Montoire-sur-le-Loir
Encyclopedia
Montoire-sur-le-Loir is a commune
in the Loir-et-Cher
department of central France
.
The inhabitants of Montoire-sur-le-Loir are called montoiriens.
and Maréchal Pétain
took place signifying the start of organised French collaboration
with the Nazi regime. The meeting took place in a train car just outside of the town's train station. This was announced to the French public on 30 October in a radio broadcast speech when Pétain declared, "I enter, today, into the way of collaboration."
Two days previously, Pierre Laval
had had a meeting with Hitler in the same location and he had suggested to Hitler that he meet with the Maréchal.
The location of Montoire station was chosen because of its relative isolation and also its proximity to the main Paris-Hendaye train line. Besides, in case of an aerial attack, the train could have found shelter in the nearby tunnel in Saint-Rimay
. The train car had armoured doors that are still visible, installed for the meeting. German command posts were established at Saint-Rimay and Thoré-la-Rochette
with direct contact to Berlin
.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher is a département in north-central France named after the rivers Loir and Cher.-History:Loir-et-Cher is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Orléanais and...
department of central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The inhabitants of Montoire-sur-le-Loir are called montoiriens.
History
Montoire-sur-le-Loir is known as the location where, on 24 October 1940, the famous handshake between Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Maréchal Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
took place signifying the start of organised French collaboration
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
with the Nazi regime. The meeting took place in a train car just outside of the town's train station. This was announced to the French public on 30 October in a radio broadcast speech when Pétain declared, "I enter, today, into the way of collaboration."
Two days previously, Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval
Pierre Laval was a French politician. He was four times President of the council of ministers of the Third Republic, twice consecutively. Following France's Armistice with Germany in 1940, he served twice in the Vichy Regime as head of government, signing orders permitting the deportation of...
had had a meeting with Hitler in the same location and he had suggested to Hitler that he meet with the Maréchal.
The location of Montoire station was chosen because of its relative isolation and also its proximity to the main Paris-Hendaye train line. Besides, in case of an aerial attack, the train could have found shelter in the nearby tunnel in Saint-Rimay
Saint-Rimay
Saint-Rimay is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France.-References:*...
. The train car had armoured doors that are still visible, installed for the meeting. German command posts were established at Saint-Rimay and Thoré-la-Rochette
Thoré-la-Rochette
Thoré-la-Rochette is a commune of the Loir-et-Cher department in central France.-See also:*Communes of the Loir-et-Cher department...
with direct contact to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.