France Photo Essay
Sierra Latshaw
France Background
On September 1st, 1939 Germany invaded Poland, and both France and Germany said they wouldn't go to war if Germany pulled out. However, Germany refused to leave Poland, thus France declared war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939. Frances objectives in the war included repelling the German invasion of Poland, stop Nazi reign in Germany, and protect their allies against Hitler's reign. Life in France during the war was grim due to German occupation. Less than a year after France declared war, Germany occupied Paris, thus altering the lifestyle of those in France at the time. German troops dismantled the French army in a matter of six weeks, and took over the affairs of the nation. The government soon became inefficient in solving problems of public anxiety, and soon signed an armistice with Germany, effectively surrendering and creating a bad reputation of the French people. National morale was at an all time low as France was referred to as Germany's puppet state. World War II is still a bitter subject for the French people, as it represents a time of weakness, and loss of control.
A French propaganda poster showing the French military destroying the German Nazis as represented by the wolf. In the early stages of the war, before Germany occupied France, the French people were committed to protecting Europe against German invasion. In co-allision with the British, the French created ultimatums in order to halt the British in their invasion of Poland. Upon Germany's invasion of Poland France declared war along with Britain.
Staff photo. “French Propaganda World War II.” 2014. www.historyinposters.tumblr.com/page/63
In the photo above a German tank comes in to assist in the French occupation. Germany invaded France in order to keep France from interfering with their plans in Eastern Europe. Germany didn't want to conquer France, because they believed that after the war, land in the West would be rendered useless as it could not bring ethnic Germans back to Germany.
AP Photo. “A German armored tank crosses the Aisle River in France on June 21, 1940, one day before the surrender of France.” 2015. 5/http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/07/world-war-ii-axis-invasions-and-the-fall-of-france/100098/
In the photo above German soldiers march into Paris during the start of the occupation. The French Popular Party (PPF) and The National Popular Rally (RNP) both contributed to the German occupation of France, each with 20,000 to 30,000 members. In addition to German troops, there were around 393,300 men used in the occupation of France.
"German Occupation of France." 2015 http://497thrtg.homestead.com/497HistorySchierstein.html
A German Nazi checks a French soldier before sending him off to be a prisoner of war. French soldiers had to agree to be prisoners of war until there was a cessation of all hostilities. This enabled Germany to not worry about the French army fighting against them in their attempt to gain more control of Europe, and allowed for them to focus on other goals.
Staff Photo "Autre vue de la même scène" 2015. http://www.flickriver.com/photos/41818881@N06/8515999532/
The photo above is of a Reichsmark, the German currency of occupied nations. The Germans installed the Reichsmark currency in France in May of 1940, which took over the French Franc. The Reichsmark allowed Germany to scam the global trade market in order to fix their own economic problems, while it sent other nations into an state of economic depression. This worsened the state of post-war France, and contributed to low morale during the war.
Staff photo. “Germans looted occupied European Countries by Rigging Currency Markets.” 2015. https://www.stormfront.org/forum/t867667-5/
The photo above is of a group of miners striking in Wingles, France. In 1941 over 200,000 miners (81% of the miners of the French national coal mining company, Charbonnages de France,) went on strike, which in turn slowed deliveries of coal to German industrial plants that supported the German war effort.
Alamy Stock Photo March "Striking Coal Miners" 1963.http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-striking-coal-workers-march-in-wingles-france-200000-coal-miners-were-52436713.html
Pictured above French Jews are registered with German officials to be sent to concentration camps in the East. French Jews were required to be turned over by the French police under German occupation. This posed an ethical issue for police as they had to turn over the citizens that they had been hired to protect.
Stock Photo "French Internment Camp - Jews Sent to Pithiviers" Oct 07, 2013. <http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/French-Internment-Camp-Jews-Sent-to-Pithiviers>.
In the photo above German soldiers are saluted by French civilians at a cafe in Paris. This act was greatly demoralizing to French civilians and hurt morale greatly during the German occupation which began in June of 1940. Citizens of France lost a sense of national identity during the war as they struggled to please their occupiers. Not only was this act demoralizing, but it also created a sense of confusion and necessity to redefine French identity.
