Order-State of Burgundy

The name Burgundy itself is derived from the Burgundians, a Germanic tribe, who settled in and founded the Kingdom of Burgundy. A wide number of different countries and regions throughout history have been referred to by this name or controlled by a Burgundy-based state.

The most outspoken proponent of re-creating a German-controlled Burgundian state was Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. According to Himmler, Burgundy, which he called "an ancient economic and cultural center", had been "reduced to nothing more than a French appendage, known only for its wine production". This plan entailed the transformation of Burgundy into a model-state nominally located outside of the Greater German Reich, but nevertheless ruled by a Nazi government, and which would also have its own army, laws, and postal services. It was supposed to encompass Romandy, Picardy with Amiens, Champagne with Reims and Troyes, Franche-Comté with Dijon, Chalon, along with Nevers, Hainaut, Brabant, Limburg, Flanders, and Luxembourg (Belgium). Some depictions even include Upper Normandy with Rouen north of the River Seine. It was also to have a connection to both the Mediterranean Sea as well as the English Channel. The capital and administrative seat was tentatively proposed as either Dijon (Tischau), Lyon (Lienhardstadt) or Nancy (Nanzig).[1] Its official language was to become German, but would initially be also French.

Whether these were merely the dreams of Himmler personally or, as he so claimed, enjoyed Hitler's full support is inconclusive from the historical record. Hitler's own objective towards France was to eliminate it permanently as a strategic threat to German security. The 1940 campaign in Western Europe was carried out after France and Britain had attacked Germany so that Germany's western flank could be secured.[2] With this in mind, extensive plans were made so that France could be reduced to a minor state and a permanent German vassal kept firmly in the state of dependence that she had found herself in after the 1940 armistice. Germany would thus have no further reason to fear French arms.

At Hitler's request German planners outlined how, after the fall of France in 1940, Germany would outright annex a large strip of Eastern France, returning to France's late medieval borders with the Holy Roman Empire. This memo, produced by the Reich Interior Ministry forms the basis for the northeast line which separated the 'forbidden zone' of German occupied France from the rest of the areas under military control.[3] It proposed the settlement of a million German peasants, while the French speaking population was to become re-Germanized.[4] He considered these areas, as well as Wallonia to be "in reality German", due to their historical German background, and should therefore be re-integrated into the German Reich.[5]

In 1942 Hitler also mentioned that the former area of the Kingdom of Burgundy, which France "had taken from Germany in her weakest moment" would also have to be annexed to Nazi Germany after the incorporation of the forbidden zone.[6]

There were also proposals for an independent Breton state, as a German vassal.[6] Hitler himself mentioned this intention on at least one occasion to his military leaders,[7] but ultimately seemed to have taken little interest in the project.[6]

• New Order (Nazism)
• German occupation of France during World War II
• Greater Germanic Reich
• Burgundian Circle