French Third Republic

The **French Third Republic** (, sometimes written as ) was the system of government created in France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed during the Franco-Prussian War, until 10 July 1940 after France's defeat by Nazi Germany in World War II led to the creation of the Vichy government in France.

It was formed in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War from 1870-1871. After France was defeated Napoleon III was exiled from France. In 1914 France declared war on the German Empire led by Kaiser Wilhelm II until Germany became the Weimar Republic Era in 1918 after World War 1.

In 1940 after Nazi Germany started World War 2 the French surrendered. Southern France became Vichy France and France’s Colonies in North Africa surrendered while the Empire of Japan took French Indochina before Japan Attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 .

## Infobox (former country)

- **native name**: _République française_
- **conventional long name**: French Republic
- **government type**: Unitary parliamentary republic
- **event start**: Proclamation by Leon Gambetta
- **year start**: 1870
- **date start**: 4 September
- **event end**: Vichy France established
- **year end**: 1940
- **date end**: 10 July
- **p1**: Second French Empire
- **flag p1**: Flag of France (1794-1815).svg
- **s1**: Vichy France
- **flag s1**: Flag of France (1794-1815).svg
- **s2**: Free France
- **flag s2**: Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg
- **s3**: German military administration in occupied France during World War II administration
- **flag s3**: Flag of German Reich (1935–1945).svg
- **s4**: Italian occupation of FranceItalian military administration
- **flag s4**: Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg
- **image flag**: Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1974, 2020–present).svg
- **symbol type**: Coat of arms
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of the French Third Republic.svg
- **coa size**: 80px
- **image map**: French Republic 1939.svg
- **image map caption**: The French Republic in 1939
- **image map2**: France 1939.svg
- **image map2 caption**: Territories and colonies of the French Republic at the end of 1939

**Dark blue:** Metropolitan France, Metropolitan territory
**Light blue:** French colonial empire, Colonies, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and Protectorate#French protectorates, protectorates
- **capital**: Paris
- **national motto**: _Liberté, égalité, fraternité_
<small>("Liberty, equality, fraternity")</small>
- **national anthem**: _La Marseillaise_
<small>("The Marseillaise")</small>

- **other symbol**: <div style="padding:0.3em;"> </div>
- **other symbol type**: Great Seal of France:
- **common languages**: French (official), several others
- **religion**: Roman Catholicism
Calvinism
Lutheranism
Judaism
- **currency**: French Franc
- **title deputy**: List of Prime Ministers of France, President of the Council of Ministers
- **deputy1**: Louis Jules Trochu
- **year deputy1**: 1870–1871 <small>(first)</small>
- **deputy2**: Philippe Pétain
- **year deputy2**: 1940 <small>(last)</small>
- **title leader**: President of France, President
- **leader1**: Adolphe Thiers
- **year leader1**: 1871–1873 <small>(first)</small>
- **leader2**: Albert Lebrun
- **year leader2**: 1932–1940 <small>(last)</small>
- **legislature**: Parliament of France, Parliament
- **house1**: Senate of France, Senate
- **house2**: Chamber of Deputies of France, Chamber of Deputies
- **stat year1**: 1894 (Metropolitan France)
- **stat area1**: 536464
- **start area2**: 13500000
- **stat pop1**: 36,100,000
- **stat year2**: 1938 (including colonies)
- **stat pop2**: 150,000,000
- **today**:

- **area km2**: 13500000