Staff photo. “German soldiers at a sidewalk cafe in Paris.” Oct 2011. https://www.stormfront.org/forum/t867667-5/
In the photo above a group of women workers are getting ready to go to work. Women workers in France filled in jobs of men taken as prisoners of war. Women helped to provide food, shelter, and heating to their families during the war as men were forced to work for Nazi Germany. During this time the role of women in French society was greatly altered, and contributed to the start of feminist movements after the war.
In the photo above a group of young girls are getting ready to help on a French farm. Young French girls took on many roles during World War II to help the war effort. Those pictured above are helping in the agriculture field to help supply food. Due to short food supply rationing was installed, and work on farms was highly important to provide for the people of France.
In the photo above young women and men of the French Resistance are getting ready to fight against Nazi occupiers. Many students joined the French resistance to fight against Nazi Reign in the occupied portions of France. They helped to provide information to allies, helped British airmen escape back to Britain from Nazi possession, and helped hide Jews. This was a highly dangerous job, and was punishable by prison, or death if found out by the Milice.
Stock Photo. 2015. https://canadaalive.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/juno-beach/
A picture of French propaganda depicting the flaws in German rule versus French methods of rule. During German occupation various forms of French propaganda poster advocated for the end of German rule. These were often created by the French Resistance, which attempted to end German occupation through use of propaganda and guerrilla warfare.
Stock Photo. "The French Revolutionary Slogan" 2014. https://kickasshistory.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/theres-no-such-things-as-a-dumb-question-pt-iv-why-did-france-collapse-so-quickly-in-wwii/
A photo of the book cover of "The Stranger" by Albert Camus. The book was published in 1942, and portrayed Camus' altered ideas of absurdism. The novel contributed to French culture during the war, and portrayed the strange life of those living in France. Similar to Meursault, an outsider to society, French people felt like strangers in their own country due to the German occupation.
The French Opera House during the German occupation is pictured above. German culture was heavily instilled upon French citizens during the occupation. Wagner, a famous German composer, was played in the French Opera house 54 times during 1941. In fact, Hitler sponsored a trip for conductor Herbert von Karajan to lead the Berlin Staatsoper in Paris performances in order to spread German culture into French society.
Staff Photo. Royal Opera House Valetta. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/5075387
During World War II French Christians felt conflicted by paths of collaboration, resistance, and passivity with German troops. Many turned the other cheek while French Jews were transported to concentration camps, because they feared that if they spoke out they would be blacklisted. In this photo a priest delivers mass to a group of soldiers before battle in order to influence them to fight not only for France, but for their beliefs and way of life.
"Father John McGovern gives mass in France during World War II" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/06/d-day-chaplains-wwii_n_5461338.html
In the photo above British Resistance in France listen in on a radio in order to hear the war plans of that day. Radio was an efficient tool of communicating plans of combat, and plans of attack during World War II. By 1944 British resistance groups in France were receiving 1,000 telegrams by radio every day and 2,000 plans every week.
Roger- Viollet "Fighting Talk" September 4, 2015.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/fighters-in-the-shadows-french-resistance-robert-gildea/
In the picture, allies of France storm the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. On June 6th, 1944 over 160,000 allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in order to push the Germans out of France. In the attack more than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircrafts were used, and, the Allies were able to gain a foot-hold in Continental Europe. It is estimated that over 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded. But because of their victory, over 100,000 Soldiers were able to cross into Europe and weaken Adolf Hitler and his regime.
Stock photo. June 6, 2015. http://danielhochhalter.com/?p=1683
A French woman serves wine to American soldiers in Paris in the picture above. American Troops occupied France after storming the beaches of Normandy in order to push back German troops. However, the French public was torn between an attitude of gratitude, and one of irritation for continued occupation. This created a hostile relationship between the French and American people as France was trying to redefine their national identity.
"Sex and the Soldier" May 28 2013. http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may282013/war-scs-pl.php