France

France

Anti-German Spartacism

The **French Republic**, in French **République française** and also known as the **French Third Republic** (**La Troisième République**), or simply just **France**, is a country in Western Europe. Along with the United Kingdom, France came out a victor of the Great War and witnessed first hand the rise of German Spartacism and the establishment of the German Socialist Republic. As a response, France grew highly sceptical of extreme forms of socialism, and with the United Kingdom and Belgium, they formed the Council of Allies, a democratic military alliance against the bulwark of socialism and communism. The current President of France since 1931, Albert Lebrun, has been a leading figure in the Council, urging for continued military and political interdependence as Germany shows no sign of stopping its socialist expansion.

France still remains a strong player on the world stage. With colonial lands in continents across the globe, France holds strong diplomatic power, but remains largely fearful of the intentions of the Germans. Along with Britain, France recognised the DSR over the German Free State in order to prevent war, but with the growing prevalence of Roterkrieg between Germany and the Soviet Union, France has begun to realise its destiny. No matter what, a reliant Germany must be installed on its borders, and France must uphold its winnings from the Great War, through however means necessary.

## History

### Vive la République!

Along with the United Kingdom, the French Republic emerged victorious from the Great War in 1919, usurping Alsace-Lorraine from the Germans and expanding its colonial holdings in Africa. The cost of victory came with a new fog of war and security dilemma, as the German Empire broke down into a socialist revolution in 1920. This new wave of socialism in Europe was hopeful for French socialists and revolutionaries, but damning for French conservatives and monarchists who feared revolution might spread to France. For the majority, the new goal in mind was to maintain the Republic.

Throughout the 1920s, French legislative elections were dominated by the conservative Alliance démocratique (Democratic Alliance) with Raymond Poincaré largely dominating the decade as Prime Minister. Presidents ranged from independents to AD candidates, the most recent being Albert Lebrun. Near the same time, André Tardieu picked up where Poincaré left off to ensure that radical ideas did not flourish in the French legislative assembly, with the intended effect of stamping out socialism working to a large extent with the unification of conservative and monarchist parties under the AD banner, unifying the National Bloc into a strong governmental force.

### The Left Suffocated

While the right wing dominated the government, the left wing felt subjugated and cheated, and fought for scraps in small rebellions and riots across France, specifically in Paris, but the government remained swift in clamping down on revolutionary intent. Like the British in the 1926 General Strike, the French maintained their civil military expertise and suffocated the left wing for as much as possible.

Socialist parties, such as the Parti radical (Radical Party), fought hard in elections for the revival of soft socialism, spreading the message that they were against the German Socialist Republic and instead valued French Republicanism above all, but remained overshadowed by the vast power of the Alliance. Blood boiled and socialists turned to extremes, and May 1930, the March on Paris almost resulted in socialist forces taking control of the French government. It looked as though the Germans were ready to assist the march, but backed down by the external pressures of the United Kingdom - without the Soviet Union to help, the Germans would be isolated. Thus, the March on Paris was shut down by the French government, and socialism fell to an all-time low.

### Monarchist Troubles

The presidency of Lebrun and the governance of Tardieu saw continued socialist clamping, and from there, new ideas began to emerge as a result: monarchists proclaimed the need for a monarchy, specifically with Napoleon VI, and to recognise the German Free State as legitimate, while conservatives in government proclaimed the need to maintain the Republic as not to spill out revolutionary fire once again.

In 1932, France remains a global figure of world politics, but domestically, its shunning of socialist policies may eventually become its downfall. Furthermore, France is due a legislative election in 1932; something that could make or break French politics.

## Way Forward

The French player has several roads to go down, but here are the main three examples.

### The Republic Holds Firm

Albert Lebrun maintains his Presidency and the French Republic holds firm, with the right maintaining control and clamping down on insurgent behaviour. France will likely see itself once again at war with Germany, for the survival of liberal democracy in the world.

### The New Republic

The government fails to curb the left, and revolution spills into a new republic; the conservative government ousted from power in favour of a new French Commune, spearheaded by Maurice Thorez. France can choose to align itself in the upcoming Roterkrieg, whether on the side of Germany or the Soviet Union, or can choose to stand alone, perhaps as a third player.

### The Last Resort

To signify France's true defiance of socialism, the monarchists take control and convince Napoleon VI to take the reins as Emperor, whether absolute or constitutional, to lead France into glorious war with Germany. Socialism will remain rife, and the Emperor's rule will be shaky, but consolidation and a newly empowered Empire will see France become a bulwark of anti-socialism in the new age.