France

France

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Capital:

Paris

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Government type:

Democratic, Conservative

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Faction:

Neutral(1936), Allies(1939)

France is a major power in 1936, one of the winners of the Great War, and in control of a globe-spanning empire. Their heartland in Europe is rich; almost half of Africa is under their control, and they have colonies in Indochina, Syria and Guyana, not to mention direct control of islands in all the oceans of the world. However, their government is divided, with Communist influences threatening to weaken it further.

The memory of the Great War is also very much alive, and the people of France are reluctant to fight another major war in Europe. Should an aggressive adversary like Germany threaten its heartland, France is unlikely to be willing to sustain defensive efforts that could see the entire country devastated. On top of that, the French military leadership is made up of old guards who are inexperienced with modern warfare and dangerously complacent regarding the intentions of their enemies.

That being said, if a player takes control of France and is able to iron out all of the country's internal problems and strengthen the military-industrial complex enough before war breaks out, they are in a good position to repulse and defeat both Germany and Italy and annex both countries, thus ending those threats for good.

If played correctly, the Second World War (and any other conflicts before 1948) could very well see France reborn and reshaped and emerge from the crucible of war as the far bigger and stronger  European Union. If allied with the  United Kingdom (which can annex all of its dominions and even the  United States to form the Imperial Federation), these two titans can easily become the dominant superpowers of the post-war world order. If invaded and puppeted or freed by  German Reich or  Italy, it will turn into  Free France.

Geography

France is located in Western Europe. It consists of mainland France and the island of Corsica. France also controls a large number of overseas territories and colonies including, Algeria, Syria, Madagascar, and resource-rich Indochina. France is dominated by flat, arable land in the Northwest and forest and highland in the center. France borders  Belgium to the north, with the Ardenne forest making natural bulwark. To the Northeast in the region of Alsace-Lorraine lies the small Vosges mountain range and the huge river Rhine, which makes up the natural border with  German Reich. To the south lies the Pyrenees mountains which separate France from  Spain. To the east lies  Switzerland and  Italy lies to the Southeast separated by the huge Alps mountain range. Significant rivers include the river Rhine between France and  German Reich, Le Rhône to the southeast, La Seine to the northwest, La Loire which runs through the center, and La Garonne which runs in the southwest.

France both borders the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the English channel to the Northwest and the Bay of Biscay to the west.

Historical background

 France, along with the  United Kingdom, guaranteed the independence of  Poland prior to its invasion by  Germany. Feeling secured by the Maginot Line in the Eastern provinces of Alsace-Lorraine, France declared war against Germany with the United Kingdom in 1939 after Germany's invasion of Poland. However, around a year later, in 1940, when actual combat ensued between all three powers, the Allied armies were defeated in just six weeks during the Battle of France against Germany and  Italy, in contrast to the years-long campaign expectation by both sides. Thinking their chances poor regardless, Germany gambled on a decisive victory by sending Panzer divisions through  Luxembourg and the Ardennes' forested hills, terrain which the French supreme commander Gamelin thought unable to sustain tank movements. The Panzers then drove—without waiting for infantry to secure their supply lines—through France to the English Channel, surrounding the bulk of the Allied forces which had been sent to  Belgium's border with Germany aiming to deny them room for mobile warfare and overconfident that their main thrust would be through Belgium as in WWI's Schlieffen Plan.

Threatened with annihilation, the British evacuated their expeditionary forces and what Allied units they could until Dunkirk fell. Soon thereafter, the french front collapsed and Germany begun an offensive southwards capturing Paris completely unopposed on the 14th of June and occupying the northern half of France (with the frontline going from Bordeaux to Grenoble) by the 24th of June. The French military completely disintegrated and the French government agreed to an armistice on the 25th of June—effectively surrendering the whole country—in a defeat which caused great astonishment to the rest of the world, as up until that point, France was a leading world power (both economically and militarily) that only 20 years earlier had won the Great War.

After the crushing and humiliating defeat, Germany and Italy annexed territories of eastern France (equivalent to the states of Alsace-Lorraine, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Savoy, Nice and Corsica in-game) while the rest of metropolitan France was placed under the jurisdiction of  Vichy France, a German client state led by Marshal Philippe Pétain with its de facto capital in the french town of Vichy. France's colonial empire on the other hand, was either occupied by the United Kingdom and the Free French forces under general Charles de Gaulle in the small mountainous country of Andorra or conquered by the Axis powers (Primarily Italy and Japan).

Events

Main article: French events

National focus

French national focus tree.

Main article: French national focus tree

 France, as one of the seven major powers, got a unique national focus tree.

