Interwar Political Instability and the Rise of Extremes (1919–1939)

1. Bloc National wins postwar legislative elections

   Nov 16, 1919Labels: Bloc National, Chamber of

   • 1919 Election

2. Tours Congress splits Socialists and creates Communists

   Dec 25, 1920Labels: Tours Congress, French Communist

   • Tours Congress

3. France and Belgium occupy Germany’s Ruhr

   Jan 11, 1923Labels: Ruhr occupation, France Belgium

   • Ruhr Occupation

4. Cartel des Gauches wins 1924 legislative election

   May 11, 1924Labels: Cartel des, Radicals

   • 1924 Election
   • Cartel des Gauches

5. Cartel des Gauches coalition breaks apart

   Jul 1, 1926Labels: Cartel des, Parliamentary instability

   • Cartel des Gauches

6. Two-round voting restored for 1928 elections

   Apr 22, 1928Labels: Two-round system, 1928 election

   • 1928 Election

7. Second Cartel des Gauches wins 1932 elections

   May 1, 1932Labels: Second Cartel, Radical Party

   • 1932 Election

8. Stavisky Affair scandal fuels anti-parliament anger

   Dec 1, 1933Labels: Stavisky Affair, Alexandre Stavisky

   • Britannica

9. Far-right riot of 6 February 1934 topples government

   Feb 6, 1934Labels: 6 February, douard Daladier

   • 6 Feb Crisis
   • Britannica

10. Popular Front wins 1936 elections; mass strikes follow

    Apr 26, 1936Labels: Popular Front, L on

    • 1936 Election
    • Popular Front

11. Matignon Agreements signed during June 1936 strike wave

    Jun 7, 1936Labels: Matignon Agreements, CGT

    • Matignon

12. French Popular Party founded amid radicalization

    Jun 28, 1936Labels: French Popular, Jacques Doriot

    • PPF

13. Blum resigns amid financial and Senate conflict

    Jun 1, 1937Labels: L on, French Senate

    • Britannica
    • Popular Front

14. Munich Agreement deepens divisions over appeasement

    Sep 30, 1938Labels: Munich Agreement, Appeasement

    • Britannica

15. France declares war on Germany, ending interwar era

    Sep 3, 1939Labels: Declaration of, France 1939

    • War Declaration