France

Flag of France

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or death"

   **Government**

   Federation of Workers Councils

The French Commune (French: Commune Française) or simply France is a country in Western Europe. Borders with Spain to the south, Sardinia-Piedmont to the southeast, Switzerland, the Germanian Empire to the north east and Belgium to the north

## History

### Petain's rise to power

On November 30, 1916, the darkest day in the history of the Second Empire occurred when the Germanian Empire declared war on France. The European order crumbled like dominoes, and the continent witnessed the outbreak of the largest war in its entire history. The French Empire wasnt prepared for a war against such a formidable opponent as Germania, and, as if that were not enough, treacherous Spain opened a second front against France. After a year, the situation of the Empire became tragic. Therefore, Napoleon V proposed that Philippe Petain assume the position of Prime Minister of France to better control wartime actions. The coalition of Bonapartists agreed to this, and Petain became the Prime Minister on September 6, 1917. A month later, temporary special prerogatives for the  the wartime were voted for the Prime Minister.

The war situation improved, but nothing could stop the German war machine. The Great War ended after five grueling years, on June 12, 1921. France was forced to sign the peace treaty in Frankfurt, which mandated the cession of Alsace to Germany and the French colonies being divided among its adversaries. In addition, the Empire had to pay huge war reparations. The Parliament called for Petain to resign from the position of Prime Minister and to hold new elections. However, he had his own political ambitions that he intended to exploit in the current situation.

Petain developed his political program called the "National Revolution," which aimed at the moral and national renewal of the French Empire. Napoleon V had no intention of getting involved in political maneuvers. The Emperor was very unpopular, and his competencies had long been limited to the role of a puppet. The era of the "Liberal Empire" came to an end in the Empire, and the third and final phase, the so-called "National Empire," began. The motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" was replaced by "Work, Family, Homeland."

### Fall of the Second French Empire

The outcome of The Great War sowed fear and discontent across whole country. We were lacking money, food, clothing, jobs, our industry was destroyed and our railways ruined. Everyone was frightened that another revolution was coming. Times of great crisis and the Red Scare has come. Petain promised people so much and yet our situation kept worsening.

On May 3, 1926, Emperor Napoleon V passes away. He is succeeded on the throne by Prince Louis, who takes the name Napoleon VI. In contrast to his predecessor, he enters into a open conflict with the current prime minister and aims to reorganize the Empire.

People were trying their hardest to survive but after 6 years of living in poverty people took it to the streets. Therefore, prominent socialist figures such as Marcel Cachin, Léon Blum, and George Valois organized protests nationwide on March 14, 1927, workers' councils began to form across France. Witnessing the dramatic situation, the army and Petain's political circle turned away from him. Emperor Napoleon VI removed him from his position and appointed a young general in his place, Charles de Gaulle aimed to modernize the regime, but facing the scale of protests, he resigned just three days later, subsequently, the Emperor abdicated, and the revolution victorious.

### Proclamation of French Commune

Marcel Cachin, the leader of the Workers' Syndicates, became the prime minister of the interim government. Support was provided by the SFIO and Cercle Proudhon, and the new government was called as the "Troïka." On April 28, the first All-French Congress of Workers' Councils convened, where Cachin's SDT secured a significant majority. The Congress declared him the chairman of the French Commune, and the March 17 was proclaimed the day of the revolution. The first eight years of the French Commune witnessed undisputed power in the hands of Marcel Cachin. In every congress of workers' councils, SDT consistently gained a significant majority. However, on September 16, 1935, the Neo-Revolutionary Party, also known as the Jacobin Party or simply the Jacobins, was established. Simultaneously, the SFIO experienced a serious split, with the right-wing forming the concept of "Neosocialism".