Montoire-sur-le-Loir
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Montoire-sur-le-Loir
|commune status = Commune
|image = France Loir-et-Cher Montoire-sur-le-Loir 01.JPG
|image coat of arms = Blason montoire sur le loir-41.svg
|arrondissement = Vendôme
|canton = Montoire-sur-le-Loir
|INSEE = 41149
|postal code = 41800
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CA Territoires Vendômois
|coordinates = {{coord|47.755|0.8644|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 70
|elevation min m = 60
|elevation max m = 146
|area km2 = 21.02
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|caption=The main square of the town}}
Montoire-sur-le-Loir ({{IPA|fr|mɔ̃twaʁ syʁ lə lwaʁ}}, literally Montoire on the Loir), commonly known as Montoire, is a commune near Vendôme, in the Loir-et-Cher department in Centre-Val de Loire, France.[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/41149-montoire-sur-le-loir INSEE commune file]
History
File:Montoire-sur-le-Loir-146-Bahnhof-2008-gje.jpg
Montoire-sur-le-Loir is known as the location where, on 24 October 1940, the famous handshake between Adolf Hitler and Philippe Pétain took place signifying the start of organised collaboration of Vichy France with the Nazi regime. The meeting took place in a railway car just outside the town's railway station.
The discussion was entirely a matter of generalities, with no specifics discussed or decided. Hitler was impressed with Pétain's commitment to defending the French colonial empire. False rumours abounded that France had made major concessions regarding colonies and German control of French ports and the French fleet.William L. Langer, Our Vichy Gamble (1947) pp 89-98. 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.""J'entre aujourd'hui dans la voie de la collaboration..." sourced from French wiki page.
Two days previously, Pierre Laval had had a meeting with Hitler in the same location and suggested to Hitler that he meet with Pétain.
Montoire 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.
Population
{{Historical populations
|align = none
|cols = 2
|percentages = pagr
|source = EHESS{{Cassini-Ehess|23710|Montoire-sur-le-Loir}} and INSEE (1975–2017)[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-41149#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
|1793 |2844
|1821 |2938
|1846 |3051
|1872 |3054
|1901 |3115
|1926 |2780
|1946 |2908
|1962 |2540
|1968 |3241
|1975 |3932
|1982 |4200
|1990 |4065
|1999 |4275
|2007 |4094
|2012 |3963
|2017 |3782
}}
International relations
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/camp/eur/ger/dip/nd40m.html NAZI Diplomacy: Vichy France, 1940]
{{Commons category|Montoire-sur-le-Loir}}
{{Loir-et-Cher communes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montoiresurleloir}}
Category:Communes of Loir-et-Cher
{{LoirCher-geo-stub}}