Syria
Syria is a unique situation, in that it should have been an independent nation prior to WWII. In 1936 the Syrians and the French negotiated a treaty of independence. Hashim al-Atassi was elected as the first president of the modern republic of Syria. Strangely enough, Syria never gained their independence in 1936 because the French Legislature refused to ratify it. For years, they held off on ratifying the treaty and in 1940 when France fell, the treaty had still not been ratified.
Syria was then under the control of Vichy France until July 1941, when they were then occupied by the British and the Free French forces as part of the Syria-Lebanon campaign. After the expulsion of Vichy France, the Syrians declared their independence. Syria was not recognized as an independent republic until 1944, due to pressure from Syrian nationalists and the British.
With independence finally granted, Syria went back under the control of the republican government that had been formed in 1936. The British were supportive of the Syrian government and therefore supported the evacuation of French troops from Syria.
Evacuation Day is the national day that commemorates Syrian independence and it is celebrated on April 17. It comes on the anniversary of the very last French soldier leaving Syria on April 17, 1946, which officially ended French rule.