Edouard Daladier

Edouard Daladier (born June 18, 1884, died October 10, 1970) was a French politician, and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War.

A leader of the Radicals, he first became Prime Minister during 1933, and then again in 1934 for a few weeks during the right wing rioting of that year, which led to the left's fall from power. He became Minister of War for the Popular Front coalition in 1936, and became Prime Minister again in 1938 after the fall of the Popular Front. His term in power saw the Munich Agreement, when France backed out of its obligations to defend Czechoslovakia. In 1939 after the German invasion of Poland he was reluctant to go to war, but did so on September 3, 1939. In March 1940 he was dismissed and replaced with Paul Reynaud. He fled to Morocco, but was arrested and tried for treason by the Vichy government. He was a German prisoner until the end of the war.

After the war, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies, and an opponent of Charles de Gaulle.

Preceded by: Joseph Paul-Boncour 1932-1933

Prime Ministers of France 1933

Followed by: Albert Sarraut 1933

Preceded by: Camille Chautemps 1933-1934

Prime Ministers of France 1934

Followed by: Gaston Doumergue 1934

Preceded by: Léon Blum 1938

Prime Ministers of France 1938-1940

Followed by: Paul Reynaud 1940