France. The terms of an armistice are reached (actually, a full-blown French surrender). Germany, through the Wehrmacht, has direct control of much of France, including Paris, and the entire north and west of the country. Petain, with Vichy as his capital, is given control of the Mediterranean portion of the country. The role of Vichy France will be controversial: seen by some (Roosevelt), at least initially, as a potential diplomatic point of contact that would allow for a safe haven by interacting with Nazi Germany without directly doing so; others see it as a puppet government. Petain believes himself independent and in full control of the Mediterranean fleet and the colonies. But Churchill will disagree, and will scuttle the entire French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, off Algiers (Operation Catapult).
