French Forces

French Troops in Asia

Vichy French soldiers in Indochina, during the Japanese invasion of 1940. The Imperial Japanese Military attacked the French colonies in southeast Asia despite the fact that they were technically allies due to the Axis treaty. After just four days of fighting the French surrendered, and signed an agreement that allowed Japan to station and train troops on Indochinese soil, as well as use Vietnam and Cambodia to transport supplies to other parts of the empire. The French, although maintaining control over day to day affairs, now found themselves sharing an uneasy partnership for control over the region.