The 20th century in world history was marked by important discoveries in the field of technology and art, but at the same time it was the time of two World Wars that claimed the lives of several tens of millions of people in most countries of the world. The decisive role in the Victory was played by such states as the USA, the USSR, Great Britain and France. During World War II, they defeated world fascism. France was forced to capitulate, but then revived and continued to fight against Germany and its allies.
France in the pre-war years
In the last pre-war years, France experienced serious economic difficulties. At that time, the People's Front was at the helm of the state. However, after Blum's resignation, the new government was headed by Shotan. His policy began to deviate from the program of the Popular Front. Taxes were raised, the 40-hour work week was abolished, and industrialists had the opportunity to increase the duration of the latter. A strike movement immediately swept across the country, however, to pacify the dissatisfiedthe government sent police units. France before the Second World War pursued an anti-social policy and every day had less and less support among the people.
By this time, the military-political bloc "Berlin-Rome Axis" was formed. On March 11, 1938, Germany invaded Austria. Two days later, her Anschluss took place. This event dramatically changed the state of affairs in Europe. A threat loomed over the Old World, and first of all it concerned Great Britain and France. The population of France demanded that the government take decisive action against Germany, especially since the USSR also expressed such ideas, offering to join forces and stifle the growing fascism in the bud. However, the government still continued to follow the so-called. "appeasement", believing that if Germany was given everything she asked for, war could be avoided.
The authority of the Popular Front was melting before our eyes. Unable to cope with economic problems, Shotan resigned. After that, the second Bloom government was installed, which lasted less than a month before its next resignation.
Daladier Government
France during the Second World War could have appeared in a different, more attractive light, if not for some actions of the new Prime Minister Edouard Daladier.
The new government was formed exclusively from the democratic and right-wing forces, without the communists and socialists, however, Daladier needed the support of the latter two in the elections. Therefore, he designated his activities as a sequence of actions of the Popular Front, as a result he received the support of both the communists and the socialists. However, immediately after coming to power, everything changed dramatically.
The first steps were aimed at "improving the economy." Taxes were raised and another devaluation was carried out, which eventually gave its negative results. But this is not the most important thing in the activities of Daladier of that period. Foreign policy in Europe was at that time at the limit - one spark, and the war would have begun. France in World War II did not want to take the side of the defeatists. There were several opinions within the country: some wanted a close alliance with Britain and the United States; others did not rule out the possibility of an alliance with the USSR; still others strongly opposed the Popular Front, proclaiming the slogan "Better Hitler than the Popular Front." Separate from those listed were the pro-German circles of the bourgeoisie, who believed that even if they managed to defeat Germany, the revolution that would come with the USSR to Western Europe would not spare anyone. They offered to appease Germany in every possible way, giving her freedom of action in an easterly direction.
A black spot in the history of French diplomacy
After the easy accession of Austria, Germany is increasing its appetites. Now she swung at the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. Hitler caused the mostly German-populated area to fight for autonomy and virtual separation from Czechoslovakia. When the government of the country gave a categoricalrebuffed by fascist antics, Hitler began to act as the savior of the "infringed" Germans. He threatened the government of Beneš that he could bring in his troops and take the region by force. In turn, France and Great Britain supported Czechoslovakia in words, while the USSR offered real military assistance if Beneš applied to the League of Nations and officially appealed to the USSR for help. Beneš, however, could not take a step without the instruction of the French and the British, who did not want to quarrel with Hitler. The international diplomatic events that followed after that could greatly reduce France's losses in World War II, which was already inevitable, but history and politicians decreed otherwise, strengthening the main fascist many times over with military factories in Czechoslovakia.
On September 28, 1938, a conference of France, England, Italy and Germany took place in the city of Munich. Here the fate of Czechoslovakia was decided, and neither Czechoslovakia nor the Soviet Union, which expressed a desire to help, were invited. As a result, the next day Mussolini, Hitler, Chamberlain and Daladier signed the protocols of the Munich Agreements, according to which the Sudetenland was henceforth the territory of Germany, and the areas dominated by Hungarians and Poles were also to be separated from Czechoslovakia and become the lands of the titular countries.
