On Hitler's orders, the German conquerors went out of their way to be friendly. They set up food depots and soup kitchens to feed the French people until the economy could be brought back to normal. The French soon decided that collaboration with the Germans was to their advantage. The French people had been stunned by the collapse of the French Army in only a few weeks. To many, this meant the end of France as a world power. The collaborationists felt that the German war machine was invincible and the only sensible thing to do was to become allies with the Nazis who would soon unite Europe under their domination. But for some, centuries of hatred of the Germans prevented them from accepting their defeat.
Charles de Gaulle, a tank corps officer
Charles de Gaulle, a tank corps officer