At the start of the Second World War,
in the summer of 1940, France suffers the biggest defeat
military history. It's finish,
the Germans are coming down... France is defeated. It's a complete disaster. On the edge of the abyss, the republic throws itself
in the arms of Pétain. Pétain was a celebrity,
but it makes us like a god. The marshal asks
emergency armistice. The scale of the defeat is such that
the armistice was necessary. They are ready to admit everything, including unacceptable. This is exactly what Hitler wants. It didn't completely crush
the French authorities, he domesticated them. War or peace, the English have their backs to the wall. The main fortress
of England on the continent collapses. Hitler leaves to the English
just enough rope to hang them. It has a name, it's evil. Hitler's trap closes. Vengeance is brought from cannon. Magnificent revenge of 1918. This is truly its apotheosis. Hitler is jubilant. Militarily,
the situation is dire. In mid-May 1940,
after eight days of fighting, the Franco-British northern army
is gripped between the Nazi tanks,
from the Ardennes to the English Channel, and the German troops
who invaded Holland and Belgium. A French officer
receives the mission to delay the enemy to organize the final defenses
of the Paris road. Colonel Charles de Gaulle, at the head of an armored division
currently being constituted, leads a counterattack. He was above all the artisan of the only counter-offensive
French victorious during this terrible campaign
of France, in Montcornet where he succeeded
to repel the Panzers and he stops for lack of fuel. Nothing works,
entire army corps disintegrate and hundreds of thousands of refugees
begin to invade the roads. On May 18, the head of the French government,
Paul Reynaud, call urgently
Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister. We tell ourselves that only a miracle
can save France. Reynaud telephones Churchill saying, “We lost.” Then Churchill goes to France
24 hours later, and he will try to go and patch the breach in France, the political breach,
the breach of defeatism, and with some success. That same day, at 7:30 a.m., the French ambassador to Spain
arrives in Paris by night train. He immediately surrenders
at Reynaud's home. Reynaud proposes to Pétain
the vice-presidency of the council. Pétain's name is pronounced like that of a national savior, which could at least recreate unity because in the face of this crisis,
the French are very divided. He seeks military authority,
military prestige. We must realize the stature
of Marshal Pétain of the time it was something extraordinary, a super media beast,
as they say today. Pétain, the hero of Verdun,
is a media poker move. Reynaud wants to strengthen his government and give new impetus
at war. Politically, the head of government
also think that there is no risk by placing an old military pot
on the fireplace. He despises Pétain because he is a soldier, because he is a man
who speaks very little, which is expressed in a way
a bit simple sometimes, then, because, ultimately, he is 84 years old. For many it is old,
obviously, senile. He has absences. he has a little difficult digestion,
he dozed off. For a man who was 60 years old at that time and who thinks he's a little rooster,
it was a bit his style, this 84 year old man
can only be a dotty old man that can be manipulated. At the same time, he lost nothing of his acuity, his intelligence. We must not underestimate Pétain. In the evening,
Reynaud reshuffles his cabinet. He begins by taking
orders from the War Ministry. Paul Reynaud strives to pick up
the war government. He puts Daladier, ex-minister of war,
in Foreign Affairs, he names Mandel, especially very important,
Minister of the Interior. Mandel who is considered
one of the toughest warmongers, then, it's a Mandel symbol. Reynaud brings into government
experienced personalities who have proven themselves
during the World War One, energetic men
with a combative temperament. His response to the first defeats
is a strengthening of his government. However, politicians like
Jules Jeanneney, President of the Senate and some observers of the time are skeptical about the ability
of certain men of this government to deal with the situation. At that moment an ambiguity sets in which is linked to the fact that Paul Reynaud brought into his government
a number of politicians which already appear,
ready to make some compromises. The vice-president of the board
Camille Chautemps, ministers Jean Ybarnégaray
and Anatole de Monzie or the young Paul Baudouin, undersecretary of state
as chairman of the board, these influential men
start to let go. Behind the scenes and secretly,
barely entered the government, Philippe Pétain begins
his undermining work in favor of stopping the war. Pétain talks aside
with Paul Baudouin, also a member of the government. He explains to her that
France was very poorly governed. He particularly blames
Édouard Daladier and the popular front. Paul Reynaud appointed head of the armies