The French national focus tree can be divided into 5 branches and 7 sub-branches:

Devalue the Franc Branch

This branch offers the possibility to develop Metropolitan France and the overseas colonies, as well as add two more research slots.

Begin Rearmament Branch

This branch focuses either on defensive or offensive expansion of the military. The defensive focuses give army and fortification bonuses while the offensive focuses give army and air bonuses. They end with the shared focus Army Reform which removes the starting national spirit  Victors of the Great War.

Form the Popular Front/Revive the National Bloc Branch

This branch develops French industry. The left side of the branch adds factories to various states, completely removes Inefficient Economy and leads to the communist sub-branch. The right side of the branch develops construction speed, manipulates party popularity, and leads to the fascist and monarchist sub-branch. Both sides lead to the historical democratic sub-branch of the focus tree and Intervention in  Spain decisions.

Invite Communist Ministers Sub-branch

This sub-branch allows France to become Communist, gain manpower and political power. The Reconciliation section gives stability and political power. It leads to the Anti-Fascist coalition section which allies with neighboring or Balkan Communist and Democratic nations and manpower. The Revolution to the Utmost gives war support and a civil war. It leads to the Loyalty to the Cause section which gives war goals against the  United Kingdom,  Spain,  Germany and  Italy. Both the Reconciliation and the Revolution to the Utmost leads to the Loyalty to Moscow section which allows France to join the Comintern. This section and the Anti-Fascist coalition section leads to a focus that gives war goals against all neighboring Fascist nation.

Leftist Rhetoric Sub-branch

This sub-branch is only available if the La Résistance DLC is not enabled. This allows France to become Communist.

The Blum-Viollette Proposal Sub-branch

This sub-branch allows France to core Algeria, gain non-core manpower and compliance or lose the national spirit Full Employment. Depending on the choice of the colonies, the French Union focus allows France to annex and core its colonies or increase resistance.

Review Foreign Policy Sub-branch

This sub-branch allows France to either create the Little Entente with  Czechoslovakia,  Yugoslavia,  Romania or  Poland, support  Finland in their war, join the Allies or create the Stressa Front with the  United Kingdom and  Italy.

Utilize the Leagues Sub-branch

This sub-branch allows France to become Fascist, gain claims on various nations and make alliances with other European nations. The Latin Entente section allows France to ally with  Spain,  Portugal and Italy for French Somaliland, gain claims on  Greece and war goals on  Germany,  Belgium and the  Netherlands. The Towards a New Europe section allows France to join the Axis, gain claims and war goals on  Belgium and  Canada. Both sections lead to war goals claims and subjugation on the Middle East.

The Council of Rambouillet Sub-branch

This sub-branch restores the French monarchy from either the House of Orléans (Orléaniste), Bourbon (Légitimistes) or Bonaparte (Bonapartiste). The Orléanist section gives war goals against  Germany and  Italy. The Légitimist section gives an alliance, an annexation or wargoal on  Spain. The Bonapartist section gives war goals against  United Kingdom,  Belgium,  Netherlands,  Germany and the  Soviet Union. It also has a focus to split  Germany into 7-9 different countries.

Right Wing Rhetoric Sub-branch

This sub-branch is only available if the La Résistance DLC is not enabled. This allows France to become Fascist.

Naval Rearmament Branch

This branch includes focuses which grant experience and research bonuses that improve the navy.

Air Focus Branch

This branch includes focuses which grant experience and research bonuses that improve the air force.

Technology

France starts with very good tanks, having unlocked 2 levels of the light tanks tree. This is offset by a major penalty to doctrine research, making it extremely time-consuming to develop proper doctrines.

Army Technology	Naval Technology	Air Technology	Electronics & Industry
MAS-36 (Infantry Eq. I) Citroen U23 (Motorized) S15 (Armored Car I) Mountain Infantry I Engineering Company I Recon Company I FCM 36 (Light Tank II) Canon de 75 modèle 1897 (Towed Artillery I) Hotchkiss 25mm (Towed Anti-Air I)	1936 Destroyer Hull Roller-chain DC Racks (Depth Charge I) Early Cruiser Hull 1936 Heavy Ship Hull 300mm Belt/70mm Deck (Battleship Armor II) 283mm Belt/130mm Deck (Battlecruiser Armor II) Deck Conversions 1936 Submarine Hull Twin 550mm TTs (Torpedo Rack I) 138.6mm/40 Model 1927 (Light Battery II) 152mm/55 Model 1930 (Light Cruiser Battery II) 203mm/55 Model 1931 (Heavy Cruiser Battery II) 34cm/45 Model 1912 (Heavy Battery I) 138.6mm/55 Model 1910 (Secondary Battery I) Contact Mines Minelaying Submarine Transport Ship 25mm/60 Hotchkiss 1940 (Anti-Air Battery II)	Nieuport-Delage NiD 62 (Interwar Fighter) Dewoitine D.376 (Interwar Carrier Fighter) Breguet BR.693 (Close Air Support I) Latécoère 298 (Naval Bomber I) Latécoère 298B (Carrier Naval Bomber I) Amiot 143 (Tactical Bomber I)	Fuel Storage Fuel Refining I
Doctrines
Grand Battleplan	Fleet in Being	None

