Armistice with France Second Compiègne: Encyclopedia II - Armistice with France Second Compiègne - Terms

Armistice with France Second Compiègne - Terms

The armistice terms imposed on France were far harsher than what France had imposed on Germany in 1918. It provided for German occupation of two-thirds of France north and west of a line through Geneva, Tours and the Spanish border so as to give the German Navy access to all French Channel and Atlantic ports. All persons who had been granted political asylum had to be surrendered and all occupation costs had to be borne by France. A minimal French Army would be permitted. As one of Hitler's few concessions, the French Navy was to be disarmed but not surrendered, for Hitler realized that pushing France too far could result in France fighting on from French North Africa. The unoccupied third of France was ostensibly left free to be governed by the French, until a final peace treaty would be negotiated, and was eventually occupied by Germany in 1942 in Case Anton.

The French delegation - led by General Charles Huntziger - tried to soften the harsher terms of the armistice, but Keitel replied that they would have to accept or reject the armistice as it was. Given the military situation that France was in, Huntziger had "no choice" but to accede to the armistice terms. The cease-fire went into effect on 25 June 1940.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Terms", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki