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The Popular Front was the coalition of Communists, Socialists, and other left-wing political parties which developed emerged in France during the 1930s to achieve political power and social reform in France. It was also in reaction to the threat of Fascism, especially the rise of the NAZIs in Germany. The Popular Front won the elections of 1936 and Léon Blum became France's first socialist premier. The Depression was a major reason for the Popular Front's victory. The Popular Front's economic policy generally failed. They achieved gains for workers such as shorter hours and summer vacations. This was not, however, accompanied by increased productivity. The impact thus was to weaken French industry and production at the same time German labor was prevented from making similar demands and German factories were producing arms and other military equipment at full capacity. aime . The strikes of 1936 affected the Government's image. The Government decided not to intervene in the Spanish Civil War, the first Fascist military exploit in Europe. The Popular Front was not just a political movement, but rather a social and cultural movement as well. The movment's goal was to break down the trditional barriers that separated the highly compartmentalised society of France in the 1930s. As such, the Popular Front was reviled by traditional and right-wing elements in French society. The phrase, "Better Hitler than Blum" began to be heard./ Aftr the Germany victory in 1940, Blum and the Popular Front were blamed by Vichy politicians rather than the French military planners. While the Popular Front failed in many of its goals and failedc to prepare France to resist the Germans , the myth of the Popular Front has achieved legendary status in modern France. [Jackson, Popular Front]
The Popular Front was the coalition of Communists, Socialists, and other left-wing political parties which developed emerged in France during the 1930s to achieve political power and social reform in France. It was also in reaction to the threat of Fascism, especially the rise of the NAZIs in Germany.
The impact of the American Stock Market Cash (1929) and resulting Depression arrived in France later than it did in Britain, Germany, and other European countries. France remained relatively prosperous for some time, primarily because it was not as tied to the American economy as Britain and Germany and the country was self sufficent in food production. France was, however, not imune. The first obvious impact was the disappearance of American expatriats from Paris who could no longer aford to live abroad. Finally the French economy began to feel the impact of the Depression (1932). Tourism declined sharply as Americans and other foreigners could no longer aford foreign trips. And tourism was an important industry. Exports also declined. Many important French exports (perfumes, wine, chese,and food and other high-end foods) were luxury goods that Americans and oithers could no longer afford. Orders were cancelled and prices fell. The overall impact was to serious reduce French export income. Unemployment increased to 15 percent and inductrial production declined 25 percent (1932).
Elections in 1932 brought to power conservative André Tardieu. He had campaigned one the threat of Communism. He formed a coalition government of conservatives and rightists. They opposed the New Deal style spending demanded by the left-wing parties for the unemployed and poor workers adversely affected by the Depression. The Tardieu Government was commotted to limit taxation, balance the budget and prevent inflation. It hoped to achieve revovery by replacing lost markets with increased trade with the country's colonies and restricting government spending. Tardieu Government wa also committed to the gold standard. His policies were in many wys similar to those of the Hoover Administration in the United States. Retaining the gold standard even after America, Britain, and Germany went off it, meant tht the France was overvalued which further impaired export sales. French businessmen saw a devaluation coming. Many sent funds abroad, further impairing the economy. The French economy did not decline further after the sharp 1932 decline, but it also did not recover. The econmy stagnated for 3 years. Unemployment and industrial production in 1935 were basically the same as in 1932. [Hill, p. 37.] The left-wing parties increasingly attacked the Government and charged it with a callous social outlook. Tardieu defended his policies and warned that the left-wing parties (Communists and Socialists) would bring further economic decline, anarchy and ruin.
The mid-1930s in France were a time of great political unrest. There were many strikes, and totalitarian regimes were coming to the fore in Europe. The stagnant economy generated increasing support for political change. The Depression proved to be a major reason for the rise of the Popular Front. The Conservatives were aided by the long running differences between the Socialist and Communists.
A wave of strikes swept France (1936). The strikes of 1936 affected the Government's image.
The Popular Front won the elections of 1936. It was the most important Popular Front goverment was fomed in France. The Popular Front (Front Populaire) was an alliance of left-wing political parties that came into power in France following the 1936 elections. Its leader was Léon Blum. Blum became France's first socialist premier.
The Popular Front's economic policy generally failed. They achieved gains for workers such as shorter hours and summer vacations. This was not, however, accompanied by increased productivity. The impact thus was to weaken French industry and production at the same time German labor was prevented from making similar demands and German factories were producing arms and other military equipment at full capacity. Blum tried to improve the living conditionsof the working class, nationalized the trains and the Bank of France, and controlled the price of grain, but prices shot up anyway and runaway inflation resulted affecting his popularity. The Popular Front's efforts to deal with the Depression generally failed.
The Government decided not to intervene in the Spanish Civil War, the first Fascist military exploit in Europe. Despite the opposition to Fascism, the Popular Front Government refused to intervene in the Spanish Civil War which also began in 1936. Blum and the Popular Front Government failed in addressing the challenge of Hitler and the NAZIs or in preparing France for war.
The Popular Front was not just a political movement, but rather a social and cultural movement as well. The movment's goal was to break down the trditional barriers that separated the highly compartmentalised society of France in the 1930s. As such, the Popular Front was reviled by traditional and right-wing elements in French society. The phrase, "Better Hitler than Blum" began to be heard.
After the Germany victory in 1940, Blum and the Popular Front were blamed by Vichy politicians rather than the French military planners. After the NAZI victory and the fall of France (1940), Blum was arrested by Vichy officials and tried for treason. He was confined in a NAZI concentration camp until liberated by the Allies (1945).
While the Popular Front failed in many of its goals and failedc to prepare France to resist the Germans , the myth of the Popular Front has achieved legendary status in modern France. [Jackson, Popular Front] Despites its economic failures and ultimate defeat by the NAZIs, the Popular Front has an enormous cultural cache in modern France.
Jackson, Julin. The Popular Front in France: Defending Democracy, 1934–38 ( 1990), 369p.
Hill, Kim Quaile. Democracies in Crisis.
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