Vichy France (or Government of Vichy, following its relocation to the town of
Vichy) it was the free part of
France after the German invasion on France, headed by Marshal
Philippe Pétain from 1940 to 1944 during
World War II. During this period, Paris remained the
de jure capital of France. From 1940 to 1942, while the Vichy regime was the nominal government of France as a whole, Germany militarily
occupied northern France. Following the
Allied landings in French North Africa on 8 November 1942, southern France was also militarily occupied by Germany and Italy on 11 November 1942 through the enactment of
Case Anton. The French government remained in existence, but was very aware that it had to please Germany.