| French Workers Propaganda Poster |
| World History > World War II in World History > World War II in World History Maps and Pictures |
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| Original caption: "We French workers warn you...defeat means slavery, starvation, death." Color poster by Ben Shahn, 1942. Posted above the workers' heads is a directive from the Vichy government compelling French citizens to perform manual labor. The Vichy government was the German puppet government which ruled France during the Nazi occupation of the country. Click here to enlarge. |
| Life in France under the Vichy government, established after the country's defeat by Germany in 1940, was marked by repression and hardship. Led by Marshal Philippe Pétain, the regime collaborated with Nazi occupiers, enacting authoritarian policies and anti-Semitic laws. Citizens faced censorship, propaganda, and severe restrictions on freedoms. The economy suffered due to resource exploitation and forced labor conscriptions. While some supported the regime, many joined the resistance, risking their lives to oppose both Vichy and Nazi authorities. This period was characterized by fear, deprivation, and the struggle for survival amidst widespread persecution and oppression. |
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