Les Damnés de la Terre - A 1936 French AAR

25th of January, 1936 - Place de la Révolution, Paris, Socialist Republic of France

"No! Maurice, I'll never accept such a proposition as long as I have a breath left in my body!" heralded a voice. It was a rainy night on the Place de la Révolution. Sinister figures quickly went back to their cars, racing away from the place as quick as possible. All alone now on the place, stood Maurice Thorez, leader of the French Communist Party. As he walked past the cold Paris street lights, another car went by. From the distance, two shots could be heard.


26th of January, 1936 - Palais du Peuple, Paris, Socialist Republic of France

An emergency cabinet meeting had been called the night before, following the latest news that Maurice Thorez had been killed. Thorez was a prominent figure from the Third International in Moscow, the big adversary of the Paris-based Labour and Socialist International. His murder put even more strain on the thin French-Soviet relations. "We must be able to adequately protect our motherland If it comes to a confrontation", argued Léon Blum, leader of the First Socialist Republic of France, "we might not share mutual borders with the Soviets, but we all know the Communist sympathies Spain has. If we don't act fast, we risk unleashing a new Great War! If we have a professional army, it would scare the Spanish away from the Comintern and it would make the Soviets think twice about attacking us.". Blum was having a hard time convincing his cabinet that, although he wanted to keep peace at all costs, it was necessary to keep a professional army. Most other cabinet members felt this would be too dangerous: the army was and always would be a training ground for conservatism, a tool that would be able to overthrow the government at any given time. In the end however, Blum won the argument: he was authorized to re-establish a General Staff and to form the cadre of a standing army. Another issue on the agenda was the flag the Army would adopt. The Army itself wanted to stay with the old tri-colour, but this flag was now associated with the capitalist menace of the Third "Democractic" Republic.


Flag of the First Socialist Republic of France.

"The flag matter is one we shall decide upon later. Right now, the Army will be left the choice which flag they want to carry with them: either the old tri-colour or the new "Red Rose" tri-colour.", proclaimed general Bourgeois, Head of Staff of the new French Army: "Our soldiers in foreign territories are being called back as well. After 5 years of transition, we now believe our former colonies are strong enough to stand on their own. The North African countries have decided to extend the alliance we had, like Indochina did last year. The Middle African countries have decided to go their own way, but still allow French troops military access in case of emergency."


The government of Léon Blum.

1936 is an important symbolic year for the Labour and Socialist International and the Socialist Republic of France: it has been exactly 10 years since the old Third Republic collapsed under the weight of rebuilding France, after the bitter victory she received in Great War. The French Army was dissolved, except in the colonies (where a Revolutionary Garde was formed), the banking and transport sector were nationalized and the occupation of the Rühr industrial area was recalled. The colonies were allowed great freedom, resulting in dominion status independence for all colonies in 1931. The French economy came out well during the 1929 Wall Street crash thanks to the nationalized banking sector and French industries had reached new heights in the early 1930's. But in 1933, when Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany, an embargo was called on France by all Middle European countries (led by Germany), resulting in the stagnation of the French economy. As France enters 1936, it faces several serious problems: how will her economy recover from the recent blows she's recieved? What about the increasing tension between France and the Soviet Union? Recent tensions in Spain are also worrying the leaders of the Socialist Republic. 1936 is set to be an eventful year, but France will have to watch out If it doesn't want to get squeezed into a tiny corner.
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30th of January 1936 - Moscow, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

"The glorious Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will not stand for these provocations! The death of our brave comrade Maurice Thorez, shot in the middle of the night by capitalist swines, must be avenged! Therefore our Great Comrade and Leader, Josef Stalin, has decided that from now on all trade between the so-called "Socialist" Republic of France and the Soviet Union will be suspended.", proclaimed Maksim Litvinov, foreign minister of the Soviet Union. This came as a new blow for the already battered French economy. For the first time since the revolution, unemployment was rising. People were beginning to wonder If they might not need a more radical approach to politics.

