milicorn

ruminations on international financing and whatever

Monday, March 19, 2012

Proposal for Britain to arm Vichy French troops has a long trail



A proposal discussed at the meeting was approved in May 1942 by General Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Under the top secret plan Britain was to arm Vichy troops and link up with them in an Allied landing at Bordeaux and La Rochelle. At the time Britain had no official military links with Vichy and its forces were fighting Petain's troops in Madagascar.

Professor Eric Grove of the University of Salford, who discovered the papers, says he was astonished at what he found.


Alan Brooke took a risk by keeping Churchill out of the loop
"My eyes widened," he says. bbc

Alex Cadogan Diaries 18 January 1941:

Telegrams this morning from Tangier showing Weygand has decided to re-enter the war but can't do it till he gets material-- and how can we supply that to him? Asked Chiefs of Staff to study the question.


Weygand states that he decided to put the African Army in a state of readiness Recalled to Service pp. 309-11

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