...The term "Collaboration" was coined by Marshall Philippe Pétain, who proclaimed the Vichy regime in July 1940 and actively supported Collaborationism with Nazi Germany.Nationalism, ethnic hatred, anti-communism, anti-Semitism and opportunism induced some citizens of occupied nations to knowingly help the occupying Axis Powers. Some of these collaborators committed the worst crimes and atrocities of the Holocaust.http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005466

Collaboration ranged from urging the civilian population to remain calm and accept foreign occupation without conflict, organizing trade, production, financial and economic support to joining various branches of the armed forces of Axis powers or special "national" military units fighting under their command. Read full entry

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