He studied law in his native
Paris and earned a reputation as a poet and author. From 1896
to 1919 he served in the government as legal advisor in the
Council of State. Drawn to the Socialist Party, he became a
deputy in 1919 and was soon one of the party's leaders. In 1921
he founded the Socialist daily, Le Populaire. In the face of
a Fascist threat in 1934, he organized a Popular Front of the
left and in June 1936 Blum became France's first Jewish prime
minister. His government introduced daring reforms including
the 40-hour work week, paid vacations and nationalization of
war industries and the Bank of France. He was defeated in June
1937 but was again premier for nine months in 1938. In 1938
he founded the pro-Zionist Socialist Committee for Palestine.
When the Germans occupied France in 1940, they had Blum arrested
and accused of having supported the war. Brought to trial in
1942, he conducted a brilliant defense which led the Germans
to suspend the trial. He was sent to a concentration camp from
which he was freed by the American army in 1945. Resuming political
life, he was again Prime Minister for a month in 1946.
Bibliography
BLUM, Léon. Leon Blum
before his judges at the Supreme court of Riom, March 11th and
12th, 1942. foreword by the Right Hon. Clement R. Attlee,
MP, introduction by Felix Gouin. Pp. viii, 159. London: The
Labour book service [1943]
BLUM, Léon. A l'echelle
humaine. [Paris] Gallimard [1945]
BLUM, Léon. For all mankind (A l'echelle
humaine). Translated by W. Pickles.
Pp. 143. London: V. Gollancz ltd, 1946
BLUM, Léon. Discours
politiques. Présentation, Alain Bergounioux. Pp. 292. Paris:
Impr. nationale Éditions, 1997.
BLUM, Léon. Lettres de
Buchenwald. Éditées et présentées par Ilan Greilsammer. Pp.
189. [Paris]: Gallimard, c2003.
BLUM, Léon. Peace
and disarmament. Translated by Alexander Werth, with an
introduction by Robert Dell. Pp. 202. London: J. Cape [1932]
BLUM, Léon. Souvenirs
sur l'affaire. 5 ed. Pp. 180. Paris: Gallimard, 1935.
Links
Cercle Léon Blum
Léon Blum - Exposition
