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France never lags behind Britain in terms of colonial greed.
France's withdrawal and giving up on occupying the British colonies in Africa was largely due to the strong resistance of the British troops stationed in the colonies, but it was more likely that they felt threatened by the independence fever blowing within their own colonies.
France had already lost Indochina. Therefore, France worked hard to conquer Africa to make up for the loss of Indochina.
However, the British army, backed by support from the United States, was not an easy opponent.
Just as France lost Indochina, Britain lost India. Therefore, Britain wanted to protect its African colonies at all costs.
As promised to Attlee, Dewey provided enormous support to the British army, and the British army easily defeated the French army.
Germany also sold various weapons to its ally France, but unlike the United States, it was not free.
France was appalled by Germany, which was sure to receive the money, but since it had a nose of three feet, it had no choice but to endure it.
But now, uneasy movements have been detected in the existing colonies.
This cannot continue. If France loses all its colonies, it will forever fall into a second- or third-class country.
With tears in his eyes, Pétain gave the order to withdraw the troops. Then, he quickly brought out carrots to appease the colonists.
"If we want to silence the colonial people's will for independence and resistance, we must treat them equally as the French."
The ministers were shocked by Pétain's 'bomb remark'.
Treating barbarian Arabs and blacks equally with the great French. Such an idea was something no one here had thought of.
"why? "Did I say something I couldn't say?"
"That's not it… … ."
Laval took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was surprising, but if you think about it, it was the most obvious policy.
"If you treat them equally, how far are you talking about?"
"I will treat you equally with the French, this means. "We will no longer discriminate against people based on their place of origin, skin color, or religion, but will treat them as full French citizens."
Pétain was determined. He was willing to accept any conditions to maintain great France.
Several appeasement measures had been proposed in the past to suppress the opposition of the colonists, but these were appeasement measures with conditions such as granting citizenship to those who abandoned Islam and converted to Christianity.
Of course, there was no way the colonists would accept this, and the backlash against France grew stronger.
Pétain decided to abolish this policy and treat colonists equally with the French.
"There is no way to break their will other than this. "If there is such a thing, please say it without adding or subtracting."
"… … ."
Even ministers and generals who liked to show off could not say that suppression with guns and swords was the only answer.
Because they knew deep down that force was no longer the answer.
"If we do that, they may try to sit on our heads without even knowing the topic. How about taking a step-by-step approach by enacting related laws first?"
"That's right. If the same rights were suddenly granted to all colonized people, there would be a strong backlash from the people."
However, there was an instinctive resistance to the idea that the natives, who were considered inferior even though they were human, should be treated as French people like themselves.
"Are you guys stupid?"
Pétain sighed at the words of his subordinates. It's because I don't know how the world works, Won.
"Doing so will only make the colonists more angry. Their requirement is independence, independence! My goal is to escape from France and start my own life! Under certain conditions, you won't even blink an eye. "If you want to make the sound of independence come out of their mouths, you have to give them a big carrot!"
Ministers and generals remained silent at Marshal Roh's words. Laval, who was watching Pétain's thoughts, asked carefully.
"Your Excellency, even though you have presented the conditions, if there is a call for independence, what do you plan to do then?"
"That can't be possible."
Pétain resolutely shook his head.
No matter how passionate they were about independence, no one would be so reckless as to refuse to treat them equally like the French. Pétain believed so.
"Who would object to being able to no longer be a colonial citizen but a French citizen?"
"That's right. But no matter where you go, aren't there people who are overflowing with greed?"
"Don't worry. "If conditions like these are presented, infighting is bound to occur."
***
The conditions that Pétain imposed on the colonists were very unconventional.
-There are no more discriminatory policies. Whether you were born in Algeria, Morocco, or Senegal, everyone will be treated like a French person.
-We will build schools and hospitals in each village. We will also provide basic education to eradicate illiteracy.
-We will grant maximum autonomy. However, do not just talk about independence. I don't care what you do as long as you don't become independent.
To prove that his words were not false, Pétain suddenly released the arrested colonists.
Of course, those who were released were those who were arrested simply for airing their grievances against the French government or saying that their country should become independent, while those who actively advocated for independence and took or planned actions against France were still imprisoned.
Nevertheless, Pétain's policy was enough to pour cold water on the colonial people's desire for independence.
"I think this is pretty good, huh?"
"My uncle who was captured also came back... … ."
"They say they are also building a school. "You can also receive treatment at the hospital."
"Do you believe what the French say? "How many lies have they told us so far?"
"But doesn't something seem different this time?"
"that's right. "It feels different this time."
When Pétain announced on a radio broadcast a large-scale reform of the colony, the colonial society was greatly disturbed.
Even those who called for independence felt that something was different this time when they saw the changed attitude of the French authorities.
"everyone! "You know this is all a lie, right?"
"We must not be deceived by France any longer!"
"We must not stop here!"
"We must fight until the end!"
Those who argued that independence was the only answer urged people to respond by calling for endless struggle.
But their propaganda no longer resonated well with the people.
The carrot offered by France was too big.
The opportunity to be treated equally with the French, various infrastructure and maximum autonomy.
People who judged that things had improved enough without independence wanted to withdraw from the dangerous task of independence struggle.
Is there any need to take risks when we have been promised a better life than we have now without even saying anything about becoming independent?
"You traitors! "How much money did you get from the French?"
"That's why you hear the sound of pigs. "You idiots."
"You guys just instigate and never come forward!"
"You cowards are you! "You disgusting agitators!"
As Pétain calculated, the independence movements in the colonies lost momentum and began to drift.
