Following France's rapid defeat in June 1940 during World War II, a new government structure emerged in the country. Philippe Pétain, a World War I hero, became the Chief of the French State, marking the formal establishment of the Vichy regime. This government, headquartered in the city of Vichy, operated under the framework of a nation that faced occupation yet sought to retain semblances of autonomy. The regime's collaboration with Nazi Germany manifested in various political and economic policies that reflected the interests of the occupiers. Pétain's government focused on the themes of 'work, family, and fatherland' and aimed to promote traditional French values as a response to the perceived failings of the Third Republic, which had fallen to German forces. The Pétain administration sought to consolidate power by dissolving the National Assembly and establishing an authoritarian regime. Vichy France's policies included the enactment of anti-Semitic laws and repression of resistance, leading to significant ramifications for many French citizens, particularly the Jewish community.