Without Man the Guns
La Fantasque Class (Destroyer II) La Galissonnière Class (Light Cruiser II)) Algérie Class (Heavy Cruiser II) Dunkerque Class (Battlecruiser II) Courbet Class (Battleship I) Upgraded Bretagne Class Béarn Class (Carrier I) Minerve Class (Submarine II) Transport Ship

France is the only nation to start with Battlecruiser II, a 1940 technology.

Cosmetic names

France has a number of unique names and appearances for various technologies and equipment, listed here. Note that generic names are not listed.

Infantry & motorized techs

Type	1918	1936	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944
Support Weapons	FM Chauchat & Stokes mortar		Hotchkiss M1914 & Brandt Mle 1935		FM 24/29 & Brandt Mle 27/31		Hotchkiss M1922 & Brandt Mle 1942
Infantry Equipment	Mle 1886 M93	MAS-36		MAS-38			MAS-40
Motorized		Citroen U23
Mechanized					Citroen P107		SOMUA MCG		AMX VCI
Armored Car		S15			Panhard 165		Panhard 178

Armor techs

Tech year	Amphibious	Light (TD/SPG/AA)	Medium (TD/SPG/AA)	Modern (TD/SPG/AA)	Heavy (TD/SPG/AA)	Super-Heavy (TD/SPG/AA)
1918		FT 17
1934		H35			B1 (Canone de 194 / NA / NA)
1936		FCM 36 (AMR 35 ZT-3 / NA / NA)
1939			AMC 35 (W15 TCC / (ARL V39 / NA)
1940
1941		AMX 12t (NA / F3 155 mm / NA)	S35 (SAu 40 / 105 AM / NA)		ARL 44
1942
1943			SARL 42		AMX-M4	FCM F-1
1945				AMX 50t

 

Artillery techs

Tech year	Anti-Air	Artillery	Rocket Artillery	Anti-Tank
1934		Canon de 75 mle 1897		Canon de 25 mm
1936	Hotchkiss 25 mm			37 mm Gun M3
1939		Canon de 105 L mle 1936
1940	Schneider 37 mm		NA	47mm SA 37
1942		155 mm M114
1943	Canon de 75 CA modèle 1940		NA	Canon de 76 mm mle 1943

Politics

National spirits

France starts with four National Spirits in Man the Guns and more in La Résistance:

Victors of the Great War

• Recruitable Population: −0.3%
• War Support: -5%
• Land Doctrine Research Speed: -75%

Having emerged victorious from the Great War, the army has developed a dangerously complacent attitude which causes strategic developments to come slowly and with some reluctance.

Disjointed Government

• Daily Political Power Cost: +0.8
• Stability: −10%
• Surrender Limit: -50%

The state of French politics is far from stable. While reforms are needed and welcome, the nation is divided and getting drawn into a conflict would put it at great risk.

Protected by the Maginot Line

• Planning Speed: −25.0%
• Max Planning: +25.0%

Having fortified the border gives France the opportunity to plan and prepare carefully, but it does sacrifice some flexibility in the event of something unexpected.

Full Employment

• Recruitable Population Factor: -25%

We are in the enviable position of having very low unemployment, partially because of the massive bloodshed of the Great War. However, this has made it difficult for companies to find skilled workers, and the military finds it hard to compete with the labor market for recruits. Extending the draft would only exaberate the problem. We should try and find other sources of manpower to make up for the shortfall, either in recruitment or in the economy.

Political Violence

Communists and far-right extremist leagues are always ready to resort to violence to advance their political cause.

Inefficient Economy

• Factory Output: -20.00%
• Dockyard Output: -20.00%

While still a major industrialized country, France has been left behind in terms of concentration of production capabilities. Major reforms are needed to make our economy more competitive in the global scale.