The icing on the cake was that not only was the power lost, but internal strife broke out.
Although it would cost a significant amount of money since the colonists would henceforth be treated like the French, it was much better than losing the colony entirely.
Great France is not France. This should be seen as a cheap price to pay for maintaining France as a great country.
However, there was something that even Pétain did not expect.
***
Although the colonists were generally satisfied with Pétain's measures, the French reaction was just the opposite.
"Those barbaric niggers are now treated the same as us?"
"her! "It's the end of the world, the end of the world."
"Why should we, the great French, be treated like those barbarians!"
"You're building a school for Arabs and stuff like that? Even if we build a school, do you think they will go to school properly?"
"Why do they need school in the first place? And, isn't that all made with the taxes we pay?"
The French expressed their displeasure at being treated equally with the colonists they considered inferior.
Should we, the Gauls and the great French, be treated in the same way as those uncivilized barbarians? And why should we help the barbarians with our own blood money?
Although there were only fanatical supporters who believed and followed Pétain's words as if it were a revelation from God, and did not raise any objections to Pétain's policies, the majority of French people harbored strong resentment toward these measures.
That's because it doesn't show on the outside.
Not only citizens, but even soldiers and officers commanding soldiers were antipathetic to Pétain's announcement.
"this… … "Is this really true?"
"her. If this continues, I might end up having barbarians as my masters."
I fought to the death but was unable to save anything and withdrew. Even those ignorant barbarians will be treated as French from now on. Indeed.
No matter where you go in the world, if you were to select the most conservative group in a country, the military would be in the top five, and the French military was no different.
The discontent that began to leak out, starting with the issue of treatment of the colonies, gradually expanded its scope.
"If you can't even shout at the bosses, you can just shout down below… … ."
"I know yeah. The Bosch still think of us as their friends. Damn you guys."
Even after realizing that they had been defrauded by Hitler, the Pétain regime failed to make even the slightest protest to Germany.
It was France's responsibility to bear the cost of stationing the German troops still stationed in France, and although Germany recognized France as an ally, it did not reduce the compensation that France had to pay even a penny, but thoroughly calculated and received up to 1 franc.
The Gestapo still received the necessary information from French intelligence, but did not want to share the information it had collected, and arrested anti-German figures and transported them to Germany to be tried.
Of course, France's opinion was not asked.
"Maybe this would be a good idea?"
"… … ."
The person who served as the leader of the group of dissatisfied people was Henri Giraud.
Giraud, who became a prisoner of the German army during the invasion of France, was released from the POW camp in 1942 and was able to return to France.
After returning to France, he took a short break and returned to active duty, but there was nothing he could do.
He shed tears of blood as he watched the reality of his country, to which he had devoted his entire life, being reduced to a pawn of Germany and the Grande Armée being reduced to an auxiliary force of the German army.
He persuaded Pétain that he could not sit still like this and that they should join forces one day to take revenge on Germany, but Pétain dismissed Giraud's claims as nonsense.
"Do you think that is possible? The opponent is no longer the Germany we used to know. Even though Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union joined forces, they could not defeat Germany, so how can we win? "Don't say such nonsense again."
Nevertheless, Pétain did not reject Giraud, who was making dangerous remarks, and kept him in office, but instead of giving up his argument, Pétain began openly talking about revenge against Germany, so he eventually reduced his authority.
Still, out of consideration for Jiro, who was close to him as a senior member of the military, he did not inform Germany of this, but in Jiro's view, Pétain was not much different from German underlings like Laval.
Marshal Pétain has already lost his guns. He no longer has any intention of resisting Germany.
Now that heroes have disappeared and only traitors and traitors are rampant, those with a will must come together and work together to save France.
Otherwise, France will forever become a slave to Germany.
However, although they had courage - it is questionable whether this can be called courage - their power was weak. Even if they mobilized all the troops under their command, it was doubtful that three divisions would be produced.
You can't change a country or France with less than a handful of troops. That's why they looked for comrades who would share their cause.
Coincidentally, their would-be comrades were also looking for like-minded people.
"Have you met them?"
"yes. I was surprised that the conversation went better than I expected."
French Communist Party.
The identity of those who would become their new comrades were the communists whom they hated so much.
"dismissal. I'm not sure if this is true."
"But for what?"
"No matter what, joining hands with communists is a bit... … ."
"That's my opinion too."
"Have you forgotten what the Bosch did when they invaded?"
After the signing of the Non-Aggression Treaty with Germany, the French Communist Party staged anti-war demonstrations under Moscow's orders and actively sabotaged France's war effort.
He incited workers at factories producing military supplies to go on strike, collaborated with communists within the military, destroyed the engines of tanks and fighter planes, and disarmed bombs that the French military had installed on bridges in preparation for war.
Even after France surrendered, the French Communist Party complied with Germany's occupation and even reported anti-communist resistance groups to the German army.
The time when they launched the war against Germany was after the Soviet Union attacked Germany.
If war had not broken out between Germany and the Soviet Union, the Communist Party would still be acting like a dog for the German army and informing patriots.
The generals who did not forget their resentment at this time did not hide their concerns and discomfort about joining hands with the Communist Party.
"I know what you're thinking. I feel bad too. "If we had enough strength, we wouldn't have joined forces with those scum."
Giraud also did not like the communist party, which was more loyal to Lenin-Marxism than France.
If possible, I wanted to stop the seeds of those disgusting seeds who could sell not only my country but also my parents and children without hesitation. Thoroughly so that even the 'balloons' of communism could never be brought out again.
But not now.