grand father was working as an accountant. There was two different periods:
between 1940 and november 42, the zone was free of German occupation, but with an increasingly dictatorial state (persecution and arrestation of Jews, hunt for Gaullist and resistants, hold of papers,…) There was shortage of food, and imported products (sugar, coffee, gas,…). Many men were still prisoners of war and a great part of the production was destined to Germany (essentially as reparations)
You had to have an Ausweiss and a good reason to go to the north (family visits, work). People were essentially trying to survive and weren’t particularly interested in politics. Very few were in the Milice ( Police/armed forces of Vichy) and mostly by anticommunism and antisemitism.
After the occupation of the Free Zone, things became worst… firstly by occupation directly by German (and Italian in Savoy and Nice) army. There was a increase in resistance actions, since the country was occupied by a foreign power, and therefore an increase in repression: arrestations, enforced controls (block an entire street and control ID of everyone for example), and a dramatic increase in the hunt of Jews.
The war was also present, since factories and railway were targets. Bombing of cities was almost on a daily basis and not very accurate. The shortage was also more prevalent, for everything, incuding coal, paper and electricity… Vichy state was at this point totally vassal of the Reich, so many enlisted to follow, and many more resisted. That was not a majority, about 10% of the population.
Hope that helped.
I have more familial anecdots if you’re interested.
I’d be very interested, thank you!
Some trivia I read while doing the tourist thing in the Loire valley. The Chateau de Chenonceau is a very scenic chateau built atop an old bridge, Apparently one end was in “Free” France and the other end in occupied France, so was a convenient way to smuggle goods and people back and forth.
That was very interesting, thanks. Tell more, please.
My grand father had access to canned food " deteriorated" or “fell of truck” by working for a major grocery. He used them as gifts for the neighbours, not selling them on black market.
And he was not forced to move away after the Libération…
Many others had participated in black market, making small fortunes, but earning a revenge from their exploited customers.