The Economic Control administration was the cornerstone of the repression of economic offences in France during the 1940’€™s. It illustrates perfectly the continuity between the end of the Third Republic, the Occupation, the Liberation and the reconstruction period. Initially, it was intended for 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 co-opted by the Vichy administration. In this environment, it was considered as a tool used by the German Occupation in order to fight against the leaks and dissimulations which could have sabotaged its withholdings policy. The fact that this administration was considered unpatriotic to a great extent explains its unpopularity this period and even after the Liberation, even when it should have resumed its original mission and only served the interests of France.