French State

The **French State** (**État français**), also referred to as **Vichy France**, is a country located in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Iberian Union to the south, the Italian Empire to the south-east, the SS State of Burgundy to the north, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain across the channel to the north-west.

The country is a fascist German client state (*Mitstreiter*), whose politics and military are heavily influenced by that of Germany and Burgundy. As a German client state, the French State is a member of the Einheitspakt.

## History

### World War II and formation

After the defeat of the allied armies in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg in 1940 and the British evacuation of their forces from Dunkirk to England, the french front collapsed and the forces of Germany were able to quickly overrun northern France, capturing Paris without a fight. With the french military teetering on the brink of collapse, the French government (having been evacuated from Paris to Vichy) concluded a ceasefire and subsequent armistice with Germany, effectively surrendering the whole country. The French government was allowed to remain in power but its effective jurisdiction was limited to the unoccupied "Free Zone" in southern France, constituting roughly 45% of Metropolitan France's pre-war territory.

In the following months, the French government was extensively reorganized; Marshal Philippe Pétain became "Chief of State" (effectively making him both head of state of and head of government at the same time with both offices being merged into one) and a new constitution was drafted, giving Pétain extraordinary powers. Through this, Pétain effectively abolished the Third French Republic and replaced it with the French State (État Français), or colloquially/commonly known as Vichy France (Régime de Vichy), a unitary authoritarian dictatorship.

### Early years

The Vichy Regime would remain in place from its inception in 1940, during which it attempted to carry out a series of social/societal transformation programs named the "National Revolution" and "National Regeneration." The Vichy Regime enjoyed diplomatic recognition from the majority of the Axis and Allies and was recognized as the official government of the entirety of metropolitan France except for Alsace-Lorraine and Savoy, which were occupied and annexed by Germany and Italy, respectively.

After World War II ended with an Axis victory, there were a series of agreements penned by German, French, and Italian leadership for the post-war geographical restructuring of Vichy France into its own state. Most of which entailed the territorial reintegration of the former wartime, German-held *zone occupée* of France with that of Vichy France proper, thus forging a united French State. By the end of 1949, France was finally unified once more, with its official capital returning to Paris. However, this would come with a cost.

Despite this gesture, the Reich nonetheless imposed rather harsh restrictions on the French military. Restricting the size of their army manpower to only 250,000 in total, an air force that could not exceed a total of 750 aircraft, and imposing harsh restrictions on state-sponsored research and development for armaments of any kind. Moreover, German military forces were granted free movement and reign over all French territory.

The French colonial empire, except Algeria, was partitioned between Germany, Italy, Japan and Iberia. The devastation of World War II and the Treaty coupled with the loss of its entire colonial empire save Algeria bought about an era of economic stagnation and decline in France.

### Post-war years

Although World War II was now over, things would not get much better for Vichy France. Not long after the end of the war, Marshal Philippe Pétain would pass away from old age.

The West Russian War, the Schutzstaffel Rebellion in Germany, and the post-war German economic crash would serve to make Vichy France's situation even worse. The French economy, already struggling from the effects of World War II and the Treaty of Vichy, fell flat. The ensuing economic meltdown left Vichy France more or less dependent on Germany for economic sustenance, a country whose economy was looking rather worse for wear. To top it all off, northeastern France was ripped off from France to form the SS State of Burgundy, essentially a personal fiefdom of Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler.

Vichy France in 1962 is a fallen star. Its economy is in shambles, its government is unpopular, its politics are a chaotic mess, its colonial empire is but a bygone memory, its military is restricted to being borderline non-existent, about a third of its territory has been ripped off to the SS, and even its capital is split in half by the new internal border. Things are not looking good for France.

## Economy

Still laboring from the devastation of World War II and the restrictions placed upon them by the Treaty of Vichy, the French State was heavily reliant on the German economy for sustenance and thus became one of the worst-affected Pakt members during the 1950's crash. In 1962, the economy is still struggling, receiving very little help from Berlin.

## Military

The French military is under crippling restrictions on the number of personnel and equipment, effectively reducing it to a borderline token ceremonial force. The armed forces of the French State are banned from fielding an air force.

The region surrounding the north-west border with Burgundy is demilitarized, similar to Southern England's demilitarized zone.

