Historically French leader Renaud wanted to move the government to Algeria and fight on with the French Empire against nazi Germany. His cabinet was initally open to the idea, but after the proposal was informally broached to the Chamber of Deputies it was found a majority favored seeking a armistice & cease fire and would vote to disolve Renauds government if the war was continued. Petain and two other cabinet ministers then begain pressuring Renaud to ask for a cease fire.
Renaud still planned for transfering the goverment and sought support for another day or two. The French military continued to transfer its most valuable assets to ports and embark them for evacuation, and about eight Deputies sympathetic to Renaud idea also got on ships and departed. However Renaud was pressured into asking for a ceasefire. Eventually he resigned, Petain was selected as the new head of government by the Deputies, and France had a armistice cramed down its collective throat by the victorious Germans.
The PoD come when Renaud sees there is no support among the Deputies, instead of dithering for two days & then resigning he instead slips away to the docks with his minority of supporters, dragging old Petain along to head off trouble. Along the way Renaud declares the government is established in Africa, the Deputies and administrators remaining in France are no longer part of it, and sets up shop in Algeria, reassuring the British and nuetral representatives that "France is still in the war".
So, now it is 25 June 1940, the last of the French metropolitan army field forces are making last ditch stands in South France, the skilled technicians are fleeing abroad to Britain or the colonies. The best aircraft of the French Air Force are continuing to fly to Africa, the French navy is piling whatever it can salvage aboard ship and departing.
How does this play out?
Renaud still planned for transfering the goverment and sought support for another day or two. The French military continued to transfer its most valuable assets to ports and embark them for evacuation, and about eight Deputies sympathetic to Renaud idea also got on ships and departed. However Renaud was pressured into asking for a ceasefire. Eventually he resigned, Petain was selected as the new head of government by the Deputies, and France had a armistice cramed down its collective throat by the victorious Germans.
The PoD come when Renaud sees there is no support among the Deputies, instead of dithering for two days & then resigning he instead slips away to the docks with his minority of supporters, dragging old Petain along to head off trouble. Along the way Renaud declares the government is established in Africa, the Deputies and administrators remaining in France are no longer part of it, and sets up shop in Algeria, reassuring the British and nuetral representatives that "France is still in the war".
So, now it is 25 June 1940, the last of the French metropolitan army field forces are making last ditch stands in South France, the skilled technicians are fleeing abroad to Britain or the colonies. The best aircraft of the French Air Force are continuing to fly to Africa, the French navy is piling whatever it can salvage aboard ship and departing.
How does this play out?