The government of Philippe Pétain signed the armistice with Germany on 22 June 1940, put an end to the Third Republic on by a vote conveying full powers to Pétain and followed up with three on 11 July. Meanwhile, on 11 July General de Gaulle created the Empire Defense Council, which was recognized by the British Government as the legitimate successor of the Third Republic, which had allied itself with Great Britain in the war against the Nazis.