22 June 1940. The armistice is signed. Article 13 of the convention places the rail network of the occupied zone — 2 thirds of the SNCF — entirely at the disposal of the German head of transport, who sets its priorities. The Wehrmacht's military trains take precedence over everything else.
French railway workers continue to operate the lines, but under the supervision of Reichsbahn agents. From the summer onward, the occupier requisitions equipment: an initial order covers a thousand locomotives and 35,000 wagons.
The general management, led by , must settle on an official course of action for the entire company, while the country is cut in 2 and the staff is under the threat of German sanctions.
Heading the SNCF, Paris, July 1940: how to respond to the German transport demands imposed by the armistice?
The management of the SNCF chose to apply Article 13 "loyally": French railway workers continued to operate the network under German control and provided the transport demanded by the occupier, including military transport. This policy of state railway collaboration would continue until 1944, including the transport of troops, of STO conscripts and then of deportees. Acts of resistance and sabotage — such as the diversion of wagons to the free zone by the railway workers Berger and Jardinier at Poitiers as early as 23 June 1940 — were the work of individuals and networks, never a policy of the management. Le Besnerais was removed from the SNCF through early retirement at the Liberation.
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