Georges Monnet
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the French wartime foreign minister Georges Bonnet
Georges Monnet (12 August 1898 – 9 December 1980) was a prominent socialist politician in 1930s France and a member of Paul Reynaud
's war cabinet as Minister of Blockade. Preceding that, he was Minister of Agriculture in Léon Blum
's government. He was decorated for his service in the First World War, receiving the Croix de guerre
.
In 1933, he joined the administrative board and became the permanent expert of the SFIO for agricultural issues. He modernized the socialist doctrine by focusing it towards the goal of practical and immediate reforms to help small and medium-scale farms.
As Minister of Agriculture in the first Léon Blum government, he used his land policy to defend small farmers through the control of agricultural prices.
in 1938 and ran a newspaper about Action for peace and socialism, which proposed a firm line against Hitler, although it was largely ignored by other prominent pro-appeasement socialists, such as Georges Bonnet
. In Paul Reynaud's cabinet, he became Minister of Blockade. Monnet indicated his disapproval of the French armistice after the Fall of France in 1940. On 10 July 1940, he voted against Marshal Philippe Pétain
gaining full powers in Vichy France. During the Occupation, he refused to compromise with Vichy but also to actively engage in the Resistance.
from 1959 to 1961 and personal adviser to the president of the Ivory Coast shortly after its independence from France in 1961 to 1964. A few years later, he returned to France and became president of the National Agricultural Exhibition and Competition (CENECA).
Georges Bonnet
Not to be confused with the French Socialist Georges MonnetGeorges-Étienne Bonnet was a French politician and leading figure in the Radical-Socialist Party.- Early career :...
Georges Monnet (12 August 1898 – 9 December 1980) was a prominent socialist politician in 1930s France and a member of Paul Reynaud
Paul Reynaud
Paul Reynaud was a French politician and lawyer prominent in the interwar period, noted for his stances on economic liberalism and militant opposition to Germany. He was the penultimate Prime Minister of the Third Republic and vice-president of the Democratic Republican Alliance center-right...
's war cabinet as Minister of Blockade. Preceding that, he was Minister of Agriculture in Léon Blum
Léon Blum
André Léon Blum was a French politician, usually identified with the moderate left, and three times the Prime Minister of France.-First political experiences:...
's government. He was decorated for his service in the First World War, receiving the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
.
Inter war
After fighting in the First World War, Monnet became head of a large farm in Picardy before moving on to politics and joining the Socialist Party in 1928. Monnet was elected as a member of the French senate in 1932 and again in 1936.In 1933, he joined the administrative board and became the permanent expert of the SFIO for agricultural issues. He modernized the socialist doctrine by focusing it towards the goal of practical and immediate reforms to help small and medium-scale farms.
As Minister of Agriculture in the first Léon Blum government, he used his land policy to defend small farmers through the control of agricultural prices.
Second World War
He opposed the Munich AgreementMunich Agreement
The Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
in 1938 and ran a newspaper about Action for peace and socialism, which proposed a firm line against Hitler, although it was largely ignored by other prominent pro-appeasement socialists, such as Georges Bonnet
Georges Bonnet
Not to be confused with the French Socialist Georges MonnetGeorges-Étienne Bonnet was a French politician and leading figure in the Radical-Socialist Party.- Early career :...
. In Paul Reynaud's cabinet, he became Minister of Blockade. Monnet indicated his disapproval of the French armistice after the Fall of France in 1940. On 10 July 1940, he voted against Marshal Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
gaining full powers in Vichy France. During the Occupation, he refused to compromise with Vichy but also to actively engage in the Resistance.
Post war
After the war, Monnet went to Africa to continue to play a political role. He became Counselor of the French Union from 1947 to 1958. He was Minister of Agriculture under Félix Houphouët-BoignyFélix Houphouët-Boigny
Félix Houphouët-Boigny , affectionately called Papa Houphouët or Le Vieux, was the first President of Côte d'Ivoire. Originally a village chief, he worked as a doctor, an administrator of a plantation, and a union leader, before being elected to the French Parliament and serving in a number of...
from 1959 to 1961 and personal adviser to the president of the Ivory Coast shortly after its independence from France in 1961 to 1964. A few years later, he returned to France and became president of the National Agricultural Exhibition and Competition (CENECA).
Decorations
- Croix de guerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
1914-1918 - Commander of the Legion of Honor
- Commander of Agricultural Merit