General Maxime Weygand, a young old man of 73 years old, in place of Gamelin, judged incompetent. He was slow in carrying out orders, he was late in giving the information
about the army that was asked of him. It absolutely had to be replaced. Then, Weygand was a military glory. The entire press cheered
the appointment of Weygand, including Churchill
who wrote to my father: congratulations
for the nomination of Weygand, we have every confidence. It was a man
who had always been a brilliant second, in particular alongside Marshal Foch, but who had never ordered nor a regiment,
neither an army nor an army corps, and who, almost immediately, resigns himself to the evidence of defeat, very quickly. At this same moment,
on the Franco-Belgian border, Hitler savors
his first military successes in his secret headquarters
from Brûly-de-Pesche. In these photos taken
by its photographer Heinrich Hoffmann, coming from
from Hitler's personal archives which we are revealing for the first time, we see him surrounded by his close guard. He receives his faithful Himmler
and works with his generals, including General Jodl and General Keitel,
the head of the Wehrmacht. This place is chosen
because he is at the border, between Belgium and France. He is on the Belgian side,
but a few kilometers from France. He moved
and he came closer to hostilities, but, once again, in relation to this imminence
of the political outcome. From his command post
from Brûly-de-Pesche, Hitler is also informed, hour by hour, of evolution
of the French political situation. Hitler is aware that in the last few years
who preceded the war, Pétain was on a rather moderate line facing the dictatorial regime. Moreover, he had been sent
as ambassador to Madrid. It was already a sign of his direction. So Hitler knows very well what the arrival of Pétain means. The arrival of Pétain does not mean that France opts
for a resistance strategy. In Paris, Sunday May 19, the entire government surrenders,
at the end of the council of ministers, at Notre-Dame de Paris,
pray for victory. The secular republic
begins to believe in the good Lord. The next day, May 20,
is a triumphant day for Hitler. His armored vehicles crossed the Somme
and reached the English Channel. The French counterattack,
that the German general staff fears, does not happen. Now Hitler no longer fears her. He had time to consolidate his breakthrough. This same May 20, a Swedish diplomat, Raoul Nordling,
is passing through Paris. He asks to see,
urgently, Paul Reynaud. He is a carrier
of an armistice proposal from Hermann Goering,
the head of the German Air Force. Goering is not the most excited
German leaders. When he learns that war is breaking out, he is anything but enthusiastic. Thus, he has a perception of the dangers What could Germany run into? in continuation of the war. So if we could stop it, that would probably be a good thing. Raoul Nordling is the porter
of this German proposal. He is received by
the head of the French government, who knows him personally. Reynaud's response is unequivocal. His reaction was to say:
if I didn't know him, I would have him arrested on the spot
for his defeatist remarks, but he must have been frightened. To who else in France, did the Swedish diplomat talk about
this German armistice proposal? The mystery still lingers today. We still have
lots of reasons to think that he spoke about it to Pétain and Weygand, with which
he had a meeting at that time, almost every morning. On the military field, the English then launch
Operation Dynamo, code name given
to the evacuation of their army. Decided without consultation
with the French command, this withdrawal
of the British Expeditionary Force makes it impossible
any French counterattack. His troops are completely overwhelmed and in the process of encirclement in the north. Friday May 24, is one of the most mysterious days
of the Second World War. Hitler orders to slow down, instead of pushing his troops forward, to destroy
the British Expeditionary Force, the French army of the north and what remains of the Belgian troops. Why the Führer
does he make this decision? It's now been 14 days
that the armored vehicles are running at full speed, they must be given time to rest. Then, Hitler thought that the Luftwaffe will be able to finish the job in Dunkirk and Goering committed to it. The British, like the French, have no information
on the reasons for this judgment. The English take advantage of it to speed up evacuation
of their troops at Dunkirk. 340,000 fighters are evacuated
in terrible conditions. After 48 hours, Hitler realizes he made a mistake. So the order is given for the armored vehicles to leave. However, there were 48 hours and those 48 hours that were missing. The next day, Saturday May 25, is held in Paris
a crucial war committee, at the Élysée. Around the President of the Republic,
Albert Lebrun, is notably the head of the armies, General Maxime Weygand,
