1940    World War II: Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Premier of Vichy France.

1940    World War II: the United Kingdom and the Vichy France government break off diplomatic relations.

1940    World War II: the Vichy government is established in France.

1940    World War II: Vichy France regime is formally established. Henri Philippe Pétain becomes Prime Minister of France.

1942    Pierre Laval becomes Prime Minister of Vichy France.

1942    Holocaust: Vel' d'Hiv Roundup (''Rafle du Vel' d'Hiv''): the government of Vichy France orders the mass arrest of 13,152 Jews who are held at the Winter Velodrome in Paris before deportation to Auschwitz.

1945    Pierre Laval, the fugitive former leader of Vichy France, surrenders to Allied soldiers in Austria.

1945    World War II: The former premier of Vichy France Pierre Laval is shot by a firing squad for treason.

1999    Maurice Papon, an official in the Vichy France government during World War II, is jailed for crimes against humanity.