Back in Paris, Léon Blum's cabinet held another emergency meeting. 65% of all oil imports were coming from the Soviet Union. How could they ever replace such an amount of oil with both the British and the Romanians unwilling to co-operate? Only one other option was left open: a rapprochement with the United States of America. Recently, Franklin D. Roosevelt had become president of the USA. Roosevelt had been a secret supporter of the revolution back in the 1920's, so Blum decided it might be worth a try to negotiate with the USA. He also proposed a new industrialization program to create new jobs.


The new industrialization plan of Blum: the industrial complexes of Paris, Lille and Lyon are being expanded.

15th of May 1936 - Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium

The capital of Belgium has been the scene of savage streetfighting the past few months as the economic crisis in Western Europe deepens. More factories are closing down, the number of unemployed is rising. Especially in the Dutch-speaking north of the country emotions are running high; the socialist Camille Huysmans, after achieving a Dutch university in the Flemish city of Ghent, wanted to go even further in making Dutch an equal language to French. His government was highly unpopular with the French-speaking Walloons of the south of the country, and after Huysmans forced through legislation that required all civil servants to speak both Dutch and French, the Walloon police force and civil servants are striking. After over 9 months of strikes, which not even the army could break up, the south of the country is in an absolute state of anarchy. In Wallonia, Albert Dubois has risen as the new nation leader. Realising his country cannot survive the current economic crisis on its own, he has made an appeal to France for Wallonia to form a federation with France. France has, in response to this request, recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Socialist Republic of Wallonia.​

3rd of June 1936 - Namur, Socialist Republic of Wallonia


Wallonian forces, using captured British equipment left over from World War 1, pulling back from an overrun position near Liège. The fortifications of Liège are extensive, and the Wallonian Army has sought refuge in them.

"After weeks of savage and bloody fighting between the two nations of Belgium and Wallonia, the French Socialist Republic has decided to allow Wallonia into the Labour and Socialist International. This treaty also makes Wallonia a full member of l'Union Française. As a consequence of this, there is now a full state of war between Belgium and all members of l'Union Française.". After weeks of careful negotiations, Wallonia was allowed to join the French Socialist Republic. The French Army has been mobilized to support our brothers in arms in Liège, and to break the besieged city. The Ministry of Defense has issued a decree outlining the two major objectives of this campaign:

- To defend and guarantee full sovereignty over the entire territory of Wallonia
- To liberate Congo from Belgian Imperialist oppression and to bring socialism to the oppressed Congolese masses.


The siege of Liège. 9 Walloon divisions have been holding out in the city for over 3 weeks, but are running short of supplies.


Just a week after joining the war, France has already occupied the entire west of Belgium. The Walloon forces holding out in Liège have fled to French lines, and are now fighting alongside regular army units to liberate their country. The 5ième Armée has defeated and routed the Brussels Guard Civil, while the 7ième Armée is chasing the 5de Divisie Jagers te Voet towards Antwerp.

7th of June 1936 - Paris, Socialist Republic of France

It had been a very tiring week for Léon Blum: besides the French intervention in Wallonia, he had also spent 3 days negotiating with the president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, over a proposition to authorize special trade rights between the USA and France. France agreed to open their market for US goods and vice versa. Blum also signed a deal that made the US the new primary supplier of oil for all French industry. To sustain the expanded Trans-Atlantic trade, Blum's cabinet has ordered an expansion of the convoy fleet.

14th of June 1936 - Libreville, Socialist Republic of Gabon


French forces, commanded by General Camerade Condé, have arrived in Libreville, from now on home to all operations in Middle Africa.

The new Armée du Liberation d'Afrique, commanded by General Condé, has after a long trip arrived in Libreville, the most important city in Gabon. A former French colony, Gabon stayed in L'Union Française after receiving independence in 1931, and has since developed very warm relations with "la Mère Patrie". Libreville will be home to the headquarters of General Condé, from where he will direct all operations in Belgian Congo. We shall bring freedom and justice to the oppressed workers of Congo!

17th of June 1936 - Lyon, Socialist Republic of France


Speakers of La Lutte Finale, who proclaim the downfall of Léon Blum and the return of "true" socialist government.

