Italian-occupied France

Fascist Italy occupied a small section of south-east France during World War II, during the time of the Vichy Government under Nazi German control. It held the territory, which included Grenoble and Nice, from 1942 to 1943.

The Italian zone of occupation was 832 km² and contained 28,500 inhabitants. The largest town contained within this occupational zone was Menton.

In November 1942 the Italian army occupied southern France, from the delta of the Rhône River to Corsica. Specifically, Nice and Corsica were to be annexed to Italy, but this was not done because of the Italian surrender to the Allies in September 1943.

See Robert O. Paxton Vichy France, Old Guard, New Order 1972, 1997 on how the Italian zone acted as a refuge for Jews fleeing persecution in Vichy France during the occupation.

See also

• Italian invasion of France

References