Was collaboration a choice of ideology, or a desperate attempt at survival?

History · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: During World War II, many nations and individuals cooperated with the Axis powers. While some were driven by shared fascist ideals, others acted out of economic necessity, fear of retaliation, or a misguided hope that bargaining with invaders could mitigate harm to their citizens.

Historians distinguish between 'collaborationists'—those driven by ideology—and 'collaborators' who cooperated for non-ideological reasons. In Belgium, the Committee of Secretaries-General attempted a technocratic approach to manage the occupation. While they hoped to protect the population, their administration actually made German policies, such as the deportation of workers, more efficient. This administrative cooperation even managed to delay certain labor deportations until October 1942, yet the committee remained deeply unpopular with a public that blamed them for implementing German demands.

In Denmark, the government maintained its domestic structure by cooperating with Germany until 1943, even joining the Anti-Comintern Pact in November 1941. This policy was driven by the need to maintain social order and economic stability, as the country relied on Germany for food. However, this cooperation had a dark side: the Danish authorities handed over at least 21 Jewish refugees to German forces, 18 of whom died in concentration camps. The government also arrested hundreds of communists in 1941, violating its own constitution.

France presented a complex landscape of varying loyalties. The Vichy regime, led by Marshal Philippe Pétain, established an authoritarian state that sought to preserve some sovereignty while supporting German economic objectives. Meanwhile, radical groups like the Milice, a paramilitary force of 30,000, actively assisted the Gestapo. The scale of involvement varied; while fewer than 220,000 people joined radical collaborationist movements in France, an estimated 30,000 Frenchmen served in German military units throughout the war.

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