the head of government Paul Reynaud and Marshal Pétain. Weygand explains the military situation there: the northern army is almost lost. The generalissimo organizes
a new line of defense. While we're talking about combat, President Lebrun makes a statement
which surprises part of the audience. The president of the Republic,
Albert Lebrun, says: if it happened, gentlemen, that Germany
makes us an armistice proposal, I think it should be examined. He always put a little
The feet in the plate. It's not subtlety
which it generally characterizes. He says things
that he shouldn't have said. So there are two people who say: we can go, we can ask
German conditions. These two people are:
Lebrun and Pétain, who don't seem
to fear German conditions, who seem to know them. This proposal provokes a reaction
Paul Reynaud violently. My father flies into a cold rage
and say : on the one hand, if the forehead is pierced, we will continue the fight
until death, on the other hand, we are required
to our commitment to the English. It would be a loss of honor
than to ask for an armistice. Such an armistice is not compatible
with the Franco-British agreement from March 1940. There is no question of letting go of our allies. Weygand, whose influence goes beyond
of its military role, does not appear to be a supporter of the armistice, but already judges it inevitable. The French generalissimo,
who is the key man in the situation, is at the origin of the only initiative
policy of this war committee. General Weygand
takes a very clear initiative, is to say: “I agree
that we must consult the English." “What are you doing here Reynaud,
You’re not in London yet?” Weygand is at the origin of sending head of the French government
in London, all business ceases. A few hours
before the arrival of Reynaud, the British war cabinet is also shaken
by the same tensions. Obviously, Goering's proposals
traveled secretly to London. This morning of May 26,
he is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lord Halifax,
who puts his foot in the dish. Halifax,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is visibly acquired to the idea of accepting the proposals
of Goering and Churchill, in principle is hostile
to any examination of German conditions. My father always played
card on table with Churchill When he reunited with him
That day, he warned them, he is coming. Within government, there are some who pose
the question of the armistice. Obviously, I am against
and I will never ask for an armistice but it's going to be difficult. While Churchill finishes
to evacuate its last soldiers, the king of the Belgians, Leopold III, defeated, orders the capitulation of the Belgian army
on May 28 at 4 a.m. Surrender is
a military surrender, while an armistice
is a political act which puts an end to hostilities between enemies. Reynaud takes the floor to announce
this bad news to the French. France can no longer count
on the competition of the Belgian army. Since 4 a.m., the French army and the British army, fight alone in the north
against the enemy. Without a look, without a word
for French and English soldiers, King Leopold III of Belgium,
laid down his arms. After the capitulation of the king of the Belgians, Hitler relaunches his troops. June 4, Dunkirk, in flames, falls into the hands of the Germans. Given
the catastrophic military situation, Paul Reynaud does a reshuffle
within his government. He wants to give priority
to the offensive ideas of de Gaulle. Reynaud having nothing to lose, and seeing that the only way, was to follow the strategy
proposed by de Gaulle. He calls on him as Undersecretary of State
to national defense. It is important to him
to strengthen this tough clan. He knows well that de Gaulle, like him,
wants to fight the war to the end, because they prepared it together. Reynaud reshuffles his government
by bringing in a combative de Gaulle, despite the opposition
of several ministers, and Albert Lebrun doesn't like it. Yet he who also comes
to be appointed brigadier general, provisionally, does not hold any
real decision-making power, Reynaud, who commissioned him,
retained the Ministry of War. His mission, such as Reynaud
presents it to him, is to go to England to try to get from Churchill
reinforcements, particularly in terms of aviation. However, de Gaulle
gets nothing in London, but this journey is decisive. There is a first strong bond woven
between the Secretary of State and Churchill. The current started to pass
between these two exceptional personalities. De Gaulle begins to be an interlocutor,
to which Churchill pays attention. Back from London, de Gaulle goes to headquarters
of General Huntziger, Commander of Army Group Center, probed the latter for possibly
replace the defeatist Weygand. What you had,
it's a kind of felt struggle and sometimes a little less, on one side, de Gaulle, Mandel
and the rare members of the cabinet who were for continuing the war,
and all the others. The others, minority, are in favor of an armistice
with Germany, grouped around Marshal Pétain
and General Weygand. General Weygand,
