Blum, Léon (lāôN` bl

m), 1872–1950, French Socialist leader and writer. Well established in literary circles, he entered politics during the Dreyfus Affair Dreyfus Affair (drā`fəs, drī–), the controversy that occurred with the treason conviction (1894) of Capt.
..... Click the link for more information. and rose to party leadership. In 1936 he brought about the coalition of Radical Socialists, Socialists, and Communists in the Popular Front, which won an overwhelming electoral victory. This first Popular Front government, which he headed, inaugurated the 40-hour week, collective bargaining, and compulsory arbitration; it also reorganized and nationalized the Bank of France; and nationalized the munitions industry. Conservative opposition to Blum's fiscal measures forced his resignation (1937). Blum served as vice premier (1937–38) under Camille Chautemps Chautemps, Camille (kämē`yə shōtäN`), 1885–1963, French politician.
..... Click the link for more information. , was briefly premier in 1938, and opposed the Munich Pact. Arrested (1940) by the Vichy government, his Jewish origins made him a prime defendant in the abortive war-guilt trial at Riom Riom (rēôN`), town (1990 pop. 19,302), Puy-de-Dôme dept., S central France, in Auvergne.
..... Click the link for more information. in 1942. Blum was imprisoned until the end of the war. After negotiating (1946) a credit agreement with the United States, he was again premier for a little more than a month in 1946–47, heading an active Socialist cabinet. The elder statesman of French Socialists, Blum gradually came to represent the moderate wing. His writings include For All Mankind (tr. 1946, repr. 1969).

Bibliography

See biographies by J. Colton (1966, repr. 1974) and J. Lacouture (tr. 1982).

Blum, Léon

(born April 9, 1872, Paris, France—died March 30, 1950, Jouy-en-Josas) French politician and writer. He made a name as a brilliant literary and drama critic, then entered politics in the French Socialist Party. As a member of the Chamber of Deputies (1919–28, 1929–40), he became a leader of the Socialists from 1921. The chief architect of an electoral alliance of the left, he became the first Socialist (and the first Jewish) premier of France as head of the Popular Front government (1936–37). He introduced such reforms as the 40-hour workweek and collective bargaining and nationalized the chief war industries and the Bank of France. Arrested by the Vichy government in 1940, he was imprisoned until 1945. In the postwar years he was one of France's leading veteran statesmen.