France 1919-1940

Annotated Events

1925 - Treaty of Locarno. This treaty set the borders that would become permanent for many years. It finally settled the disputed European borders.

1929 - The Great Depression. The main reason France fell into a depression was because they were so dependent on the United States. When the US took a fall, all dependent countries followed the same fate.

1933 - Stavisky Affair. This scandal could not have come at a worse time for the Third Republic. Stavisky issued Bonds to a pawnshop at Bayonne. When Stavisky was captured, he committed suicide. He probably did not kill himself as the Government was trying to cover this scandal up before it worsened.

1936 - Popular Front. Socialists and Liberals came together under the control of Leon Blum.

1940 - The Germans attack France. The Germans attacked France with lighting speed. They used their Blitzkrieg method of fighting to take out France very quickly. With Germany's new technology, they were able to defeat France in about six weeks.