With the Man the Guns expansion enabled, France starts with an additional national spirit:

London Naval Treaty Signatory

• Carrier Max Cost: 9500
• Cruiser Max Cost: 5300
• Heavy Ship Max Cost: 10000

We have signed the London Naval Treaty and accordingly are restricted in the size of our capital ships.

Disjointed Government can possibly be removed by completing National Focuses in the Popular Front/National Bloc branch.

Victors of the Great War can be removed by completing the Army Reform focus at the bottom of the Begin Rearmament tree.

Changing conscription laws will make Full Employment worse but can be removed with the National focus.

Political parties

Political party	Ideology	Popularity	Party leader	Country name	Is ruling?
Parti Radical	Democratic	64%	Pierre Laval	France	Yes
Parti Communiste Francais	Communist	20%	Maurice Thorez	French Commune	No
Mouvement Franciste	Fascist	1%	Philippe Pétain	Nation Française(If Independent)/Vichy France(If formed by Germany's decision)	No
Non-Aligned	Non-Aligned	15%	Generic	Orleanist France(If Orleanist)/Bourbon France(If Legitimist)/French Empire(If Imperialist)	No

Diplomacy

France starts outside of the Allies at the start of 1936, but has options to join later. They also have focuses to form their own faction with  Czechoslovakia and invite  Yugoslavia and  Romania to form the Little Entente.

France has a focus to unlock decisions concerning whether to intervene in the Spanish Civil War, or encourage non-interference by other parties.

Diplomatic rules

Rule	Whether it applies	Reason
Can declare war on country of the same ideology group without a war goal	No	Democracy
Can Guarantee other Ideologies	Yes	Democracy
Can create Factions	No	No National Spirit. Requires National Focus
Lowers World Tension with Guarantees	Yes	Democracy
Can puppet a country	No	Democracy
Can justify wargoals against a country that have not generated world tension	No	Democracy
Can create collaboration governments	No	Democracy

Decisions

France can form the  European Union through a decision if it is democratic and controls the requisite territories (those being all of its own starting core states a well as the starting core states of  Germany,  Italy, the  Netherlands,  Belgium and  Luxembourg.

Staff and designers

These are choices of ministers and design companies for France.

Political advisors

Icon	Advisor	Type	Effect	Cost()
	Maurice Thorez	Communist Revolutionary	Daily Communism Support: +0.10 Has completed focus Invite Communist Ministers Gets event Protests descend into violence	150
	Léon Blum	Democratic Reformer	Daily Democracy Support: +0.10	150
	Marcel Bucard	Fascist Demagogue	Daily Fascism Support: +0.10 Has completed focus Utilize the Leagues Gets event Protests descend into violence	150
	René Massigli	Hawk	Stability: -5% War Support: +10% Has completed focus Confirm Eastern Commitments Ruling party is Democratic	75
	Georges Bonnet	Humble Appeaser	Stability: +10% War Support: -5% Has completed focus Buy Time Ruling party is Democratic	75
	Charles Maurras	National Integralist	Political Power Gain: +15% Weekly Stability: +0.10% Has completed focus Integralism Ruling party is Fascist or Non-Aligned	75
	Philippe Henriot	Propaganda Master	War Support: +10% Has completed focus National Regeneration Ruling party is Fascist	75
	Pierre Pucheu	Technocrat	Research Speed: +5% Civilian Factory construction speed: +5% Ruling party is NOT Communist	150
	Gaston Henry-Haye	Silent Workhorse	Political Power Gain: +15%	150
	Jacques Duclos	Backroom Backstabber	Political Power Gain: +5% Ideology drift defense: +15%	150
	Paul Baudouin	Smooth-Talking Charmer	Trade deal opinion factor: +10.00%	150
	Vincent Auriol	Financial Expert	Consumer Goods Factories: -5% Has completed focus Form the Popular Front	150
	Roger Salengro	Compassionate Gentleman	Improve relations opinion: +15% Has completed focus Form the Popular Front	150
	Zivony Peshkov	War Industrialist	Military Factory Construction Speed: +10.0% Dockyard Construction Speed: +10.0% Fuel Silo Construction Speed: +10.0%	150
	Félix Gouin	Captain of Industry	Civilian Factory construction speed: +10% Infrastructure construction speed: +10% Refinery construction speed: +10%	150
	Charles Tillon	Armaments Organizer	Civilian to Military Factory conversion speed: +20%	150
	Paul Reynaud	Quartermaster General	Air Base construction speed: +15% Naval Base construction speed: +15% Rocket Site construction speed: +15% Radar Station construction speed: +15% Nuclear Reactor construction speed: +15%	150
	Maurice-Henri Gauché	Illusive Gentleman	Operative slots: +1 Agency upgrade time: -15% Has created an Intelligence Agency	150