The south of France is on strike. Leaders of a "true socialist" group, La Lutte Finale, have been calling on all workers to put down their jobs as long as France is at war. They feel that Léon Blum's cabinet is starting to abandon their socialist roots by establishing a professional army and his interventionist policies in Wallonia and Congo. "We shall not tolerate this betrayal of our glorious socialism anymore! After 10 years of Léon Blum, our country is in a worst state than before the revolution! Léon Blum and his gangsters have violated the glorious name of our comrades during the revolution. They have broken connection with our allies of the Third Internationale, they have sold our rights to the capitalist monster of the United States of America, and worst of all, they have created an instrument to oppress us workers which we thought had gone for good in 1926: the Army! We shall not stand for this. Either Léon Blum changes his policies, or we shall march on Paris and bring back glory to our great Motherland!". Blum has no plans to step down on the expansion of the Army he proclaimed, but he has ensured the people that the economic situation of France is still his top priority. The interventions in Wallonia and Congo were necessary to defend the rights of the workers in those oppressed regions, he proclaimed. But Blum's speech has hardly calmed down the temper of the Lyonese workers.

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23rd of June 1936 - Brazzaville, Socialist Republic of Gabon

Belgian soldiers, led by Field Marshal Strydonck de Burkel, have overrun the capital of Gabon, Brazzaville. The city garrison has been slaughtered and the Revolutionary Brigade of Gabon is on the run. The recently arrived French forces in Libreville are preparing a counter-offensive to stop the Belgians from advancing into Gabon, and to liberate Brazzaville. The 2iéme Corps d'Armée du Liberation d'Afrique has recently departed from Marseille to reinforce our besieged forces in Libreville. It's a corps of professionally trained, crack troops armed with the most modern equipment, such as heavy artillery, armoured cars and bridging equipment. However, these men weren't greeted when they left Marseille: before departure they paraded around Marseille, singing the Marseillaise, a symbol of the old "capitalist" Third Republic.


The planned counter-offensive once the 2ième Corps d'Armée du Liberation d'Afrique arrives. Belgian forces have advanced, but move slowly thanks to the difficult terrain.

6th of July 1936 - Arc de Triomphe, Paris, Socialist Republic of France


Crowds have gathered near the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate "la Grande Grève", which happened exactly 10 years ago.

Today is a glorious day for our motherland: today is has been exactly 10 years since "la Grande Grève" broke out. Millions of French workers put down their work in protest against the interventionist, imperialist and discriminating policies of the Third Republic, such as occupying the industrial Ruhr area in Germany, cutting wages and taking away labour rights for workers. After the leaders of the Third Republic tried to break the strike by using the Army, several weapon factories under lockdown were stormed and a Revolutionary Defense Garde was called. After several small skirmishes in the French countryside, the Revolutionary Defense Garde was able to win a decisive battle at the river Rhône near Grenoble during the winter of 1926. Low on morale, short on supplies and armed with outdated equipment, the French Army received a crushing defeat. After the Battle of Grenoble, the French Army melted away everywhere: soldiers either joined the Revolutionary Defense Garde or went back home. The road to Paris lay wide open: by the Spring of 1927 Léon Blum, leader of the Labour and Socialist Internationale, proclaimed the establishmeent of a socialist state in France. The First Socialist Republic of France had been born. A "Provisional Constitution" was drawn up by Blum and his allies during the summer of '27, which secured the rights of the workers and put them into power at every governmental level. Labour councils were set up everywhere to replace the old authorities, the Army was disbanded and only a small Revolutionary Garde was left in Paris and the colonies to defend against foreign invasions. France broke it's alliance with the United Kingdom, convinced as it was that it shouldn't interfere with the internal affairs of another nation. Industries were nationalized and inequality was leveled out. Plans by the Third Republic' leaders to build an extensive defensive line against Germany in the east were abandoned and the money was instead spent on welfare spendings. The colonies were granted limited independence, as a first step in a plan to full independence. By 1929, France was once again the biggest economy on the European mainland and life ratings here were the highest of any European country. France survived the Wall Street crash of 1929 almost unscratched thanks to its nationalization of industries and focus on self-sufficiency. The 1930's looked very promising for France, but a certain man in Germany was to decide differently...​

A typical staff car for an officer in the Belgian Army in Congo. This outdated vehicle got bogged down in the sands of the National Desert Simulation Park of Brazzaville.

