In February 1942, Admiral Darlan, Head of the Vichy Regime at the time, received word that Hitler would consider a favourable peace settlement if France were to declare war on the Allies and enter into the conflict on the side of the Germans. The likelihood of such a deal had in fact been exaggerated by Otto Abetz, the German ambassador to Vichy, and Hitler soon went off the idea however both Darlan and Petain had been open to such a deal. What if Hitler had been as interested as Abetz had calimed and offered a comprehensive settlement on issues such as moving out of Paris, returning French PoW's, guaranteeing the French Empire etc?
What would the effect of an Axis Vichy be on the Free French, and how powerful an ally might they have been if allowed to realise their full military potential?
How would this effect France post-war, an earlier appearance of the Vichy syndrome perhaps?