Vichy France had a military and Air Force, why weren’t they used in Barbarossa or on the Eastern Front? The Germans had used penal battalions on the Eastern Front, so why not also use Vichy French in addition?
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It was a condition of France Surrendering that the Vichy French would basically be neutral and basically defend French held territory only. For their part the Germans mistrusted the Vichy and they were happy to have the Vichy French out of their Hair per se.
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Among the closest we saw the Vichy Air Force in action against the Allies was in the Syrian-Lebanese war theater.
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Some Aussies with M.S.406 fighters in Syria, 80 years ago this month.
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