Pierre-Étienne Flandin (; 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
The prime minister of France (), officially the prime minister of the French Republic (''Premier ministre de la République française''), is the head of government of the French Republic and the leader of its Council of Ministers.
The prime ...
from 1934 to 1935.
A military pilot during World War I,
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
Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. He served as Prime Minister of France three times: 1931–1932 and 1935–1936 during the Third Republic (France), Third Republic, and 1942–1944 during Vich ...
as Finance Minister. In 1934 (6 February to 8 November), he was Minister of Public Works in the second cabinet of
Gaston Doumergue
Pierre Paul Henri Gaston Doumergue (; 1 August 1863 in Aigues-Vives, Gard18 June 1937 in Aigues-Vives) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1924 to 1931.
Tasked with important ministerial portfolios, he was first appo ...
. 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 of 1935
The Franco-Italian Agreements (often called ''Mussolini-Laval Accord'') were signed in Rome by both French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on 7 January 1935.
History
After its victory in World War I, ...
, the
Stresa Front and the
Franco-Soviet Pact.
Flandin was, at 45, the youngest prime minister in French history.
Flandin was the French Foreign Minister when
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...
ordered the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the German Army (1935–1945), ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmac ...
to
reoccupy the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. He attempted to organize a strong response but was unable to without British support. Supporting appeasement during the
Munich crisis hurt his career. On 13 December 1940,
Vichy Chief of State
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain (; 24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), better known as Marshal Pétain (, ), was a French marshal who commanded the French Army in World War I and later became the head of the Collaboration with Nazi Ger ...
appointed Flandin Foreign Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a Minister (government), government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to th ...
, replacing
Pierre Laval
Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. He served as Prime Minister of France three times: 1931–1932 and 1935–1936 during the Third Republic (France), Third Republic, and 1942–1944 during Vich ...
. He occupied that position for only two months.
He was ousted by
François Darlan in January 1941.
After the
Liberation of France, Flandin was put on trial for
treason
Treason is the crime of attacking a state (polity), state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to Coup d'état, overthrow its government, spy ...
but the high court
acquitted
In common law jurisdictions, an acquittal means that the criminal prosecution has failed to prove that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charge presented. It certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an o ...
him. He was instead sentenced to 5 years in prison for “national unworthiness”, however his sentence was
remitted due to his help of the resistance during the war.
A street in
Avallon was named in his honour.
In May 2017, it was renamed in honour of the murdered British MP,
Jo Cox.
Flandin's ministry, 8 November 1934 – 1 June 1935
* Pierre Étienne Flandin – President of the Council
*
Georges Pernot – Vice President of the Council and Minister of Justice
*
Pierre Laval
Pierre Jean Marie Laval (; 28 June 1883 – 15 October 1945) was a French politician. He served as Prime Minister of France three times: 1931–1932 and 1935–1936 during the Third Republic (France), Third Republic, and 1942–1944 during Vich ...
– Minister of Foreign Affairs
*
Louis Maurin
Louis Félix Thomas Maurin (; 5 January 1869 – 6 June 1956) was a French army general who was twice Minister of the Armed Forces (France), Minister of War in the 1930s.
Before and during World War I (1914–18) he was a strong advocate of motor ...
– Minister of War
*
Marcel Régnier – Minister of the Interior
*
Louis Germain-Martin – Minister of Finance
*
Paul Jacquier – Minister of Labour
*
François Piétri – Minister of Military Marine
*
William Bertrand – Minister of Merchant Marine
*
Victor Denain – Minister of Air
*
André Mallarmé – Minister of National Education
*
Georges Rivollet – Minister of Pensions
*
Émile Casset – Minister of Agriculture
*
Louis Rollin – Minister of Colonies
*
Henri Roy – Minister of Public Works
*
Henri Queuille – Minister of Public Health and Physical Education
*
Georges Mandel – Minister of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones
*
Paul Marchandeau – Minister of Commerce and Industry
*
Édouard Herriot – Minister of State
*
Louis Marin – Minister of State
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flandin, Pierre Etienne
1889 births
1958 deaths
Politicians from Paris
Democratic Republican Alliance politicians
Prime ministers of France
Ministers of transport of France
Ministers of commerce and industry of France
Ministers of posts, telegraphs, and telephones of France
Finance ministers of France
Members of the 11th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic
Members of the 12th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic
Members of the 13th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic
Members of the 14th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic
Members of the 15th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic
Members of the 16th Chamber of Deputies of the French Third Republic
French anti-communists
French residents-general in Tunisia
People of Vichy France
French military personnel of World War I