which can be ambiguous, we see it often
in the council of ministers, And that is the problem. He arrives, he does his overview,
This is completely normal. He hangs around a lot afterwards
in the council of ministers, he is not a member and he starts to intervene
in the debates. It's a big problem,
because he is not a minister. Weygand said in the council of ministers
that if Sobh's forehead is pierced, all is lost and there is no more
than to ask for an armistice. My father plans to fire Weygand, but he says to himself that we are not going to have
a third commander in chief in times of war,
it's really too risky, especially that the two military glories
what are Pétain and Weygand would be opposed to this commander in chief. De Gaulle has other options in mind, the young undersecretary of state integrated the fact that
the fight must be fought from outside French territory. He proposes to develop
a two-step device. There are two solutions at this point. It is clear that the metropolis,
if it hasn't already been done, is lost or will be lost. So the idea is to transport
all public authorities, the government, the assemblies,
the senate, assembly and administration either in North Africa, or what we call
the tactic of the Breton reduction. The idea of the Breton reduction, it was to lock up the public authorities: the president of the Republic,
the government, like in a dungeon in Brittany. Then, from there, try to maintain part of the national territory
out of carrying Germans. If it is not possible,
be evacuated to Great Britain. It is extremely important
in the eyes of de Gaulle and Reynaud, above all, de Gaulle,
because Reynaud tells him that he agrees, but he doesn't do anything he should
for this eventuality to occur. It is fundamental
let the government be free. The Germans continue their breakthrough,
the French line of defense is broken. The Germans enter Rouen, cross the Seine
and begin to go back towards Paris. Saturday June 8,
the Weygand battle ends. It's a debacle. The French, after Dunkirk,
find themselves alone against the Germans. Churchill would already like that there is a kind
of popular resistance. He says Paris is impregnable, street by street, you realize,
we can delay the enemy. It is once again
to postpone the deadline, so that England
can strengthen itself. Churchill's hopes were quickly disappointed, at 11 p.m., Sunday June 9,
an official car leaves Paris. It's a Buick,
in the back seat, Pétain. However, during the council of ministers
which was held that same day to discuss
of the evacuation of the government, Pétain read a note
opposing this departure. He said he would stay and would parley
with Hitler if necessary. He heads towards the castle
Barrier Kit in Briare in Touraine,
where the headquarters will be located. In the abandonment of the capital,
Pétain is the first to leave. The next day, June 10, at 7:30 p.m.,
bad news is announced. Mussolini declared war
on the evening of June 10, a war that he hoped for with all his wishes
since a long time, but which he did not dare to do,
or that he didn't want to do. In recent times,
it had even stressed him out a little, because he was afraid that Hitler
don't be so grateful to him for having intervened at the moment
where he won the war alone. The head of government aimed at the French
to boost their morale. France crossed
of the harshest trials, that's when she always amazed
the world. France cannot die. At 11 p.m., the radio broadcasts
an official press release announcing: the government is obliged
to leave the capital for military reasons. At this point, Paris is no longer safe. We have already burned the documents
at the Quai d'Orsay, and we expect to an imminent arrival
Germans in Paris. The authorities must escape. At midnight, Reynaud leaves Paris
by car towards Touraine. He travels in the company of de Gaulle. The general pushes the head of government
to decide between either resist in Brittany, or leave the metropolis
to continue the war. De Gaulle thought,
since Reynaud had assured him that he would transfer
the bulk of the troops and aviation in North Africa. Paris is officially declared
open city. Two million Parisians
fled the arrival of the Germans. That day, Churchill returned to France
for an interallied supreme council in order to comfort Paul Reynaud. Churchill who made several trips
from London, extremely risky trip with her little Lavender,
escorted by a few Spitfires in a totally dominated sky
by the Luftwaffe. Churchill comes to France five times,
we must not forget it. It boosted the morale of these gentlemen. No, without a second thought,
anyway, because no longer France
stays in the fight, the more time it gives England,
to arm yourself, to defend yourself. At Briare Castle,
where an interallied council is held, General Weygand asks
the intervention of RAF squadrons. Churchill refuses,
because he wants to reserve them for defense against a direct attack
from England. The advice finished, it then takes the whole afternoon
so that the French participants manage to reach