Tank designers

Icon	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	AMX	Mobile Tank Designer	Armor Research Speed: +15% Armor: Max Speed: +5% Reliability: +10% Has completed focus Army Reform By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Renault	Heavy Tank Designer	Armor Research Speed: +15% Armor: Armor: +5% Hard Attack: +5% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Hotchkiss	Infantry Tank Designer	Armor Research Speed: +15% Armor: Soft Attack: +5% Armor: +5% Has completed focus Infantry Tanks By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	APX	Medium Tank Designer	Armor Research Speed: +15% Armor: Reliability: +5% Soft Attack: +5% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Panhard	Armored Car Designer	Armor Research Speed: +15% Armored Car: Max Speed: +5% Soft Attack: +5% Hard Attack: +5% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150

Ship designers

Icon	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	FCM	Mediterranean Fleet Designer	Naval Research Speed: +15% Capital Ship: Max Range: -25% Max Speed: +10% Screen: Max Range: -25% Max Speed: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	AEB	Escort Fleet Designer	Naval Research Speed: +15% Screen: Max Range: +30% Sub Detection: +10% Max Speed: +10% Production Cost: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	ACL	Atlantic Fleet Designer	Naval Research Speed: +15% Carrier: Armor: +50% HP: +10% Capital Ship: Armor: +10% Heavy Attack: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	ACF	Raiding Fleet Designer	Naval Research Speed: +15% Carrier: Surface Visibility: -10% Max Speed: +10% Deck Size: -10% Capital Ship: Surface Visibility: -10% Max Speed: +10% Heavy Attack: -10% Screen: Surface Visibility: -10% Max Speed: +10% Submarine: Sub Visibility: -10% Surface Visibility: -10% Max Speed: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150

Aircraft designers

Icon	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	Morane-Saulnier	Light Aircraft Designer	Air Research Speed: +10% Fighter: Agility: +10% Max Speed: +10% Carrier Fighter: Agility: +10% Max Speed: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Bloch	Medium Aircraft Designer	Air Research Speed: +10% Heavy Fighter: Reliability: +20% Tactical Bomber: Reliability: +20% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Amiot	Heavy Aircraft Designer	Air Research Speed: +10% Strategic Bomber: Strategic Bombing: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Levasseur	Naval Aircraft Designer	Air Research Speed: +10% Naval Bomber: Range: +10% Naval Attack: +10% CV Naval Bomber: Range: +10% Naval Attack: +10% Carrier Fighter: Range: +10% Agility: +10% Carrier CAS: Range: +10% Naval Attack: +10% By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150

Materiel designers

Dcon	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	MAS	Infantry Equipment Designer	Weapons and Equipment Research Speed: +15%	150
	SOMUA	Motorized Equipment Designer	Motorization Research Speed: +15%	150
	Schneider	Artillery Designer	Artillery Research Speed: +15%	150

Industrial concerns

Icon	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	FAMH	Industrial Concern	Industrial Research Speed: +15%	150

Theorists

Icon	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	Charles de Gaulle	Blitzkrieg Theorist	Army Experience Gain: +0.05 daily Land Doctrine Research Speed: +10% Armor: Max Speed: +10% Has completed focus Battle of Maneuver	75
	Henri Giraud	Military Theorist	Army Experience Gain: +0.05 daily Land Doctrine Research Speed: +10%	150
	Louis Kahn	Grand Fleet Proponent	Naval Experience Gain: +0.05 daily Fleet in Being Doctrine: +15%	250
	Jean Decoux	Naval Theorist	Naval Experience Gain: +0.05 daily Naval Doctrine Research Speed: +10%	150
	Victor Denain	Assault Aviation	Air Experience Gain: +0.05 daily Operational Integrity Doctrine: +15%	250
	Jean-Marie Bergeret	Air Warfare Theorist	Air Experience Gain: +0.05 daily Air Doctrine Research Speed: +10%	150
	Frédéric & Iréne Joliot-Curie	Nuclear Scientist	Nuclear Research Speed: +15%	150

Economy

Laws

Conscription Law	Economy Law	Trade Law
Limited Conscription 2.5% Recruitable population	Civilian Economy 35% Consumer Goods factories –30% Factory construction speed +30% Factory (type) conversion cost -40% Fuel Gain per Oil -25% Fuel Capacity	Export Focus 50% Resources to market +5% Research speed +10% Factory/Dockyard output +10% Construction speed +20% Civilian intelligence to others +10% Navy intelligence to others

Industry

Factories 1936

8 Military Factories

10 Naval Dockyard

33 Civilian Factories

Military production is dwarfed by Germany (20 more factories) and Italy (11 more factories) and only on par with Belgium. The player can also expect production to be crippled by the 1936 strikes. However, the very good civilian production allows for considerable military buildup in the years before the war and France can easily build up its industry to a comparable level once the strikes and other negative modifiers have been removed.

