Vichy Trivia Quiz

Answer: Yes

The Germans left it, in 1940, to that French government to settle down where it wanted, Paris or elsewhere. The government chose Vichy (with its ample hotel accommodation), as going back immediately to Paris seemed to them inadvisable in view of the chaotic circumstances.

Moreover, they thought their stay in Vichy would be only a matter of weeks. After that, they expected normality to return with a quick and lasting peace with the Germans, which would enable them to go back to an unoccupied Paris.

Answer: Pétain

Pétain was a French Marshal in the First World War, and made himself very popular at that time. There is no doubt, that in 1940, after the Germans had conquered France, the majority of Frenchmen considered Pétain as their only hope and 'saviour'. Laval, from the start of his time as Prime Minister was very unpopular, even despised. Darlan was Commander-in-Chief of the French Navy. Darnand was the head of the notorious "Milice" (English "militia"), a Fascist police force, as brutal as the Germans, with whom they collaborated.

Answer: Laval

Flaubert was the 19th century authour of (amongst other novels) "Madame Bovary", so didn't have much to do with Vichy during World War II.

Answer: de Gaulle

Giraud was a French general, whom Roosevelt - who didn't like de Gaulle very much - unsuccessfully tried to make the leader of the Free French. General Huntziger was the one who signed the Franco-German armistice in 1940. No, he was not the German general at that occasion, he was the French one.

Answer: Italy

Yes, at the time Italy occupied a part of south-eastern France.
Perhaps the Spanish dictator Franco also would have been willing to do so, but he was just smart enough not to take part in the war. Austria was at the time a part of Germany. As for the Soviet Union ... well, that was meant to make the question easier for you.

Answer: He was afraid that otherwise the French fleet would escape his control

That was his sole reason. The French had a very modern, powerful navy, and both Churchill and Hitler were much afraid in 1940 that this navy could be crucial to the outcome of the war between Britain and Germany. In fact, the Germans never got their hands on the French navy. Part of it was destroyed by the British at Oran (Algeria) in 1940 after the French surrender; the rest was scuttled by the French following the German occupation of "Unoccupied France" in November 1942.

Answer: State

Yes, as you could have guessed: a State. Have a look at the coins and stamps of the Vichy period: "L'État français". Fascist and semi-fascist states tended to find the word "republic" repugnant, because for them it had leftist connotations. Cf. Spanish coins and stamps in the Franco period, which are inscribed: "Estado español". And the Weimar Republic became the Third Reich.
This, however, did not prevent states, which officially styled themselves monarchies or republics, from being fascist or quasi-fascist.

Answer: Inhabitants of Alsace-Lorraine

Alsace-Lorraine was during WWII de facto annexed to Germany. The Germans considered them as co-Germans, hence they had to fight with their "compatriots" against the enemies of the Reich, just as in WWI.

Answer: The Anglo-American landings in North Africa in the same month

The Germans, much concerned about the Allied landings, again thought about the French fleet, then for the greater part lying in Toulon. They now decided to lay their hands on it. But the French admiral in command sank his ships before the Germans arrived in this southern French port.
As for fears about a secret Vichy army or secret dealings with the Allies, perhaps some Germans may have had these. As for concerning the deportation of Jews and labourers, the Germans had nothing to complain about regarding the co-operation of the Vichy government.

Answer: The Germans forced the head of state and the other members to go to a castle in Germany

Pétain protested against his transportation to Germany, and declared himself unable to exercise his function henceforth. Some ministers and some Fascist personalities were forming "cabinets" of a rather farcical government-in-exile, that in view of Pétain's attitude now lacked any shred of legality, let alone authority. For an amusing literary view on the petty and empty intrigues in the castle of Sigmaringen in southern Germany read the book of the arch-collaborationist French writer Céline: "D'un château à l'autre."

That was an easy quiz, wasn't it? Ok, the question about this tall general admittedly was rather vexing, but the rest ...
Too easy? Then perhaps I will make a second quiz about Vichy, but then a really tough one. Beware and prepare!