Was there German troops in vichy france?

The south of France was called a "free" zone by the Nazis, and old Field Marshall Petain was appointed, again, by the conquering Nazis, as the premier of the zone.

Once the Americans invaded French North Africa and the French there (eventually, after some heavy fighting against the Yanks) joined the Allies, the Nazis abandoned any semblance of freedom in southern France.

During 1940-1942 - after Francs'defeat - the old Maréchal Petain was called to head a Filo-German Government.

France was divided in two about equal parts : an Occupied France and

a " Petain-France ".

Only in the occupied France there were German Troops.

In Algeria the situation was this : Admiral Darlan had the power and he

conducted Filo-European Government- but he was assassinated.

The other contributor is correct. Some additional information: In summer 1942 France/Belgium/Netherlands were relatively peaceful, there were no major battles, it was basically administrative work to be done, an invasion at that time from the UK was highly unlikely. The army in the west was known in Germany as the army of the "old and sick". The war was in its third year and the fighting in Russia was brutal ! While the first campaigns in the West and the initial attack in the East was lead by the "old officers corps" of the Wehrmacht, partially from WW I veterans, a new and younger officer corps - mainly trained and influenced by Nazi ideology - had taken over, also there was a generation of older mid level officers which came from WW I. This soldiers and officers were still capable and of use (especially with their experience) they were not longer considered to be fully trusted (e.g. Rundstedt in the Russian campaign had stood up against Hitler and was close to the resistance movement around General Colonel Beck) they still had value as occupational forces. So older soldiers or soldiers not considered able for full active duty were send to France as well as officers with questionable commitment to Hitler and the Nazi's ideology. The troops in France definitely did not have full strength and there fighting ability in 1942 was very questionable. There main task was to supervise the building of the Atlantic wall by organization Todd and french forced labor. That changed after Rommel took over.