Resources

Total resources 1936

Oil	Rubber	Steel	Aluminum	Tungsten	Chromium
0	27	726	335	13	49

These numbers represent the base available resources, depending on the trade law a certain amount may be traded away.

France has access to huge amounts of Steel and Aluminum. They also control large supplies of Rubber, Chromium and Tungsten from their Asian colonies. They have no access to Oil so they need to import that.

Military

The Maginot Line: Heavy fortifications (Seven level 10 forts) at the border to Germany.

Army

France has 74 divisions in 1936, but many of those are colonial divisions with only six infantry battalions, and their armored divisions are basically brigades:

• Six are Division de Cavalerie with 4x cavalry and a cavalry recon detachment.
• Seven are Division d'Infanterie Motorisée with 9x motorized, support artillery and a motorized recon company.
• Nine are Division Coloniale with 9x infantry and support artillery.
• Four are Division d'Infanterie Alpine with 12x mountaineers and no support.
• One is a Divisione Légère Mécanique with 4x motorized, 2x light tanks and a motorized recon company.
• Five are Brigade de Chars de Combat with 4x light tanks and no support.
• Nineteen are Division d'Infanterie with 9x infantry and support artillery.
• The remaining 23 are Brigade Coloniale with 6x infantry, no support, and low reinforcement priority.

France relies on the heavy fortifications at the border to Germany, the Maginot Line to defend them. With its far-flung and vast colonial possessions, defending them against attack will require a higher concentration of light, fast forces compared to Metropole defense.

In terms of technology, France has a good head start on mechanized, motorized and tank forces with only a little catch-up for infantry weapons. The problem with fielding a modern army will be expanding France's production base, which is both extremely limited and faced with the prospect of crippling manpower shortages in the very near future in 1936.

Examples of alternative division template names for France include:

• Mountaineers - Division d'Infanterie Alpine
• Marines - Division d'Infanterie de Marine
• Paratroopers - Division Aéroportée
• Motorized - Division d'Infanterie Motorisée
• Mechanized - Division d'Infanterie Mécanisée
• Armor - Division Blindée

Navy

Capital ships 1936 1 Carriers 5 Battleships 7 Heavy Cruisers Screens and Submarines 1936 7 Light Cruisers 52 Destroyers 63 Submarines

France has 1 Carrier(CV), 5 Battleships(BB), 7 Heavy Cruisers(CA), 7 Light Cruisers(CL), 52 Destroyers(DD) and 63 Submarines(SS) at the start, and boasts a somewhat modern - if badly understrength - fleet. Whilst the Marine Nationale is strong enough to decisively defeat either the Kriegsmarine or the Regia Marina alone, it would have no chance against a combined Axis fleet. As with her tanks, France begins the game with modern naval technology, such as 1936 BB, DD and SS techs and two unique designs: La Fantasque, a destroyer model with tier 3 (1940) engines, and the Surcouf Class submarine with 3 custom slots. Many of these designs are clearly aimed against an anti-surface role, prioritizing fast, lightly-armored ships with minimal ASW capability and strong scouting capabilities. However, poor naval infrastructure and low shipbuilding priority means that constructing a large modern fleet is not easy, and in fact can often be counter-productive in that it denies vital raw materials from tank and motorized production.

