Second World War posters

Historical Background

On November 11, 1939, King George VI responds to a telegram sent by Albert Lebrun in these terms : ” We both have reason to be reassured that the joint efforts of the peoples of Britain and France will be successful and Europe will be safe from the brutal violence and that peace will be established on sound foundations of freedom and justice.”

Until the arrival of the Vichy government, the British are our allies. On 11 and 12 November 1939, we even celebrate Franco-British days.
From June 1940, England, and especially its politicians, become the object of a systematic anti-British propaganda .
The Vichy regime likes to recall episodes of Mers-el -Kebir and Dakar in July 1940, which saw the destruction of the French ships and a large part of their crews.
Mers El- Kebir bombings made 1297 victims, while the battleship Richelieu was torpedoed a few days later to Dakar.
At local level, the German authority reminds peoples that helping British airmen leads the guilty before a military tribunal where he will be punished with the death penalty : for Germany, England is the enemy of Europe .
  • Date details

1939

  • Size

120 x 160 cm

  • Institution

Archives départementales de Seine – Maritime

  • Original reference

63 fi 50

  • Period

Late Modern Period

  • Thematic

Politic and military links

Location

Rouen – Archives Départementales

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