Vichy France : Established after France's 1940 surrender to Germany, situated in central French city of Vichy. Major territories were lost by France after her defeat, namely Alsace-Lorraine (with its ethnic German population and coal mines) ceded to Germany, northern/western France portion under direct German military governance, Savoy and Nice region ceded to Italy (Italy was part of Axis pact in WW2). Remaining portions of France and her overseas colonies under Vichy France control (ex. French North Africa, Indochina). Vichy France - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vichy_France

Some say this regime was mere political anomaly, others proclaim France was honoring its surrender treaty with Germany to protect French territory, still others accused its blatant collaboration with Nazi Germany in facilitating European Holocaust. In any event, Allies feared Vichy French forces in North Africa would view them as invaders rather than liberators since they were duty bound to defend sovereign French territory. The Holocaust - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust

Sociological note, discussions about Vichy France in modern French history is as sensitive a topic as discussing Nazism in Germany, or dejure sanction of slavery in American Constitution (via so-called Connecticut or 3/5th Compromise), or People Liberation Army of China deliberate avoidance of major battles during war against Imperial Japan (Chairman Mao and his Chinese Communist Party hide in northern Yenan mountains for almost 10 years until war's end).

Inset 1: Philippe Pétain : head of Vichy France, was a major military and political figure in prewar and wartime France. In WW1, he successfully defended Fortress Verdun in 1915 from German offensive. Contrary to popular misconception, he was not appointed by occupying Germans, rather invited by French Prime Minister Paul Reynard on 16 June 1940 to form a new government on eve of France's surrender to Germany (France surrendered on 22 June 1940). Being a devout Catholic, he along with many other French compatriots of that era viewed France's defeat as divine punishment for decades of social destitution, moral malaise, and parliamentary corruption. Hence, its supporters viewed Vichy France as a symbol of divine blessing to re-invigorate and re-institutionalize Judeo-Christian doctrines into French society. Philippe Pétain - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Pétain

Related history and model on France 1940 surrender : RAF Spitfire fighter, Dunkirk Evacuation May 1940 - UweMilitaria.org/3-Aerial/DunkirkRhubarb/14.html

Rollover : Vichy France propaganda poster extolling virtues as societal pillars, while condemning European Jewry as perpetrators of moral degradation. From a theological fundamentalist angle, the Vatican and Catholics of that period in general, were indoctrinated with suspicion that European Jews in-part created threats to modern Christendom (such as emergence of Soviet Bolshevism) by their refusal to acknowledge Jesus as the second coming of Christ on earth. This course of reasoning was in-part alluded to by famed socio-political theorist Hanna Arendt in her 1975 compilation research "The Origins of Totalitarianism". Hannah Arendt - www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/arendt.html

This Franco-German irony is further complicated by numerous French volunteers who served in German Waffen-SS formations on Eastern Front (atheist Soviets were viewed as main threats to western European civilization). Depending on one's source, about 11,000 to 100,000 Frenchmen served in German armed forces (different figures probably resulted from those who served in Waffen-SS divisions versus Vichy France army or other French right-wing paramilitary organizations)

Even during final days of Berlin street battles in April 1945, two French SS volunteers were awarded coveted German Knights Cross for bravery in combat, namely Henri Joseph Fenet and Eugene Valout (some assert a SS Frenchmen surnamed Apolot was also awarded, but I have yet to find collaborating documentation). 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne_Division

Valout was awarded on 29 April 1945 as Waffen-Unterscharfuhrer (NCO) in Berlin U-Bahn (subway) station, killed in combat on 2 May 1945. Fenet was also awarded on 29 April 1945 as Waffen-Hauptsturmfuhrer (assault battalion commander), upon Germany WW2 capitulation he escaped back to France, whereupon being completely unrepentant of his Waffen-SS allegiance (the French can be a passionate people when it comes to principle), Fenet condemned to 20 years forced labor by his compatriots and finally released in 1959 (Fenet died in 2002). German Iron Cross & Knights Cross - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight’s_Cross

Nonetheless, these SS Frenchmen were luckier than some who were summarily executed by Allies upon capture. One famous incident befell upon about 10 SS-Charlemagne French volunteers captured by Allied Free French Forces in 1945. When Free French General Philippe Leclerc snickered why they were wearing German uniforms, these SS Frenchmen snapped against Leclerc and demanded why he was wearing an American uniform (Allied French forces used American uniforms and weapons in WW2), whereupon the outraged Leclerc ordered their immediate execution. A systematic purge of so-called French Collaborators also occurred in France after 1944 liberation, with some asserting about 10,000 French citizens were summarily executed by their compatriots for various reasons, be it political affiliation, war profiteering, or clan retributions. Charlemagne SS Division : 8. Freiwillgen Sturmbrigade der SS FRANKREICH - axis101.bizland.com/Charlemagne1.htm