### Generals

French State has at least eight generals, three among them are field marshals and five admirals.

## Politics

The French State is led by a coalition led by the Rally for the National Revolution.

## In-game

At the start of the game, the French State controls a smaller territory than the old French Republic once did. After the outbreak of the German Civil War, Burgundy will declare war on France; this war is unwinnable and will result in the French State being further reduced to two-thirds of metropolitan France.

If France is a member of the Einheitspakt, and either Speer or Martin Bormann is Führer, then the French State will have the opportunity to reclaim the French-speaking parts of Burgundy (including Wallonia) - when Burgundy collapses during the events of the Burgundian Spring, the Einheitspakt will be able to launch an invasion of Burgundy and France will regain the land.

### Huntziger's Cabinet

 Head of government: Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour (Fascism)
* Stability: **+5.00%**
 Foreign minister: Marcel Peyrouton (Fascism)
* Political Power Gain: **+5%**
* Foreign subversive activities efficiency: **+5%**
 Economy minister: Yves Bouthillier (Fascism)
* Resource Gain Efficiency: **-10.00%**
* Construction Speed: **-5.00%**
 Security minister: Charles Huntziger (Fascism)
* Stability: **+10.00%**

### National spirits

* Production Efficiency Growth: **-20.00%**
* Factory Output: **-20.00%**
* Trade Deal Opinion Factor: **-50.00%**

 The OAS
* Stability: **+10.00%**
* Daily Compliance Gain: **+0.10**

 The Treaty of Vichy
* Research Speed: **-10.00%**
* Training Time: **+30.00%**
* **Infantry Equipment**: Production Cost: **+60.00%**

 Les Années Noires
* Consumer Goods Factories: **10%**
* Stability: **-20.00%**

Surviving largely upon his popularity alone, the death of Maréchal Pétain has marked the end of tolerance for our fascist regime from much of the population. Tixier-Vignancour enjoys none of the popularity of the late Maréchal, with marches in major cities having become far from a rare occurrence. Despite the efforts of our state security services, the popularity of all manner of ideological thought is skyrocketing across France as our people now seek for and demand alternatives to fascism in France.

## The situation in France after the war with Burgundy

When Burgundy declares war on France, general Huntziger dies a few days after and is replaced by the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers can elect one of five French politicians to be president:

## Poujade's Cabinet

 Head of government: Jérôme Carcopino (Fascism)
* Improve Relations Opinion: **-0.2**
* Same Ideology Monthly Opinion: **+65.00%**
 Security minister: Marcel Carpentier (Fascism)

## Sidos' Cabinet

 Head of government: Pierre Drieu la Rochelle (National Socialism)
* Political Power Gain: **5%**
 Foreign minister: Louis Darquier de Pellepoix (National Socialism)
* Improve Relations Opinion: **-0.2**
* Same Ideology Monthly Opinion: **+65.00%**
 Economy minister: Jacques Benoist-Méchin (National Socialism)
* Production Efficiency Cap: **+3.00%**
* AI Modifier: Focus on War Production: **+50.0%**
 Security minister: Jean-Marie Le Pen (National Socialism)
* Daily Political Power Gain: **+0.15**
* Recruitable Population Factor: **-3%**

## Pinay's Cabinet

 Head of government: Jacques Le Roy Ladurie (Fascism)
* Daily Political Power Gain: **+0.10**
 Foreign minister: Jacques Tiné (Authoritarian Democracy)
* Production Efficiency Cap: **+3.00%**
 Security minister: Pierre Debizet (Authoritarian Democracy)
* Daily Political Power Gain: **+0.10**
* Resistance Growth: **-15.00%**
* Encryption: **+0.50**
* Decryption: **+0.50**

## Bichelonne's Cabinet

 Head of government: François Lehideux (Fascism)
* Daily Political Power Gain: **+0.15**
 Foreign minister: Marcel Peyrouton (Fascism)
* Political Power Gain: **+5%**
* Foreign subversive activities efficiency: **+5%**
 Economy minister: Jean Bichelonne (Civilian Dictatorship)
* Political Power Gain: **+5%**
* Foreign subversive activities efficiency: **+5%**
* Trade deal opinion factor: **-10.00%**