Pierre-Étienne Flandin

Pierre-Étienne Flandin (French pronunciation: [pjɛʁ etjɛn flɑ̃dɛ̃]; 12 April 1889 – 13 June 1958) was a French conservative politician of the Third Republic, leader of the Democratic Republican Alliance (ARD), and Prime Minister of France from 8 November 1934 to 31 May 1935.[1][2]

Pierre-Étienne Flandin
74th Prime Minister of France
In office
8 November 1934  1 June 1935
Preceded byGaston Doumergue
Succeeded byFernand Bouisson
80th Prime Minister of France
(as President of the Council)
Head of State and nominal Head of Government : Philippe Pétain
In office
13 December 1940  9 February 1941
Preceded byPierre Laval
Succeeded byFrançois Darlan
Personal details
Born12 April 1889
Paris, France
Died13 June 1958(1958-06-13) (aged 69)
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
Political partyDemocratic Republican Alliance

A military pilot during World War I,[3] Flandin held a number of cabinet posts during the interwar period. He was Minister of Commerce, under the premiership of Frédéric François-Marsal, for just five days in 1924. He was Minister of Commerce and Industry in the premierships of André Tardieu in 1931 and 1932. Between those posts, he served under Pierre Laval as Finance Minister. He was Minister of Public Works in the cabinet of Gaston Doumergue in 1934. He became Prime Minister in November 1934, but his premiership lasted only until June 1935. However, a number of important pacts were negotiated during his term: the Franco–Italian Agreement, the Stresa Front and the Franco-Soviet Pact.[1] Flandin was, at 45, the youngest prime minister in French history.[3]

Flandin was the French Foreign Minister when Adolf Hitler reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936.[4] Supporting appeasement during the Munich crisis hurt his career.[3] In December 1940, Vichy Chief of State Philippe Pétain appointed Flandin Foreign Minister and Prime Minister on 13 December 1940, replacing Pierre Laval. He occupied that position for only two months.[5]

He was ousted by François Darlan in January 1941.[6]

A street in Avallon was named in his honour.[7] In May 2017, it was renamed in honour of the murdered British MP, Jo Cox.[8]

Flandin's ministry, 8 November 1934 – 1 June 1935

References

  1. "M. Pierre Flandin – A Former Premier of France". The Times. 14 June 1958.
  2. "Alliance républicaine démocratique (ARD)". Quid.fr. 2008. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  3. Gunther, John (1940). Inside Europe. New York: Harper & Brothers. p. 196.
  4. "Berlin Talks on Reconciliation – Mr Flandin's Statement". The Times. 7 March 1936.
  5. His reputation has suffered considerably partially for the very negative comments in the 1944 book by Pertinax, The Gravediggers of France (Chapter 5) in which the author blames him for strengthening appeasement, which ultimately led to Hitler's invasion. "Histoire des Chefs de Gouvernement". République Française – Portail du Gouvernement. 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  6. Dank, Milton (1974). The French against the French. London: Cassell. pp. 365 p. 338. ISBN 0-304-30037-3.
  7. 47.4889607°N 3.8977763°E / 47.4889607; 3.8977763 (rue Jo Cox)
  8. Gacon, Armelle. "Inauguration - L'ex-rue Pierre-Etienne Flandin porte désormais le nom de Jo Cox, à la Morlande". L'Yonne republicaine. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Louis Loucheur
Minister of Commerce, Industry, Posts, and Telegraphs
1924
Succeeded by
Eugène Raynaldy
Preceded by
Georges Bonnefous
Minister of Commerce and Industry
1929–1930
Succeeded by
Georges Bonnet
Preceded by
Georges Bonnet
Minister of Commerce and Industry
1930
Succeeded by
Louis Loucheur
Preceded by
Louis Germain-Martin
Minister of Finance
1931–1932
Succeeded by
Henry Chéron
Preceded by
Joseph Paganon
Minister of Public Works
1934
Succeeded by
Henry Roy
Preceded by
Gaston Doumergue
President of the Council
1934–1935
Succeeded by
Fernand Bouisson
Preceded by
Philippe Pétain
Minister without Portfolio
1935–1936
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Pierre Laval
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1936
Succeeded by
Yvon Delbos
Preceded by
Pierre Laval
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1940–1941
Succeeded by
François Darlan
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.