France Under the Germans: Collaboration and Compromise

by Philippe Burrin

From 1940 to 1944, the French people adapted in a variety of ways to life under the domination of Nazi Germany. France under the Germans is the definitive study of the choices made by ordinary French citizens during that turbulent historical period, exposing for the first time the degree of their complicity with the Nazis. Acclaimed Swiss historian Philippe Burrin makes use of a wide variety of newly discovered sources: the records of businesses, industrial organizations, and banks; police files; and reports on mail censorship and telephone conversations. France under the Germans is an extraordinary analysis of the ways in which people respond under extreme pressure, and of how people can betray not only their countries but themselves.

Genres: History, France, World War II, War

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Philippe Burrin enseigne à l'Institut universitaire de hautes études internationales de Genève.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your purpose is to indict or disculpate the behavior of the French during WWII, don't read this. Burrin's genius is to show us a nuanced picture of perfidy and heroism, of fear, despair, resignation but also upheaval and resistance, and moreover how certain individuals and communities underwent all of this over the course of several years.

[Raúl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Acabo de meter un libro de mi TFG y me suda loh cojones, si paso tiempo leyendo esto por lo menos que se vea reflejado en algún sitio.

Fuera de eso el libro está bien, para un contexto general perfecto. Pero personalmente para el TFG no me ha servido para una puta mierda, está todo desordenado y he gastado un mes leyendo este tostón para meter cuatro frases en total, vamos con el siguiente

[Hugues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sans aucun doute le livre de référence sur la collaboration, d'une lecture rendue un peu ardue par un style pas toujours très clair.

[AC · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long, detailed study of France during the Occupation by one of the finer historians of the period. The book covers the history of Vichy, the social segments, and then the unwinding and dissolution in 3 parts of equal length. The book is now available in translation, but should be compared with another study by the Oxford historian, Julian Jackson, that came out after Burrin.

French fascism holds many lessons for the emergence of fascism in the United States from 2016-2022 — exactly the period of time it took me to read this book; which is no guarantee, of course, that the next stage of our devolution might not take a decidedly different turn.

I found the first part to he the most interesting and concise — the others could have been more detailed and incisive. Hence the 4 stars. But a good, solid introduction nonetheless. Far better in this regard than was Paxton’s earlier book on Vichy, which I found quite unsatisfying and dry.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

France under the Germans is a definitive history of France after the countriy’s defeat in 1940 by Nazi Germany. The emphasis of the book is on collaboration and surveys all aspects of collaboration from the role of the Vichy government to all parts of French Society, including business, the arts, the intellectuals, the Catholic Church, associations, and political activists. This is not a happy story, but the author deals with it in a balanced way noting the reasons why collaboration involved so many individuals from a variety of perspectives and political persuasions. France’s semi independence gave it a unique place among occupied European countries and this may have ameliorated the worst of the Nazi excesses. But there are plenty of French villains in the mix.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to have read my most recent books as keeping track of the many politicians herein noted was challenging and these reads informed my ability to understand slightly better than I would have otherwise. I found his details, especially after the first half very interesting and his thesis of choices for collaboration succinctly explained. And interestingly avoiding explicit discussions of the holocaust allowed a clearer understanding of collaboration both immediately after the defeat and then throughout the remainder of the occupation until liberation.

[Fred Dameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history. After reading Suite Francois I wanted to read an actual history of the collaboration in France. A lot of France collaborated with the Germans just to get by. But, many, and I put Petain in this group, worked hard with the Germans with the idea of Frances first among the defeated after the war. And many of them found the end of the rope. That type of betrayal has only one answer. Good read lots of good information in this work.

[Kevin Moynihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Translated from the French and based on numerous primary sources. Covers so many different areas while attempting to remain non-judgmental. Consistently highlights the dilemmas faced. Very interesting.

[Natalie Griffitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough examination of various groups, memory, and experiences during the occupation.

** This work IS cited.