the other ministers for new advice
in Cangey near Tours. As early as 1938, we had planned in the event of a fallback,
where the ministers would be housed. We assign a castle to everyone,
there is also the president of the chambers to accommodate. They are all far away
one another. You have to go back and forth
during the day to reach colleagues,
which can be 30 km away. To go to Tours, come back,
it's very complicated. We must see under what conditions
These meetings also happen. In Briare, there is a telephone,
he is in the toilet, everyone is lining up to get to the phone
which hangs on the wall. To make matters worse,
several members of the government travel with family and mistress. The one that poses the most problems
is Hélène de Portes. Fervent supporter of the armistice, she doesn't hesitate
to sabotage the work of Paul Reynaud. Paul Reynaud left with his mistress,
Madame de Portes, Daladier with his,
the Marquise de Crussol. These two women
who hate each other like their men, will enhance the councils of ministers, notably Madame de Portes
to return untimely, including one day,
in a dressing gown. She will say her opinion among the ministers,
absolutely amazed. It's such a mess which we see at one point,
Madame de Portes in red pajamas in the castle courtyard
where Paul Reynaud is staying who does the order service,
put away the cars. Paul Reynaud's mistress was a fierce defeatist,
who confiscated the notes and the telegrams that he didn't like
and who hid them under his pillow, it was catastrophic. Always, at the Château de Briare and under the presidency of Albert Lebrun,
a council of ministers opens at 7:45 p.m., June 11. This time, Weygand
openly pleads for the armistice. It is approved by Pétain
and refused by Reynaud. My father said to Weygand: “You want to deal with Hitler?” "You believe that Hitler,
Is it William I?” “Hitler is Genghis Khan.” This stormy council of ministers
ends at 11 p.m. Mandate given to Reynaud
to bring Churchill a new time
to explain the situation to him. At midnight, Pétain takes up residence
at the Château de Nitray. Reynaud goes to his temporary home,
the castle of Chissay, where he finds de Gaulle
who, returning from Rennes, talks to him again about the Breton place. De Gaulle, until that moment,
was still in favor of the Breton reduction. It is not impossible
that my father still hesitated between Brittany and Algeria. The empire on one side,
Great Britain on the other. The supporters of the armistice obviously,
agitate the idea that, anyway,
the British, who are realistic, since France
will have concluded an armistice agreement withdrawing from war
and they themselves will compromise. Churchill returns on June 13
for the final meeting of the interallied council in Tours,
at the Cangé castle. It is certainly
one of the most important days. It's about liberating
or not France of its obligation not to conclude a separate peace
without the United Kingdom. He realizes that this proposition is a real trap
into which Reynaud will rush and he asks Reynaud
to respect the Franco-British agreement from March 1940,
which prescribes that France and England will not lay down their arms separately. Two theses clashed that day. The first, spread by the Pétainists,
is that during this session, Churchill untied France
of the commitment not to conclude separate armistice. The second, defended
by the English and the Gaullists, on the contrary, Churchill said that day
the validity of the agreement, to stick to the letter
of the various minutes of the council. The second thesis wins. In fact, it all starts from a misunderstanding. Many times,
every time someone spoke, whether it is Reynaud wherever it is
other members of the government, who continue to ask
to be released from their commitment, Churchill said: “I understand.” I understand what that meant,
it was that he understood what was said before interpretation,
but that he had not accepted anything at all. To clear up any misunderstanding,
Reynaud sends de Gaulle back to London with a double purpose: find the necessary tonnage
to transport the French army in North Africa
and encourage Churchill to support Reynaud in his pursuit of the war. De Gaulle thought, since Reynaud had assured him
that he would transfer the essential troops and aviation
in North Africa. It is for this reason that de Gaulle
went to England last time. It is exactly
to organize transport. At the end of the afternoon,
that same day, around 6 p.m., a new council of ministers
opens at the Château de Cange A twist of theater occurs. Weygand reports a phone call received by his services
announcing that the Germans are at the gates of Paris. A communist government
was formed, and Thorez must settle down
the same evening at the Élysée. Weygand affirms that Thorez is at the Élysée and telephone relations
are cut. At that moment, Mandel walks out of the room, comes back a few minutes later and says: "It's pure romance,
I have the police chief on the line," “do you want to talk to him?”
