Resistance or Collaboration? The French Automobile Industry during the Second World War: The Case of Ford SAF

Following the Liberation of France in 1944, Francois Lehideux was accused having collaborated with the Germans. Under Lehideux's leadership, during the occupation the French automobile industry had worked almost exclusively for Germany. In his defence, Lehideux claimed that the industry had sabotaged the German war effort by deliberately under-producing. Although some historians have corroborated Lehideux's claim, the phenomenon of under-production has received little critical scrutiny so far. Examining the wartime activities of the Ford SAF automobile company, this article argues that it is plausible that the company produced less than it could have for the Germans, particularly during 1943-1944. Just as importantly, however, it argues that this under-production did not constitute a form of resistance, as Ford SAF was not motivated by a desire to undermine Germany's war effort.