Part 14/15:
World War II was catastrophic. France was invaded in 1940, with the government of Vichy collaborating with Nazi Germany. The Resistance, led by figures like Charles de Gaulle, fought tirelessly, culminating in the Allied liberation in 1944. After the war, de Gaulle led the Provisional Government and oversaw the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958, with a strengthened presidential system.
Postwar Modern France and Contemporary Challenges
The post-1945 period was marked by rebuilding and economic growth, fuelled by the Marshall Plan and European integration, including the adoption of the euro in 1999. France played active roles in NATO and international peacekeeping.