he asks Weygand. It is not a coincidence
if this false information arrives that evening,
in full council of ministers, while most communications
are broken. The government of the republic
never was in a state of decomposition
so advanced. Weygand resumes his plea
in favor of an Armistice. Paul Reynaud rather pushes Weygand
to make the army capitulate and transfer the navy
and aviation in North Africa to continue the war. Reynaud thinks about what he can do
to save the situation. He asks Weygand if it is possible
to evacuate the army to North Africa. Weygand answers him
that he will only leave when forced. This shows the degree of disobedience
within the government. Weygand supposes
that there is no other solution than the armistice. He wants in no case
demand a capitulation, because it will be a task without a name
on the flags of the French army. He also has a lively discussion
with Paul Reynauld on the subject. Discussion even more lively
that it happened in public and he took three steps back in front of his aide-de-camp
and the people around him, to show and say well
out loud what he thought about it. Despite his refusal,
Reynaud does not revoke him. Weygand leaves the board room
shutting the door. Pétain comes out of the woods and says to my father: there is no question that the government
leaves for North Africa. Pétain supports Weygand
and reads a note he prepared. It is impossible for the government,
without emigrating, without deserting, to abandon French territory. The French revival,
you have to wait for it while staying put. The armistice is, in my eyes, the necessary condition
to the sustainability of France. It’s a soft coup. How did the octogenarian marshal
does he find inspiration and the energy of such a blow? This is one of the mysteries of the 1940 drama. From now on, alongside the Reynaud government
A Pétain government is formed. Reynaud understands the danger
and refutes this statement. Pétain maintained that they did not have
to leave French soil. My father replies that whatever happens, at that time, Germany's control
on France was inevitable. If they deprived themselves more
support from the English, they would lose hope and honor. June 14, after a bombing
at the Tours airfield, decision is made
to transfer the government to Bordeaux. That same day, early in the morning,
German troops enter Paris and parade on the Champs Élysées. It is a symbol, very strong, obviously,
and victory is no longer in doubt if we obviously stay
at the Continental Theater. In the evening, the government is in Bordeaux,
already overcrowded with refugees. In the dining room
from the Splendid Hotel, where many elected officials meet
and members of the government, de Gaulle at the table
with Churchill's envoy, General Spears meets Pétain. They shake hands
without exchanging a word. They will never see each other again. On June 15, the council of ministers
opens at 4 p.m. in Bordeaux. The question of the armistice
is at the center of the discussions. Camille Chautemps, the vice-president of the board,
proposes that the government ask the Germans
the conditions of an armistice. A proposal
which seems to rally the majority. We are not asking for an armistice,
let's not ask for an armistice but let us ask on what condition, Mr. Hitler
would grant an armistice to France. Once he gave them
its conditions, we will judge them and if its conditions are dishonorable,
we will refuse the armistice. If the demonstration is made
that these conditions are unacceptable, the government would have no other solution
than leaving France. In the evening,
Reynaud telegraphs to Churchill permission to request conditions
of an armistice to Germany. He takes it upon himself to ask
on its own account the proposition with the idea of going to see Churchill
the same day and put our cards on the table
and explain the situation to him. The armistice, yes,
but not without the English. That's his position. For his part, de Gaulle is once again
in London on June 16 to chat with Churchill. At 12:35 p.m., the British Prime Minister
send a reply to Reynaud about the armistice. England agrees
in the morning by two telegrams which put only one condition: it's shelter
of the French fleet in British ports. This is what should be discussed
the Council of Ministers, which is based in Bordeaux
in the middle of the afternoon, at 4 p.m. Still, in London, General de Gaulle
meeting in the morning Jean Monnet, an agent of influence of France. Jean Monnet sells to de Gaulle
a merger project of the two countries, from France and England
of the two governments, of the two staffs
for the duration of the war. It's a bit crazy,
but it was significant of hope until the end among the English maintained, hope that the French would hold on. Jean Monnet convinces de Gaulle because de Gaulle
knows his Paul Reynaud and knows that Paul Reynaud will give in
in the afternoon if anything, if a strong message,
doesn't come from London. At 4 p.m., Reynaud
opens the council of ministers. At 4:30 p.m. the phone rings, de Gaulle is on the line. From 10 Downing Street, he dictates to Reynaud
the Franco-British union project which he has just adopted
by the English cabinet. At 5 p.m., Reynaud
informs the council of the news. This is a desperate pose. It falls flat when Reynaud suggests it
to the council of ministers. It didn't even fall flat,
it was outrage. Some say :
"Yes, here are the English," “They take us for a dominion.” You refuse me my union plan,
it means that we are going to ask Germany
its armistice conditions. There, there is a majority of the council
which shifted to this position. I don't want to ask
its armistice conditions, implied, I don't want to ask them
without England. So, I resign. At 8 p.m., Paul Reynaud resigns. Immediately,
The president of the Republic brings together the head of government and the presidents of the chambers
