John F. Sweets
Encyclopedia
John F. Sweets is an American historian of modern French history specializing in the Vichy France
era, the French Resistance
, and occupied France. Sweets earned his Ph.D. from Duke University
in 1972 and has taught at the University of Kansas
since that year.
and the German occupation during World War II
. Sweets' work argues that, "the vast majority of French were far from collaborationist."
His earlier work, The Politics of Resistance in France, 1940-1944, was the "first account in English of the political evolution within the Resistance that enabled it to overcome internal strife" and form an effective underground movement.
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
era, the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
, and occupied France. Sweets earned his Ph.D. from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1972 and has taught at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
since that year.
Biography
Sweets is best known for his book Choices in Vichy France, which explores popular French attitudes towards the Vichy government, the French ResistanceFrench Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
and the German occupation during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Sweets' work argues that, "the vast majority of French were far from collaborationist."
His earlier work, The Politics of Resistance in France, 1940-1944, was the "first account in English of the political evolution within the Resistance that enabled it to overcome internal strife" and form an effective underground movement.
Publications
- The Politics of Resistance in France, 1940-1944: A History of the Mouvements unis de la Résistance, (Dekalb, 1976)
- Choices in Vichy France: the French Under Nazi Occupation, (New York, 1986), translated into French as Clermont-FerrandClermont-FerrandClermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
à l’heure allemande, (Paris, 1996)