Country France Department Loir-et-Cher Intercommunality Pays de Ronsard Area 21.02 km² Arrondissement Vendôme | Region Centre-Val de Loire Canton Montoire-sur-le-Loir Population (2014) 3,842 Local time Saturday 6:49 AM | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind SW at 21 km/h, 85% Humidity | ||
Pays de montoire sur le loir 41 r gion centre val de loire
Montoire-sur-le-Loir is a commune in the Loir-et-Cher department of central France.
Contents
- Pays de montoire sur le loir 41 r gion centre val de loire
- Map of 41800 Montoire sur le Loir France
- History
- Twin towns Sister cities
- References
Map of 41800 Montoire-sur-le-Loir, France
History
Montoire-sur-le-Loir is known as the location where, on 24 October 1940, the famous handshake between Adolf Hitler and Maréchal Pétain took place signifying the start of organised French collaboration with the Nazi regime. The meeting took place in a railway car just outside the town's railway 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, Hitler having met with Franco at Hendaye on the 23rd. Besides, in case of an aerial attack, the train could have found shelter in the nearby tunnel in Saint-Rimay. The tunnel had armored doors, which are still visible, installed for the meeting. German command posts were established at Saint-Rimay and Thoré-la-Rochette with direct contact to Berlin.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Montoire-sur-le-Loir is twinned with: