The brand name Vichy is derived from the town of Vichy, France. The main trade area was centered on the River Rhone in central France. The city of Vichy was at the time a major German military post and was occupied by the German Wehrmacht. During World War II, it was an Allied ally of Hitler but later changed loyalties and fell back under the French flag.
Under the post-World War I control of Marshal Philippe Pecq, the Vichy resistance movement flourished. However, the Vichy resistance also received support from the Germans and English. When the German forces withdrew from France, the Vichy resistance continued to thrive. When the occupying powers allowed the republic to rejoin the French National Army in September 1940 the French government immediately recognized the new Vichy movement as a valuable source of manpower. The new resistance was recognized by the French as the defenders of Paris.
As the Vichy resistance continued to battle the occupation forces on several fronts the city of Vichy expanded rapidly. Known as the “Paris of the Mediterranean” the city today is one of France’s most important financial and cultural centers. Today, Vichy is home to many popular tourist attractions including the Musee des Beaux-arts, the Picasso Museum, and the Theater National. Tourist numbers have increased steadily due to favorable weather conditions and the relatively liberal immigration policies of the French state. The city has kept a relatively high level of social separation between its different ethnic groups.
Following the fall of the Wehrmacht, the French authorities allowed Vichy to resume trading as part of a deal to gain the country from the German occupying forces. As it did so, many local citizens joined the resistance against the Germans and the city came under the control of General de Gaulle. The French State saw fit to maintain a military presence in the city and several hundred French soldiers were stationed in Vichy. The resistance provided vital assistance to the French resistance during the Battle of Vercorsage and later in the Normandy Campaign.
During the armistice, the French government allowed Vichy to resume trade as the occupying power. Despite this, Vichy was not entirely liberated. Though the Germans allowed local cultural activities, including music and art, the city retained a strong expressionistic culture. The only area where freedom of religion is legally guaranteed in France is found in the city of Vichy.
The residents of Vichy continue to practice their right of freedom of religion although they are officially prohibited from practicing the Roman Catholic religion in the town of Vichy. Many residents were forced to convert to the Roman Catholic Church or face arrest and internment. The remnants of the resistance still reside in the old neighborhoods and some form a resistance against the French authorities. For these people, the return of the French troops is still uncertain.
If the island of Corsica ever reverts to its former self again, the city of Vichy will again be occupied. There have been several attempts by both the British and the French to regain the island’s independence but without success. The island’s remaining citizens are however well aware of their fate and resistance to the occupiers.
Freedom of speech is not guaranteed in any country. It is however, guaranteed in most parts of Europe and in many parts of the world including France and even in occupied countries like Vichy. In some places like Vichy, French is spoken by a majority of the population. In other places like Corsica, the people speak mostly English. Remember that freedom of speech is one of the greatest freedoms that we can give to ourselves.