[<<The>> Vichy-government]

The file contains a programme of a lecture hold on thursday, May 29th, 1941. The speakers where Mr. Hedges and Mr. Anderson. Mr. Hedges was speaking about the Vichy-government and Mr. Anderson about the economic imperalism, in reference to the German economic expansion. The Vichy regime (French Régime de Vichy) refers to the government of the État français ("French state") after the military defeat against the German Reich recognized by the ceasefire on 22 June 1940. With the constitutional law of 10 July 1940, the Vichy regime replaced the Third French Republic. It existed until 1944 and was named after its seat of government. The Vichy government asserted that the french nation was comform with its politics and its collaboration with Hitler. As Hedges argues, this was hard to belive, as the announcements constantly changed and it seemed that even the Vichy-government was not quite sure what it was doing. Several examples are given to underline the problematic situation of former generals of the french army serving in the new government. Furthermore the economic aspects have been important for Hitler to fight this war and to conquer france. As Anderson argues before the takeover of the Nazis the capitalists had to finance the party but later the war seemed very tempting for them and they used their chances wherever Hitler extendet his Reich.