Naval units list

Name	Type	Count	Production	Techyear	Design note
Bourrasque Class*	Destroyer	26		1922	DD battery I, AA I, 2xTT I
Chacal Class*	Destroyer	24		1922	Bourrasque + DC I and Light Engine II
La Fantasque Class	Destroyer	2	4	1922	DD battery II, AA I, TT I, TT II, DC I, Light Engine III
Mogador Class	Destroyer			1936	2xDD battery II, AA I, TT II, DC I
Duguay-Trouin Class*	Light Cruiser	5		1922	2xCL I batteries, TT I, scout plane I, no armor
Émile Bertin Class	Minelayer (CL)	1		1922	2xCL II batteries, 2xAA I, mines, no armor
La Galissonniére Class	Light Cruiser	1	4	1922	2xAA I, 2xCL II batteries, scout plane I, CL armor I
Suffren Class*	Heavy Cruiser	6		1922	2xCA I battery, AA I, TT I, scout plane I, CA Armor I
Algérie Class	Heavy Cruiser	1		1922	2xCA I batteries, 2x AA I, scout plane I, CA Armor I
Surcouf Class	Submarine	1		1918	2xTT I, scout plane I
600 Series*	Submarine	19		1922	TT I
630 Series*	Submarine	16		1922	TT I
Saphir Class*	Minelayer (SS)	6		1922	TT I, mines
Minerve Class	Submarine		4	1922	2xTT I, Submarine Engine II
Redoutable Class	Submarine	21	3	1936	2xTT I
Dunkerque Class	Battlecruiser		1	1936	2xBB I batteries, 2x AA I, 2xSecondary I, Scout Plane 1, BC Armor II
Courbet Class*	Battleship	2		1922	2xBB I batteries, 1xAA I, 3xSecondary I, BB Armor I
Bretagne Class	Battleship	3		1922	2xBB I batteries, 2xAA I, 2xSecondary I, BB Armor I
Richelieu Class	Battleship		1	1936	2xBB II batteries, 2xAA I, scout plane II, 2xSecondary II, BB Armor II
Béarn Class	Aircraft Carrier	1		1922	2xHangar Space, 1xAA I, 1x Secondary I
* marks a variant as "obsolescent".

Air force

Aircraft 1936

450 Fighters

42 Naval Bombers

204 Tactical Bombers

France starts with 450 fighters, 42 Naval Bombers and 204 modern Tactical Bombers. It is a rather good air force, but it will need to be significantly strengthened before the war starts.

Military staff

These are the Military Staff candidates for appointment in France.

Chief of Army

Icon	Candidate	Type I	Type II	Effects + Requirements	Cost ()
	Maurice Gamelin	Army Offense	(Expert)	Division Attack: +10% Has completed focus Aggressive Focus	50
	Maxime Weygand	Army Defense	(Expert)	Division Defense: +10% Has completed focus Defensive Focus	50
	Henri Marie Auguste Bineau	Army Offense	(Specialist)	Division Attack: +5%	150
	Pierre Alombert Goget	Army Defense	(Specialist)	Division Defense: +5%	150
	Alphonse Georges	Army Maneuver	(Specialist)	Division speed: +5%	150

Chief of Navy

Icon	Candidate	Type I	Type II	Effects + Requirements	Cost ()
	Francois Darlan	Decisive Battle	(Expert)	Capital Ship Attack: +10% Capital Ship Armor: +10% Screen Attack: +10% Screen Defense: +10%	150
	Marcel Gensoul	Naval Aviation	(Specialist)	Naval Air Attacks from Carriers: +3% Naval Air Targeting from Carriers: +3% Naval Air Agility from Carriers: +4%	150
	Jean-Marie Abrial	Commerce Raiding	(Expert)	Convoy Raiding Efficiency: +15%	150

Chief of the Air force

Icon	Candidate	Type I	Type II	Effects + Requirements	Cost ()
	Joseph Vuillemin	Ground Support	(Specialist)	Air Superiority: +5%	150
	Robert Odic	All-Weather	(Specialist)	Bad Weather Penalty: -10%	150
	Phillipe Féquant	Air Reformer	(Expert)	Air Experience Gain: +7.5%	150

Military High Command

Icon	Candidate	Type I	Type II	Requirements + Effects	Cost ()
	René Prioux	Cavalry	(Expert)	Motorized Attack: +10% Motorized Defense: +10% Cavalry Attack: +10% Cavalry Defense: +10% Mechanized Attack: +10% Mechanized Defense: +10%	150
	Charles Huntizger	Army Logistics	(Specialist)	Division Attrition: -4%	150
	Philippe Leclerc	Commando	(Expert)	Special forces Attack: +15% Special forces Defense: +15%	150
	Alfred Heurtaux	Air Combat Training	(Expert)	Ace generation chance: +10%	150
	Martial Valin	Air Superiority	(Expert)	Air superiority attack: +3% Air superiority defense: +3% Air superiority agility: +3%	150
	Jean-Francois Jannekeyn	Tactical Bombing	(Expert)	Ground support: +15%	150
	Jean de Laborde	Capital Ships	(Specialist)	Capital Ship Attack: +5% Capital Ship Armor: +5%	150
	Émile Muselier	Fleet Logistics	(Expert)	Naval max range factor: +10%	150
	René-Emile Godfroy	Screens	(Expert)	Screen Attack: +10% Screen Defense: +15%	150

Strategies and guides

Super Kingdom of Franco-Spain

France has, a unique potential to gain cores on The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Germany, and Italy through incredible luck.

