French State

The French State is a nation in Western Europe and also controls much territory in North Africa. Bordered by Germany and the Kingdom of Italy to the East and Spain to the South.

History
After their defeat in the summer of 1940 by the Germans, France signed a temporary armistice splitting the country in half with German forces assuming direct control of France’s Atlantic coastline and creating what would be known as the ‘Vichy’ regime, semi-autonomous jurisdiction encompassing only 45% of metropolitan France’s original territory under the leadership of legendary Great War hero Marshal Philippe Pétain. This was later resettled in what would be called the ‘Second Armistice’ which would severely cripple France, demanding it pay vast war reparations to Germany as well as severely limiting its armed forces to a maximum strength of 100,000 men. The country was also forced to cede large amounts of territory to Germany and Italy, including Alsace-Lorraine to the Reich and Corsica to Italy.

France also lost most of it's colonial empire, with the loss of Tunisia and French Somaliland to the Italians. Morocco would later be siezed by Spain and the Japanese Empire would occupy Indochina. The rest was either occupied by the British Empire out of necessity, splintered off in favor of the Free French Movement or simply gained independence.

Politics
The tradition of incompetent bureaucracy carried on to the French State from the republics before. With a government lead by hardcore conservative old guard figures refusing change, every action is scrutinized under the watchful eyes of Germany. The French government is; as a result, unable to make decisions and reforms to improve the nation. Weygand seeks to move away from the co-operation with the Germans that marked the Petain years and be neutral in the struggle between the Accord and the Reich.

There is a thriving underground student movement and the French Resistance is still very much active. There have also been recent reports of resistance to French rule in Algeria.

Economy
Having lost some of its richest industrial areas, such as the shipyards of the Pas du Calais, the economy is also facing the burden of paying reparations to the Germans.

Military
Under the terms of the Second Armistice, the French Army is limited to no more than 100,000 men. Suppression of resistance fighters is mostly up to this small force, complemented by detachments of Milice paramilitaries.