Part 8/10:
France played a critical role in World War I, aligning with the Allies against the Central Powers. The post-war period was marked by the Treaty of Versailles, which restored territory and imposed reparations on Germany. However, tensions in Europe reignited with the outbreak of World War II, during which France initially fell to Nazi Germany in 1940. The establishment of the Free French Forces under Charles de Gaulle symbolized resistance against the occupation.
The end of the war in 1944 led to the establishment of a provisional government and, subsequently, the Fourth Republic in 1946. This era was characterized by economic growth but also marked by the struggle for control over French Indochina and conflicts arising from the Algerian War.