17th of July 1936 - Brazzaville, Socialist Republic of Gabon

People are rejoicing in the streets of Brazzaville: our French forces have liberated the city! The Gabonese government directly took back their governmental buildings and restarted their daily business. Belgian forces have quickly retreated from Gabon, since they were over stretching their thin defensive lines and running short on supplies. In their hurry, the Belgians left most of their heavy equipment in and around the city, along with several supply depots. The second part of the French counteroffensive, the conquest of the region and the city of Pointe-Noire, will now take place. At the same time, the 2ième Corps d'Armée du Liberation d'Afrique is marching on towards Léopoldville, the current seat of the Belgian government, to surround the region of Banana.


The second part of the French counteroffensive in Gabon: the 1ière Corps d'Armée du Liberation d'Afrique has begun liberated Pointe-Noire.

3rd of August 1936 - Tananarive, Federal Union of Madagascar

The Federal Union of Madagascar, a former French colony and dominion, has requested to join l'Union Française. Madagascar has been accepted into l'Union Française after a cabinet meeting last night in le Palais du Peuple. Madagascar is an important stopping place for French trading with Indochina and China, and could prove useful in times of war. Léon Blum has again changed French policies, now promising aid to all workers in need around the world.


The Federal Union of Madagascar has now become a full member of l'Union Française, which means that besides being part of a large military alliance, they are also part of a large economic union.

15th of August 1936 - Léopoldville, Kingdom of Belgium, Congo

Léopoldville, former seat of the Belgian government, has fallen. Half of the Belgian cabinet and King Leopold III have been captured. Banana, the last port and only way to trade with the outside world, has been surrounded by l'Armée du Liberation d'Afrique. Léon Blum has reached out to the Belgian government to begin peace talks in Brussels, capital of Belgium. However, these negotiations are very one-sided: almost the entire Belgian Army has fallen, the remaining units are almost without supplies and without heavy equipment. The Belgian core lands in Europe are all under French occupation, and the remaining unoccupied lands in Congo aren't enough to sustain the pressure of a continuation the war.


Banana has been surrounded. This is a huge strategic victory for France: Belgium has been cut off from its last way to trade with the outside world. Completely isolated, Belgium has agreed to open negotiations in Brussels.

9th of September 1936 - Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium

The people of the Socialist Republic of France are celebrating the Treaty of Brussels that has been signed today. The Treaty of Brussels will put an end to the 4-month war between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Socialist Republic of France. The treaty is a huge victory for the French: Belgium has agreed to refrain from claiming sovereignty over Wallonia, to pay war indemnities to France and to grant full independence to Congo. Directly after receiving independence, Congo has requested to join l'Union Française to defend itself from outside threat and to quickly rebuild their economy. Not all Frenchmen are happy with the treaty however: they see it as more proof that Léon Blum is betraying his socialist roots and is starting to return to the Imperialist policies of the Third Republic. La Lutte Finale has once again called for the people of Lyon to put down their work...


The new Franco-Belgian border. Belgium has pretty much been reduced to the lands of Flanders.


The new state of Congo, named the Democratic Socialist Republic of Congo. It has already become a full member of l'Union Française. Blum claims this is to support the Congolese people, but La Lutte Finale believes he is more interested in several rare materials that can be found in Congo.
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More protests in the streets of France. Here are protesting workers in the industrial center of Lyon, who protest against the Treaty of Brussels and the requirement that all men over 18 years old have to serve in a Battalion du Peuple for 16 months.

