France, 1918–1939
France emerged from the First World War as a victor, but its north-eastern industrial regions were devastated, the franc lost value and the country owed money to the USA. Under the Treaty of Versailles it regained Alsace and Lorraine, received the right to use the Saar coalfield for 15 years and took part of Germany’s colonies as mandates. In the 1920s the car, aircraft and chemical industries grew while agriculture was sluggish. The right-wing National Bloc won the election of November 1919; the world economic crisis of 1929–1933 reached France in 1930, raising unemployment and causing frequent changes of government. In 1934 far-right leagues staged street riots, after which the left united in the Popular Front; its government under Léon Blum in 1936 introduced reforms such as higher wages, a 40-hour working week and paid holidays. In foreign policy France sought security through co-operation with Britain and by upholding the Versailles order; it supported the Munich Agreement of 1938, declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, and was defeated in June 1940, which ended the Third Republic.
Table game: two groups fill the columns “Gains of victory” and “Difficulties” (for example Alsace and Lorraine – Saar – devastated industry – debt). The group with more precise facts wins.