Italian occupation of France
On the 10th of June 1940, Italy declared war against France and Britain. Ten days later, Italian troops crossed into French territory. The German offensive had begun on the 10th of May, pushing forces onto French soil by mid-month. By early June, British units were evacuating from northern pockets. On the 24th of June, after France fell, Italy signed the Franco-Italian Armistice with France. This agreement established an occupation zone containing 28,500 inhabitants. Menton was the largest town within this initial area. Nice served as the main city inside a demilitarized zone stretching from the Alpine Wall border.
In November 1942, the Royal Italian Army expanded its control during Operation Case Anton. Italian forces seized Toulon and all of Provence up to the Rhône River. They also took Corsica, which irredentists claimed for Italy. Plans included annexing Nice and Corsica to fulfill territorial aspirations. Local groups like Nizzardo Italians supported these moves. However, the plan failed when Italy signed an armistice in September 1943. Germans then occupied the abandoned zones. A postal history study showed Italians controlled areas east of a line joining Toulon, Gap, Grenoble, Chambéry, Annecy, and Geneva. Few places west of that line remained under Italian control.
By November 1942, four infantry divisions made up the Italian Army of Occupation. These units numbered 136,000 soldiers plus 6,000 officers. In Corsica alone, another 66,000 soldiers and 3,000 officers were stationed. There was virtually no guerrilla warfare against Italians until summer 1943. The Vichy regime maintained friendly relations with Italy. It sought concessions Germany would never grant in its own zone. This cooperation allowed Italian administration to function smoothly across southern France. The military presence remained stable until the collapse of Fascism in Italy.
Thousands of Jews fled to the Italian occupation zone to escape Nazi persecution. Nearly 80% of the remaining 300,000 French Jews found safety there after November 1942. Angelo Donati, an Italian Jewish banker, convinced authorities to protect them. He played a key role in shielding Jews from French collaboration. In January 1943, Italians refused to cooperate with Nazis rounding up Jews. By March, they prevented deportations within their zone. Joachim von Ribbentrop complained that Italian military circles lacked understanding of Jewish matters. After September 1943, German troops invaded the former Italian zone. Within five months, 5,000 Jews were caught and deported by SS units led by Alois Brunner.
In August 1940, the Regia Marina established a submarine base at Bordeaux. Known as BETASOM, this facility operated outside occupied France. Thirty-two Italian submarines participated in the Battle of the Atlantic. They sank 109 Allied merchant ships totaling 593,864 tons. Eighteen warships were also destroyed, weighing 20,000 tons combined. Eleven submarines were lost during operations until September 1943. These attacks disrupted Allied supply lines across the Atlantic. The base remained active despite heavy losses among crews and vessels.
The Italian Armistice Commission produced two detailed plans for future French territories in 1940. Plan A proposed military occupation up to the Rhône River while keeping France intact except for Corsica and Nizza. Senator Francesco Salata introduced Plan B, which included annexing Alpes Maritimes and parts of Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, and Savoie. Monaco was also targeted for inclusion. This territory would form Alpi Occidentali with Briançon serving as capital. The town became known locally as Brianzone. These proposals reflected long-standing irredentist goals but never fully materialized before Italy's surrender.
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Common questions
When did Italy declare war against France and Britain?
Italy declared war against France and Britain on the 10th of June 1940. Italian troops crossed into French territory ten days later.
What was the population size of the initial Italian occupation zone in France?
The Franco-Italian Armistice signed on the 24th of June established an occupation zone containing 28,500 inhabitants. Menton served as the largest town within this area while Nice functioned as the main city inside a demilitarized zone.
How many soldiers were stationed in the Italian Army of Occupation by November 1942?
By November 1942 four infantry divisions made up the Italian Army of Occupation with 136,000 soldiers plus 6,000 officers. Another 66,000 soldiers and 3,000 officers were stationed in Corsica alone.
Why did thousands of Jews find safety in the Italian occupation zone after November 1942?
Nearly 80% of the remaining 300,000 French Jews found safety there because Angelo Donati convinced authorities to protect them. Italians refused to cooperate with Nazis rounding up Jews in January 1943 and prevented deportations within their zone until September 1943.
What was the total tonnage of Allied merchant ships sunk by Italian submarines at BETASOM?
Thirty-two Italian submarines participating in the Battle of the Atlantic sank 109 Allied merchant ships totaling 593,864 tons. Eighteen warships weighing 20,000 tons combined were also destroyed during operations that lasted until September 1943.
Which territories did Plan B propose for annexation by Italy in 1940?
Senator Francesco Salata introduced Plan B which included annexing Alpes Maritimes and parts of Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, and Savoie. Monaco was also targeted for inclusion while Briançon served as the capital for the proposed territory known as Alpi Occidentali.