16th of September 1936 - Palais du Peuple, Paris, Socialist Republic of France

"It brings great grief to my heart that we are gathered here today", said Léon Blum at today's cabinet meeting, "for the current international situation forces us to pass an amendment on our beloved constitution. From today onwards, all men above the age of 18 will be required to serve into a Battalion du Peuple for 16 months. We must be able to defend ourself against the outside threat of nations such as Spain, Italy and Germany.". France is a nation surrounded by enemies: in the south, the communist and anarchist alliance has gained the upperhand in Spain, and the fascists under Franco have been cut into two small pockets. In the south-east, we share borders with the fascist nation of Italy, which has already made it clear they'd like to expand towards the river Rhône. In the north-east, we share an extensive border with Nazi Germany, who are still claiming the Alsace region as their own. And in the north, the Kingdom of Belgium might ally both Italy and Germany to get back the lands it has lost in the Franco-Belgian war earlier this year. The international community has answered the Treaty of Brussels by imposing new sanctions on France, such as retreating their embassy from Paris and halting all trade with France.

La Lutte Finale has responded with a renewed call for strikes in all of France, and all Départements in the south-east have answered to the call. "This imperialism must stop! The Treaty of Brussels was a major slap in the face of all workers in France, and now Blum thinks he can force upon us the very thing that brought about the destruction of the Third Republic: we will not stand for a further expansion of the army! Nous refusons!". "Nous refusons!" has become the slogan of workers all through France. Albert Milquette, leader of La Lutte Finale, is rising as the new powerful man in south-east France, and he is looking to expand La Lutte Finale into other parts of France. However, the first "Garde du Peuple" have already been formed in several important coastal cities, such as Brest and Marseille.

28th of October 1936 - Chaumont, Socialist Republic of France

Chaumont has been chosen as the location for a new French staff academy to be established. This academy will be set up to train a new cadre of officers for the new French Armée du Peuple. These officers are new learning the lessons from the recent campaigns in Belgium and Congo but are also getting inspiration from the revolutionary battles from 1926-27. They think that the lesson to be learnt from all these experiences is that speed and large formations are essential to overcome the enemy, the perfect attack being a large mechanized force breaking through enemy lines at large speeds, cut off supply lines and surround them.


The first classes on the new officer academy at Chaumont focus on the need of mobile warfare. After this the next lesson will be on how to apply this to large unit formations.

15th of November 1936 - Madrid, United People's Republic of Spain

The Fascist uprising in Spain is nearing an end: Franco's drive on Madrid has failed, and he has been thrown back onto the line Huelva-Seville-Màlaga. The northern sector of Burgos has been crushed in October, but there has been a successful fascist landing in the north, securing Catalonia. But the fascist situation is looking bleak: understrength divisions are hardly able to hold the front lines, constant Russian-Spanish bombardments have destroyed must of their industrial capacity and supplies are running low. Blum has begun secret negotiations with the Fascist Spanish forces, that would allow them to retreat into France If they are disarmed at the border. The reason Blum does this, is because he considers a Communist Spain a bigger threat to France than a Fascist Spain, and the captured Spanish weapons could come in handy to arm the Battalions du Peuple.


The end of Franco and his rebels is nearing: their territory has been reduced to a small part of the south of Spain and Catalonia (excluding the colonies).

18th of November 1936 - Casablanca, Socialist Republic of Morocco

"We celebrate a great event today: at last, after 2 decades of foreign oppression, our glorious fatherland has been re-united! From today onwards, 18 November will be a great day of feast in our nation.", proclaimed the leader of Morocco. Moroccan troops have seized the opportunity to occupy the Spanish colonies in Morocco, following the total collapse of the fascists in Spain. The fascists cannot afford a war with l'Union Française, so they have issued no statement on the matter besides a note stating that they support the re-emergence of Morocco as a completely sovereign nation.


After two decades of foreign occupation, Morocco is once again re-united and free.
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Léon Blum standing outside the Château Saint-Étienne, celebrating the Saint-Étienne agreements.