Daladier and Chamberlain guaranteed the inviolability of the new borders and peace in Europe for a "whole generation" of returning national heroes.
In principle, it was, so to speak, the first surrender of France in World War II to the main aggressor in historyhumanity.
Start of World War II and France's entry into it
According to the strategy of the offensive against Poland, in the early morning of September 1, 1939, Germany crossed the border. World War II has begun! The German army, with the support of its aviation and having a numerical superiority, immediately took the initiative into their own hands and quickly seized Polish territory.
France in World War II, as well as England, declared war on Germany only after two days of active hostilities - September 3, still dreaming of appeasing or "pacifying" Hitler. In principle, historians have reason to believe that if there had not been an agreement, according to which the main patron of Poland after the First World War was France, which, in the event of open aggression against the Poles, was obliged to send its troops and provide military support, most likely, there would be no declaration of war did not follow either two days later or later.
Strange war, or How France fought without fighting
France's participation in World War II can be divided into several stages. The first is called "The Strange War". It lasted about 9 months - from September 1939 to May 1940. It was named so because during the war between France and England, no military operations were carried out against Germany. That is, the war was declared, but no one fought. The agreement under which France was obliged to organize an offensive against Germany within 15 days was not fulfilled. The German war machine calmly "de alt" with Poland,without looking back at their western borders, where only 23 divisions were concentrated against 110 French and English, which could dramatically change the course of events at the beginning of the war and put Germany in a difficult position, if not lead to her defeat at all. Meanwhile, in the east, beyond Poland, Germany had no rival, it had an ally - the USSR. Stalin, without waiting for an alliance with England and France, concluded it with Germany, securing his lands for some time from the onset of the Nazis, which is quite logical. But England and France behaved rather strangely in the Second World War and specifically at its beginning.
The Soviet Union at that time occupied the eastern part of Poland and the B altic states, presented an ultimatum to Finland on the exchange of territories of the Karelian Peninsula. The Finns opposed this, after which the USSR unleashed a war. France and England reacted sharply to this, excluding the USSR from the League of Nations and preparing for war with it.
A completely strange situation has developed: in the center of Europe, at the very border of France, there is a world aggressor that threatens all of Europe and, first of all, France itself, and she declares war on the USSR, which simply wants to secure its borders, and offers an exchange of territories, not a treacherous takeover. This state of affairs continued until the Benelux countries and France suffered from Germany. The period of the Second World War, marked by oddities, ended here, and the real war began.
At this time inland …
Immediately after the startwar in France, a state of siege was introduced. All strikes and demonstrations were banned, and the media were subject to strict wartime censorship. In terms of labor relations, wages were frozen at pre-war levels, strikes were banned, vacations were not granted, and the law on the 40-hour work week was repealed.
France during the Second World War pursued a fairly tough policy within the country, especially in relation to the PCF (French Communist Party). The communists were declared practically outlaws. Their mass arrests began. The deputies were deprived of immunity and were put on trial. But the apogee of the "fight against aggressors" was the document dated November 18, 1939 - "Decree on Suspicious". According to this document, the government could imprison almost any person in a concentration camp, considering him suspicious and dangerous to the state and society. In less than two months of this decree, more than 15,000 communists found themselves in concentration camps. And in April of the following year, another decree was adopted that equated communist activity with treason, and citizens convicted of this were punished by death.
German invasion of France
After the defeat of Poland and Scandinavia, Germany began the transfer of the main forces to the Western Front. By May 1940, there was no longer the advantage that countries such as England and France had. World War II was destined to move to the lands of the "peacekeepers" who wanted to appease Hitler,giving him everything he asked for.
On May 10, 1940, Germany launched an invasion of the West. In less than a month, the Wehrmacht managed to break Belgium, Holland, defeat the British Expeditionary Force, as well as the most combat-ready French forces. All Northern France and Flanders were occupied. The morale of the French soldiers was low, while the Germans believed even more in their invincibility. The matter remained small. In ruling circles, as well as in the army, fermentation began. On June 14, Paris was surrendered to the Nazis, and the government fled to the city of Bordeaux.
