Catholic Church and Nazi Germany during World War II of collusion between the late Cardinal Verdier and the Jews". Verdier had described World War II as "a crusade ... We are struggling to preserve the freedom of people throughout the world, whether they be great or small peoples, and to preserve their possessions and their very lives. No other war has had aims that are more spiritual, moral, and, in sum, more Christian". On September 9, the Bishop of Quimper was arrested for opposing Nazi plans for Brittany. The Bishop of Strasbourg was prevented from returning from Vichy France to his dioceses and his Cathedral was closed to the
Military history of France during World War II negotiate with the Vichy French governor, but if this was unsuccessful, to take the city by force. The Vichy French forces present at Dakar were led by a battleship, the "Richelieu", one of the most advanced in the French fleet. It had left Brest on the June 18 before the Germans reached it. "Richelieu" was then only about 95% complete. Before the establishment of the Vichy government, , an aircraft carrier, had been operating with the French forces in Dakar. Once the Vichy regime was in power, "Hermes" left port but remained on watch, and was joined by the Australian