at the Bordeaux prefecture hotel. The president of the Republic,
which is a less weak, consults the presidents of the chambers,
it was the custom. He asks them who,
after the fall of Reynaud, we must reappoint chairman of the board. Both clearly say: Paul Reynaud, remember him
and make a fighting government. At that moment, Lebrun replied
that he can't take a man who doesn't want to deal with Hitler, and asks for another name. Albert Lebrun chooses Marshal Pétain, who arrives with already a small team
that he secretly prepared with, behind him, Pierre Laval. That same evening, at 9:30 p.m., a plane coming from London
landed in Mérignac. De Gaulle emerges from the cabin,
convinced that the union project was accepted. Learning that Pétain had taken power, he fears being arrested
and go find Spears, Churchill's agent, to ask him
to take the plane back to London. He left the next morning,
very, very early, by arranging to deceive, so that his departure does not attract too much
the attention of new managers. The third republic
is nothing more than a corpse. We don't know anything in Bordeaux
Hitler's intentions. At midnight, Pétain brings together
his first council of ministers. It is decided to appeal to Spain to send Hitler
the demand for the conditions of an armistice. There needs to be a neutral country. All neutral countries in Europe
begin to file away in front of Hitler. There is not one to redeem the other
and Pétain is still very friendly with Franco,
they have a certain familiarity both,
so much passed through Spain. At 12:30 p.m. on June 17, after having gathered
his first ministerial council, Pétain records a radio call
from Longchamps high school in Bordeaux. He is getting ready
to make his first mistake. Ladies and gentlemen,
Marshal Pétain, president of the council of ministers,
You speak. French, it's with a heavy heart
that I tell you today that the fight must stop. Marshal Pétain's speech on June 17 is probably the fault, one of the mistakes,
in any case the first big mistake that he committed. Pétain asks the French
to stop the fight. It's time to stop the fight. He does not yet have a response from the Germans
and he already says... What can be used for
armistice negotiations if we already start to stop the fight. It seems totally absurd. Besides, the Germans,
who didn't ask us so much, will relay Pétain's speech by dropping leaflets by plane, from there lines,
loudspeaker messages saying: “You heard Marshal Pétain,” “drop the weapons!” For the English, it proves that Pétain not in control of things
and there is a good chance so that he lets go down the line. The next day, June 18, the government is trying to correct
the disastrous impression of the message on the morale of the troops
who are still fighting, by replacing the sentence
we must stop the fight by trying to stop the fight. A sentence that has neither tail nor head, who deserves his place
in the nomenclature of the great fools in writing world history. Meanwhile, the request for an armistice
from the French government is handed over to Hitler
at his headquarters. After reading, the Führer exults
and sketches a dance step. The Führer immediately informs Mussolini and arranges to meet him in Munich
for the next day. While maintaining pressure
on the front, he makes a response
to the Pétain government. Hitler responds early in the evening with a press release saying: "The German government
will meet tomorrow in Munich, with the Italian government." Thus, the only response to the request armistice conditions: “I have to talk to Mussolini about it.” After which, the German authorities
tell the French that they will come into contact with them
via military radio. They must stay tuned. In Bordeaux, there is panic, because we don't have that many ideas the way
whose things are going to be done, especially since in addition,
the archives remained at the Quai d’Orsay, ironically, the French authorities
will rush see the director
from the municipal archives of Bordeaux to ask him
to find everything he can on the armistice conventions of 1918, and in particular the armistice conventions
in herself, so that you can get an idea. In Bordeaux, the tension
goes up another notch. Members of the government
are starting to get angry, including Pétain. We have no news of Hitler, while the German armies
continue their progress, Bordeaux is only a few hours away
Panzer divisions. The President of the Republic brings together
around him, Pétain, Jeanneney and Rio. The presidents of the chambers
want to take shelter to continue the fight
outside French territory in case of rejection
armistice conditions. Non-supporters of the armistice
would like to train a government in North Africa. There must be Lebrun,
the Keeper of the Seals too, because it has the seals of France,
Its very important. Then the presidents of the chambers, that is to say those who represent
Public powers. Pétain, head of government
gives his agreement recalling its commitment
not to leave the national territory. Admiral Darlan then gives the order to arm the liner Massilia,
which is located at the port of Verdon, at the mouth of the Gironde,
and prepare transport boats in Port-Vendres
in the Pyrénées-Orientales. At the same time, in London,
General de Gaulle asks Churchill authorization to be able
send out an appeal on the radio. Churchill refuses. He refuses because he says that this is not the time
to complicate relationships with the government of Bordeaux,
when we might need it to subtract the fleet and the empire
under the influence of the Germans. Finally, the British decided
to authorize de Gaulle to broadcast his appeal to the BBC, on the condition that he accepts
to submit your text. In the evening, from London,
de Gaulle launches his radio appeal. It reaches a very small number
