A military pilot during World War I,[3] Flandin held a number of cabinet posts during the interwar period. He was Minister of Commerce, under the premiership of Frédéric François-Marsal, for just five days in 1924. He was Minister of Commerce and Industry in the premierships of André Tardieu in 1931 and 1932. Between those posts, he served under Pierre Laval as Finance Minister. In 1934 (6 February to 8 November), he was Minister of Public Works in the second cabinet of Gaston Doumergue. He became Prime Minister in November 1934, but his premiership lasted only until June 1935. However, a number of important pacts were negotiated during his term: the Franco-Italian Agreement of 1935, the Stresa Front and the Franco-Soviet Pact.[1] Flandin was, at 45, the youngest prime minister in French history.[3]
Flandin was the French Foreign Minister when Adolf Hitler ordered the Wehrmacht to reoccupy the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. [4]He attempted to organize a strong response but was unable to without British support.[5] Supporting appeasement during the Munich crisis hurt his career.[3] In December 1940, Vichy Chief of State Philippe Pétain appointed Flandin Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister on 13 December 1940, replacing Pierre Laval. He occupied that position for only two months.[6]
^"Berlin Talks on Reconciliation – Mr Flandin's Statement". The Times. 7 March 1936.
^The Last Lion, vol 2, pp 180-183. William Manchester, pub 1988
^His reputation has suffered considerably partially for the very negative comments in the 1944 book by Pertinax, The Gravediggers of France (Chapter 5) in which the author blames him for strengthening appeasement, which ultimately led to Hitler's invasion.
"Histoire des Chefs de Gouvernement". République Française – Portail du Gouvernement. 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
^Dank, Milton (1974). The French against the French. London: Cassell. pp. 365 p. 338. ISBN0-304-30037-3.