For the first step, in forming the super Kingdom of Franco-Spain, you must put on non-historical focuses, and restart saves until Portugal does its focus Estado Novo. Once you get the news article detailing that their has been a royal marriage between Brazil and Portugal you can move on. Next step is forming the European Union. Follow the Forming the European Union steps for how to form it, but make sure to not go down any focus tree other than the monarchist branch, as well as making sure that the Carlists win the Spanish civil war and the monarchist Portuguese win their civil war and the Brazilian monarchist civil war (If they Don't fire, don't worry, that just means you don't have to help them through the civil wars)

After forming the EU,you must restore the monarchy through the Légitimistes, continue down the focus tree, but before completing be sure that Spain has formed the Iberian union ( if they did the focus for the Iberian union but Portugal refused, if the save is ironman, immediately alt f4, but if on regular mode, reload to the latest auto save until Portugal accepts), Upon completing Focus to annex Spain, you should have cores on all of western Europe excluding Gibraltar ( if Britain goes communist you will have Gibraltar and a core on it) and Brazil.

Although not tested, if The Super Kingdom of Franco-Spain is formed,and is allied to Britain, it should be possible if France were to release Germany, to be capitulated by and then create the Franco-British union, It should be possible for Britain to gain cores on TheNetherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Germany, Italy, The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands, South Africa and The former Zimbabwean lands north of South Africa, and france.

Forming the European Union

France is quite possibly the best candidate to form the European Union as if staying democratic, it can expect to end up in a defensive war against both Germany and Italy, allowing both countries to be annexed in a single peace treaty. The main problem with forming the EU as France is the inability to annex Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg but this can be worked around by going down the French Entente line in the focus tree. Be sure to kick Czechoslovakia out of the faction before Sudetenland as otherwise you will end up in a war with Germany too early. Wait for Germany to capitulate all the minors on the mainland before justifying on an axis member and joining the war.

Once the war starts its important to deny military access to all other belligerents and rack up massive war score on your own. The most straightforward approach would be to first neutralize Italy by launching naval invasions to encircle and destroy their troops before marching on Rome. Start in Sicily and work your way up the peninsula towards Rome. If you have land forts around level 6 or higher then the Axis nations will be very hesitant to assault your positions and you can focus on taking down Italy. Once Italy falls, be sure to quickly capitulate Germany before the Allies are able to do that. You need to have a high war score in order to pull off this strategy.

Once the Axis powers are defeated and the peace treaty commences, annex the BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemborg) countries in their entirety and as much of Italy and Germany in the first peace treaty as possible. Try to annex all coastal states as the allies will not annex any states that they cannot reach. Only Italy's and Germany's starting regions are needed so a German Republic forming in Austria or an Italian Republic forming in Albania (due to Allied demands) is very convenient if you can cut then off and stop them from getting more land in the peace deal.

An alternative (albeit untested) way to form the EU is to allow Hungary to become a major power and then occupy and hold the territories needed before the peace deal.

Lastly, it is also possible to take advantage of several random events to increase Communist support high enough and flip France to communism, allowing them to manually justify war goals on Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands and annex them, then progress down the Democratic branch of the National Focus tree and drift back to Democracy and form the EU.

Achievements

Big Entente As France, complete the "Little Entente" National Focus, and have all German cores owned by you or someone in your faction.

Die, Perfidious Albion! As Fascist France or Vichy France, occupy all of Great Britain.

Second Time’s the Charm As France, occupy Moscow while Napoleon VI is your country leader.

Vive la France Reach 1948 as France without capitulating or surrendering.

Vive la Jeune Ecole As France, have at least 150 Destroyers and research the maximum torpedo launcher technology, before 1945.

Countries

Europe

France Italy Netherlands Kingdom of Romania United Kingdom

North America

South America

Brazil Colombia

Asia	China Japan Manchukuo Mengkukuo Shanxi

Africa

Ethiopia

Oceania

Europe

Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Denmark Estonia Finland German Reich Greece Hungary Ireland Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Norway Poland Portugal Nationalist Spain Republican Spain Soviet Union Sweden Switzerland Turkey Yugoslavia

North America

Dominion of Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama United States

South America

Argentina Bolivia Chile Ecuador Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela

Asia	Afghanistan Bhutan British Malaya British Raj Communist China Guangxi Clique Iran Iraq Mongolia Nepal Oman Philippines Saudi Arabia Siam Sinkiang Tannu Tuva Tibet Xibei San Ma Yemen Yunnan

Africa

Liberia South Africa

Oceania

Australia New Zealand