Collaboration During the Nazi Occupation in France: A Deeper Look

During the Nazi occupation of the 1940s, the question of collaboration among the French people is often compared with other occupied European nations. While the Netherlands experienced significant industrial collaboration, with approximately 80% of workers cooperating with Germans and a high toll on Jewish populations where over 80% perished, France managed to retain a higher survival rate for its Jewish population, with about 76% surviving. Understanding the nuances of collaboration within France provides key insights into the complex dynamics of the period.

Types of Collaboration

Collaboration under Nazi occupation in France can be broadly categorized into three types:

State Collaboration

This type of collaboration was led by the Vichy regime, particularly through the use of French police forces in round-ups of Jews. The Vichy regime actively worked to implement Nazi ideology in occupied France, leading to the arrest and deportation of thousands of Jews. The Vichy government’s collaboration with the Nazi regime underscored the deep political and ideological divisions within French society.

Political Collaboration

Collaborationists with a fascist ideology, such as those associated with the Rassemblement national populaire (RNP) or Parti populaire fran?ais (PPF), advocated for political collaboration and even the idea of war on the side of Germany. These political factions, while small in number, played a significant role in shaping the narrative and policies of the Vichy regime.

Economic Collaboration

Economic collaboration involved industrialists and bankers, as well as French employers. Voluntary private collaboration was sanctioned through Vichy decrees. This collaboration closely followed the German model of economic concentration, exemplified by IG Farben's practices. French companies and individuals formed capital associations, joint ventures, and Franco-German cartels. These arrangements aimed to spoliate competitors on the European market and facilitate German looting, with compensation provided through the Central Office for the Distribution of Industrial Products (OCRPI).

Consequences of Collaboration

The aftermath of the occupation was marked by severe repercussions for many French individuals and entities that were deemed complicit in collaboration. Trials and cleansings took place from the liberation of France until the mid-1950s. It is estimated that over 10,000 women were publicly shamed for alleged liaisons with enemies, while legal épurations (cleansings) led to more than 300,000 cases. Among these, 127,000 resulted in judgments, and 97,000 convictions were handed down. Sentences ranged from 5 years of national degradation to the death penalty. In response to this mass purging, the French Republic voted three amnesties in 1947, 1951, and 1953 to gradually reduce the tensions between factions.

Notable Cases

Among the many cases of collaboration, one stands out: Christian de la Mazière, a former Waffen SS member. Unlike many who were convicted and executed by General Leclerc's troops, de la Mazière managed to hide and later became a famous agent for French film stars. This case highlights the patchwork of reintegration and amnesty efforts as the French society attempted to heal its wounds.