Timeline of Event between wars in FRANCE

Armistice of Compiègne

(November 11 1918): Ends WWI, with France emerging victorious but deeply scarred; immense human and material losses (1.4 million dead).

Treaty of Versailles

France regains Alsace-Lorraine and pushes for harsh reparations from Germany to rebuild. June 28 1919

Reconstruction Era Begins:

Northern France starts rebuilding after devastation. 1919

Post-War Strikes:

French workers demand better wages and working conditions amidst economic turmoil. 1919

League of Nations

France becomes a founding member, emphasizing its role in global diplomacy. 1920

Women's Suffrage Movement Gains Momentum:

Women in France still lack the vote, unlike in other Western nations. 1920

Occupation of the Ruhr:

France and Belgium occupy Germany's Ruhr region to enforce reparations payments, exacerbating Franco-German tensions. 1923

Financial Crisis

French currency devalues; Raymond Poincaré stabilizes the franc by introducing fiscal reforms. 1926

Kellogg Briand Pact

France and other nations sign this agreement, renouncing war as a means of resolving disputes. 1928

Global Great Depression Hits France:

Slower to arrive but devastating; high unemployment and social unrest. 1931

Paris Riots

(February 6 1934): Far-right leagues and veterans’ groups protest against the government, leading to violent clashes.

Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance:

France seeks to counter German rearmament with an alliance. 1935

Popular Front Wins Elections

1936: A leftist coalition led by Léon Blum forms the first socialist government in France.

Blum's Social Reforms

1936: Includes the 40-hour workweek, paid vacations for workers, and collective bargaining rights.

Spanish Civil War Begins

1936: France hesitates to intervene, fearing a broader conflict.

Munich Agreement:

1938: France, along with Britain, appeases Germany, allowing the annexation of the Sudetenland.

World War II Begins

(September 1 1939): France declares war on Germany after the invasion of Poland but adopts a defensive "Phony War" strategy (Drôle de guerre).