of listeners. You will hear now a statement of great importance,
What will General de Gaulle do to you? General de Gaulle. We believe that the honor of the French is to continue the war
alongside their allies and we are determined to do so. This same, June 18,
Hitler is with Mussolini in Munich. The two dictators agree
that France will have to conclude two separate armistices: one with Germany
and the other with Italy. The first will not come into force
only if the second is signed. So that France is not tempted to continue the war from African colonies,
For example, Hitler still
made Mussolini aware, that we had to be responsible. It was necessary to adopt measures
who really stand out the French defeat against Germany, but with measures
which are not perceived provocatively by the French government. In the early morning of the 19th, Spain informs Pétain
that the German government asks to know the names
members of the French delegation. Immediately, a brief meeting
is held at the private home of the marshal, in the presence of Weygand,
of Admiral Darlan, of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Baudouin and advisor Raphaël Alibert. The plenipotentiaries
are automatically appointed without consulting them. Weygand would have liked to go there, but it did too much honor to Hitler
than to send the generalissimo. In 1918, the Germans sent
the generalissimo. Above all, we must send people
which can be easily found, because the problem at the time
that we lost sight of today, is that all communications
are cut and that the French authorities,
civil or military, are also on the paths. The only high-ranking officer
to be reachable that day is General Huntziger. He must introduce himself
immediately in Bordeaux. Huntziger will accept this mission, which is particularly difficult
in the heart of a soldier. Then we will choose
General Bergeret, first of all, it's not far away,
then it is general air. Bergeret will therefore represent
the interests of the Air Force. Then, we will choose General Parisot, because he has connections
particularly good with Italians, and we think it can be useful. The fourth soldier is chosen
with particular attention by Admiral François Darlan. This is his first deputy,
Vice-Admiral Maurice Le Luc. Its mission is to ensure
to the jewels of the armies, the French military fleet
ultra modern. Darlan notably gave his word
to the British not to make any concessions
on this file. Darlan chose Le Luc, so as to be able to impose
his wishes regarding the navy, be sure that things
don't go any other way. The last member of the delegation
is in civilian clothes, the diplomat Léon Noël. Léon Noël is quite close to Laval. As for the biography of L. Noël, he is the former ambassador to Warsaw, but before, he had been director
of security appointed by Pierre Laval. Around noon, these five names are communicated
to Berlin via Madrid. The German army continues to advance, while the French government
asked Hitler to settle on the positions
that they occupy. In Bordeaux, bombed in the night,
uncertainty increases panic. Before the council of ministers
from the morning of June 20, Lebrun announces his decision
to leave Bordeaux during the day. Pétain, that Weygand and Darlan
agonized from insult saying to him
his loss of his future regime, that he gave powers to people
which will transfer the distance on the other side of the Mediterranean,
and that he will no longer count, without realizing
that he did something stupid. Because he believes in Pétain, without a doubt
because they have a lot to lose letting the possibility escape
of a state led by the marshal. Behind the scenes,
two formidable men, Pierre Laval and Raphaël Alibert,
make an alliance. To keep Pétain, we need an armistice
and state guarantors and the republic
present on French soil. Laval understood things very well. With Raphaël Alibert,
they will act together, to prevent the departure
public authorities. To reach this goal, all ministers
and state representatives receive the order, enjoining them
to stay at home awaiting instruction and not to leave
under no circumstances the city. Some are stopped along the way, when they are already far away. It is at the Toulouse prefecture, that Jules Jeanneney president of the Senate, who was leaving to go take
a boat in Port-Vendres, is arrested and told
that there was a contradiction. On the morning of the 21st, Lebrun changed his mind. He is told that the Germans
are at the gates of Bordeaux. He telephones Pétain that he is leaving. Laval manager
the delegation of parliamentarians, made the headquarters of Lebrun's office
to force him to stay. He sits opposite the president
and he threatens him almost physically, and tell him that if he ever leaves,
in North Africa, he will never be able to set foot again
In France. It's a real hysterical attack. And then, well,
The brown, instead of calling the bailiffs
to throw out the door, he should have done that. If he had a little dignity,
he knows how to insult himself like that. Thus, Lebrun gives in and he agrees to stay
on the territory. In the meantime, the names of the French delegates
are accepted by Germany. The plenipotentiaries,
with General Huntziger at their head, hit the road at 2 p.m. The French delegation
will leave with a white flag and the flag of Huntziger,
the army general with his five stars. The road is:
starting point, Bordeaux, arrival point
where they will be taken care of: Tours. In one month of fighting, Hitler brought France to its knees. This is Germany's military revenge
on the defeat of 1918. To savor it,
Hitler also wants to lock up France in the trap of the armistice. The victory was complete when Pétain
asked him on June 17, 1940, the day he becomes
the head of government of France at the bottom of the abyss.