Mussolini also did not want to miss the division of trophies. And on June 10, believing that France no longer poses a threat, he invaded the territory of the state. However, the Italian troops, almost twice as numerous, were not successful in the fight against the French. France in World War II managed to show what she is capable of. And even on June 21, on the eve of the signing of the surrender, 32 Italian divisions were stopped by the French. It was a complete failure of the Italians.
French capitulation in World War II
After England, fearing the transfer of the French fleet into the hands of the Germans, flooded most of it, France severed all diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. On June 17, 1940, her government rejected the British offer of an inviolable alliance and the need to continue the fight to the last.
June 22 in the forest of Compiègne, in the carriage of Marshal Foch, an armistice was signed between France and Germany. France, it promised dire consequences, in the first placeeconomic. Two-thirds of the country became German territory, while the southern part was declared independent, but obliged to pay 400 million francs a day! Most of the raw materials and finished products went to support the German economy, and primarily the army. More than 1 million French citizens were sent as labor force to Germany. The country's economy and economy suffered huge losses, which will subsequently have an impact on the industrial and agricultural development of France after the Second World War.
Vichy Mode
After the capture of northern France in the resort town of Vichy, it was decided to transfer the authoritarian supreme power in southern "independent" France into the hands of Philippe Pétain. This marked the end of the Third Republic and the establishment of the Vichy government (from location). France in World War II did not show its best side, especially during the years of the Vichy regime.
At first, the regime found support among the population. However, it was a fascist government. Communist ideas were banned, Jews, just like in all the territories occupied by the Nazis, were driven to death camps. For one killed German soldier, death overtook 50-100 ordinary citizens. The Vichy government itself did not have a regular army. There were few military forces necessary to maintain order and obedience, while the soldiers did not have any serious military weapons.
The regime has lasted long enoughfor a long time - from July 1940 to the end of April 1945.
Liberation of France
June 6, 1944, one of the largest military-strategic operations started - the opening of the Second Front, which began with the landing of the Anglo-American allied forces in Normandy. Fierce battles began on the territory of France for its liberation, together with the allies, the French themselves, as part of the Resistance movement, carried out actions to liberate the country.
France in World War II dishonored itself in two ways: firstly, by being defeated, and secondly, by collaborating with the Nazis for almost 4 years. Although General de Gaulle tried with all his might to create a myth that the entire French people as a whole fought for the country's independence, not helping Germany in anything, but only weakening it with various sorties and sabotage. "Paris has been liberated by French hands," de Gaulle asserted confidently and solemnly.
The capitulation of the occupying troops took place in Paris on August 25, 1944. The Vichy government then existed in exile until the end of April 1945.
After that, something unimaginable began in the country. Face to face met those who were declared bandits under the Nazis, that is, partisans, and those who lived happily under the Nazis. Often there was a public lynching of the henchmen of Hitler and Pétain. The Anglo-American allies, who saw this with their own eyes, did not understand what was happening and called on the French partisans to come to their senses, but they were simply furious, believing that theirthe time has come. A large number of French women, declared fascist whores, were publicly disgraced. They were dragged out of their houses, dragged to the square, where they were shaved and led along the main streets so that everyone could see, often while all their clothes were torn off. The first years of France after the Second World War, in short, experienced remnants of that not-so-distant, but such a sad past, when social tension and at the same time the revival of the national spirit were intertwined, creating an uncertain situation.
The end of the war. Results for France
The role of France in the Second World War was not decisive for its entire course, however, there was still a certain contribution, at the same time there were negative consequences for it.
The French economy was practically destroyed. Industry, for example, produced only 38% of the output of the pre-war level. About 100 thousand French did not return from the battlefields, about two million were held captive until the end of the war. Military equipment was mostly destroyed, the fleet was sunk.
The policy of France after the Second World War is associated with the name of the military and political leader Charles de Gaulle. The first post-war years were aimed at restoring the economy and social welfare of French citizens. French losses in World War II could have been much lower, or perhaps they would not have happened at all, if on the eve of the war the governments of England and France had not tried"appease" Hitler, and immediately with one hard blow they would have de alt with the not yet strong German fascist monster, which almost swallowed the whole world.
