Demarcation line (France)

French demarcation line
Part of Second Armistice at Compiègne
The Demarcation Line separated the Free Zone from the Occupied Zone.
Date 22 June 1940 - 11 November 1942 Location forest near Compiègne, France 49°25′38″N 2°54′23″E / 49.42736111°N 2.90641944°E / 49.42736111; 2.90641944Coordinates: 49°25′38″N 2°54′23″E / 49.42736111°N 2.90641944°E / 49.42736111; 2.90641944 Territorial changes Divided Metropolitan France in two: the northern occupied zone and southern Free zone
Parties
Nazi Germany	Vichy France

The French Demarcation line was the boundary line marking the division of Metropolitan France into the territory occupied and administered by the German Army (Zone occupée) in the northern and western part of France and the Zone libre (Free zone) in the south during World War II. It was created by the Armistice of June 22, 1940 after the fall of France in May 1940.

The path of the demarcation line was specified in the Articles of the Armistice. It was also called the green line because it was marked green on the joint map produced at the Armistice Convention. In German, the line is known as the Demarkationslinie, often shortened to Dema-Linie or even Dema.

Papers were required in order to cross the line legally, but few had this privilege.

The demarcation line became moot in November 1942 after the Germans crossed the line and invaded the Free Zone in Operation Anton. After this, all of France was under German occupation, and the occupied zone north of the line became known as the "northern Zone" (Zone nord) and the former Zone libre became the "southern zone" (Zone sud). The line was officially annulled on March 1, 1943.

Article II of the Armistice of 22 June 1940 defines the Demarcation line:

To safeguard the interests of the German Reich, French State territory north and west of the line drawn on the attached map will be occupied by German troops.

As far as the parts to be occupied still are not in control of German troops, this occupation will be carried out immediately after the conclusion of this treaty.

... Notice to Jews It is forbidden for Jews to cross the Demarcation Line into the Occupied Zone of France ...

Initially, the armistice of 22 June 1940 provided for the "occupation of territory without giving the French government a free space". The total and rapid defeat of France followed by its partition had not been studied by the German General Staff. Finally this partition, which handicapped the defeated, was decided by the winner. Thus on 22 June 1940 Generals Wilhelm Keitel for Nazi Germany and Charles Huntziger for France signed an armistice which outlined in Article 2 the creation of a partition of the metropolitan area of France. Article 3, however, stated:

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