25th of January 1937 - Château Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, Socialist Republic of France

"Today the French nation can rejoice in glory, as we have reached a milestone in the young history of our republic. The Lyonnese strikes are over!", shouted an ecstatic Léon Blum towards an enthusiastic crowd. After 4 months of frequent strikes in Lyon, and to an extent the entire south-east of France, an agreement has been reached between government and the Labour Unions. L'Assemblée d'Internationale ouvrière socialiste (AIOS) and the Union des Peuples (UDP) have reached a historic agreement after a 3 week negotiation round at Château Saint-Étienne. This are the main three issues that both parties agreed upon:

- Eight-hour workdays for everyone.
- 12% loan increase (25% for female workers, to finally become full equality between male and female workers)
- Three extra holidays, to commemorate the Franco-Belgian war of 1936: 15 May (day of the Walloon revolution), 3 June (day of the French intervention) and 9 September (day of the signing of the Treaty of Brussels)

Blum had more to celebrate over as well: over the past year, the economy of France has finally recovered the dark days of the early 1930's: after years of sharp economic decline, the economy has risen by 12% in 1936! The new industrialization program, combined by the gaining of the Walloon industrial complexes, has paid off. The extensive trade with the members of l'Union Française has changed the emphasis of l'Union from a military union to a economic union. The entrance of the Socialist Republic of Congo has created new opportunities for entrepreneurship and thanks to liberal reforms by Blum in the summer of 1936, 25% more businesses were started in 1936 than there had been in 1935. It is safe to say that the economic crisis in France is finally over.

7th of February 1937 - Paris, Socialist Republic of France


Rough outline for the Karl-Marx-Line, a defensive line ment to protect against a Nazi invasion.

Today Léon Blum has proposed a new defense plan to guard against the ever growing German treat. The plan consists of a line of fortifications, similiar to the in 1926 proposed Maginolt-line, that would stretch from Herstal in the north of Wallonia, to the Swiss border in the south. It is meant as a shield against Germany, that would guard our country long enough for our army to reach full combat strength. The project would create about 500,000 new jobs, and is estimated to be finished by the summer of 1939. The opposition of La Lutte Finale has already denounced the plans as being Imperialistic, but political realists agree with Blum that a shield such as Blum proposes could be very useful in the event of war.
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Air France takes people all across the world, and offers extremely low flights to member states of l'Union Française.

30th of March 1937 - Palais du Peuple, Paris, Socialist Republic of France

A report released by the government today has shown that the French population over the past 15 years has grown extensively. The population has risen from 40,1 million people in 1919, to 51,7 million in the summer of 1936. The large population increase can be attributed by the better living conditions in the Socialist Republic, increased wealth (less children die at birth) and the immigration policy of the Socialist Republic: everyone in l'Union Française is free to move from one member state to another, and enjoys full citizenship in all member nations.

15th of May 1937 - Liège, Département de Wallonie, Socialist Republic of France

After months of clearing up rubble, Liège is once again bursting with life. Architects have been commissioned to redraw and redesign the city for its new role as capital of the newly established Département de Wallonie. The people of Wallonia are now enjoying all rights of a citoyen of l'Union Française and the Socialist Republic of France. Léon Blum has declared this a glorious moment in the history of Wallonia and France. Today we also celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Walloon revolution against Belgium. Grand celebrations are taking place in Paris, Liège, Namur, Lyon, Marseille and other great cities of France.



18th of September 1937 - L'Assemblée du Peuple, Paris, Socialist Republic of France

Today l'Assemblée du Peuple is having the 4-year confidence vote in the leader of l'Internationale ouvrière socialiste (IOS), Léon Blum. A few months ago, an idea was debated whether or not to create the job of Président de la Republique Française, directly elected from l'Assemblée, to ease the job of Prémier de la République. Today it is being debated again, and l'Assemblée is considering appointing Jean Longuet in the position of Président. Longuet is the grandson of Karl Marx, but has a clear mind of his own. But Blum is still very popular amongst the people, despite passing some unpopular Bills in the summer of 1936, that re-established a professional Army and allowed greater freedom on the market. L'Assemblée spent hours debating the issue, and by 11pm they hadn't made a decision. Only tommorow knows...


Who will lead la Première République Socialiste de la France tommorow?
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