The Economic Control Board - which was a cornerstone of the repression of economical infringements in France during the 1940s - illustrates perfectly the continuations that existed between the end of the Third Republic, the Occupation, the Liberation and the reconstruction period. At the start, it was set up for the purpose of economic regulation and social justice (in order to assist the fair distribution of available supplies within the context of extreme shortages and to fight against inflation), however, it was quickly trapped in the collaboration decided by the Vichy administration. In this environment, it was deemed as an instrument used by the German Occupant in order to fight against the flights and concealments which could have sabotaged his tributes politic. The fact that it was deemed non-patriotic explains mainly the high unpopularity of this administration during the whole period, even after the Liberation, even though it should have resumed its original mission and only served the interests of France.
