Pierre-Étienne Flandin

Who was Pierre-Étienne Flandin?

Pierre Étienne Flandin was a French conservative politician of the Third Republic, leader of the Democratic Republican Alliance, and Prime Minister of France from 8 November 1934 to 31 May 1935.

He held a number of cabinet posts during the inter-war years. Under the premiership of Frédéric François-Marsal, he was, for just five days in 1924, Minister of Commerce. During the premierships of André Tardieu, he was Minister of Commerce and Industry during 1931 and 1932. Between these posts he served under Pierre Laval as Finance Minister. In the cabinet of Gaston Doumergue in 1934, he was Minister of Public Works; in November of the same year, he became Prime Minister – a position that lasted only until June 1935. However, during his term as Premier a number of important pacts were negotiated – the Franco–Italian Agreement, the Stresa Front and the Franco-soviet pact.

He was the French Foreign Minister when Adolf Hitler reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936.

In December 1940, Vichy Chief of State Philippe Pétain appointed him Foreign Minister and vice-premier on 13 December 1940 in replacement of Pierre Laval. He occupied this position for only two months. He was ousted by François Darlan in January 1941.