Changes: French Third Republic

Revision as of 06:05, 11 November 2018

The French Third Republic was the French state preceding and during World War II, until it's surrender to the forces of Nazi Germany on 25 June, 1940.

Prewar History

France, following the great casualties of the Great War in 1914-1918, had suffered a significant decline in birth rates and as such by the time of the Second World War, its armies were severely undermanned. Furthermore, the economy of France had since not yet recovered and its industries were half their former size.

Riots and attempted political takeovers all worsened the state of the nation. However, collapse was never seen to be a possibility and overall, the condition of France was better than that of other nations which had suffered a larger toll from the war.

World War II

Both France and Britain declared war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, with British troops landing in France to defend against an German invasion of France. France reinforced and secured the Maginot Line, but left the border with Belgium relatively undefended.

On 10 May, 1940, Germany circumvented the Maginot Line by invading Belgium, and in six weeks conquered all of France using Blitzkrieg tactics. The forced the British off the Continent, and the French government into exile in Africa. This exiled government would become Free France.

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+{{Country_infobox|name = French Third Republic|location = Western Europe|climate = Temperate|terrain = Grasslands and Forests|language = French|capital = Paris|cities = Reims, Versailles, Vichy|currency = Franc|government = Parliamentary Republic|leaders = Édouard Daladier, (1938-40), Paul Reynaud (1940)|image = France.jpg}}The '''French Third Republic '''was the French state preceding and during [[World War II]], until it's surrender to the forces of [[Germany|Nazi Germany]] on 25 June, 1940.
-{{Quality|expand}}
-[[File:Map_of_France.gif|thumb|236px|A map of France.]]
-'''France''' is a country in Western Europe that is bordered by [[Spain]], [[Belguim]], [[Italy]], [[Swizterland]], [[Luxembourg]], and [[Germany]]. During [[World War II]], France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded France, Belguim and [[Holland]] and by the end of June, Northern and Western France was under German occupation, while the remainder of the country was administered as a free zone by the Vichy regime. The country continued to be occupied by German troops until complete liberation in 1944, following the Allied landings in Normandy.
-==History==
+==Prewar History==
+France, following the great casualties of the Great War in 1914-1918, had suffered a significant decline in birth rates and as such by the time of the Second World War, its armies were severely undermanned. Furthermore, the economy of France had since not yet recovered and its industries were half their former size.
-===Pre-War Years===
-[[File:France_Flag.png|thumb|left|140px]]France, following the great casualties of the Great War in 1914-1918, had suffered a significant decline in birth rates and as such by the time of the Second World War, its armies were severely undermanned. Furthermore, the economy of France had since not yet recovered and its industries were half their former size.
 Riots and attempted political takeovers all worsened the state of the nation. However, collapse was never seen to be a possibility and overall, the condition of France was better than that of other nations which had suffered a larger toll from the war.
-===Battle of France and Occupation===
+== World War II ==
-====Vichy France====
+Both France and [[United Kingdom|Britain]] declared war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, with British troops landing in France to defend against an German invasion of France. France reinforced and secured the [[Maginot Line]], but left the border with [[Belgium]] relatively undefended.
-[[File:10_Vichy_Camps.gif|thumb|left|300px|Diagram showing German occupied areas (in yellow) and Vichy held areas (in pink), together with locations of internment camps.<ref>[http://www.henryandjacqui.com/escape/EscapeStory1.htm Henry and Jacqui]</ref>]]
+On 10 May, 1940, Germany circumvented the Maginot Line by invading Belgium, and in six weeks conquered all of France using [[Blitzkrieg]] tactics. The forced the British off the Continent, and the French government into exile in Africa. This exiled government would become [[Free France]].
 ==References==