FRANCE

The Second French Empire is an Absolute Monarchy (Reactionism) under Napoleon VI. France is head of the Systeme Continental and one of the leading powers in Europe. It is considered a major nation.

History
The Second French Empire was formed in 1852 by Napoleon III. Napoleon III led France through many wars to reclaim traditional French lands and colonial territories, and was largely successful. France fought wars across the world, successfully in Mexico and Italy, and unsuccessfully in Libya and the Crimea.

In 1870, Prussia sought to unify Germany and Napoleon III stood firmly in the way, concerned that a powerful German neighbor would challenge French influence in Europe. As a result France of Prussia fought a war known as the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

France won (Divergence), and at the Peace of Dijon, the y forcibly disbanded the North German Confederation. France annexed Luxembourg and the lower Rhineland, while setting up the Confederation of the Rhine as a puppet controlling parts of the Rhineland.

Following this great victory France saw a great period of prosperity and the House of Bonaparte became wildly popular among the French public. The economy boomed and French pride was restored after years of lost wars and crippling defeats. Napoleon III died in 1874 and Napoleon IV died shortly after. Napoleon V took the throne in 1879.

After the Franco-Prussian war, tensions between France and Britain escalated as the rival superpowers entered into an arms race. In 1901, a dispute over Fashoda in Sudan spiraled out of control. Escalating border skirmishes prompted Britain, Prussia, and Portugal to take up arms against Spain, France, Italy, Austria (and later, the Netherlands) along with many other nations. The series of conflicts that resulted around Europe, Africa, and Asia would be known as the Fashodan War or War of the Fashoda.

The war lasted 9 years and exhausted all nations involved. Austria's economy bottomed out and the Hapsburgs were forced to sign a peace deal early (year?). The Invasion of Portugal devolved into trench warfare, an industrial meat grinder claiming hundreds of thousands of live as the two sides fought over mere kilometres of land. Italy's Navy was defeated near Malta in (year?), clearing the way for the Sicily Campaign.

The war ended in 1909 when the British reluctantly signed the Treaty of Marseilles, whereby their empire was substantially reduced in size, they were forced to reduce their standing army, and they agreed to pay reparations to the French and Spanish. Only five years passed 5 years before Britain began to rearm and halted their reparations payments. Though tensions were defused by the compromise reached at the Lisbon Conference, whereby Britain agreed to additional partitions of the Imperial domain.

After the Fashodan War, the French Economy expanded along with their unrivaled empire. France even emerged from the 1922 Recession relatively unscathed. But, poor economic reforms and over-centralized planning prevented France from fully recovering. Napoleon V also refused to halt or reduce conscription after the peace of 1909. France thus maintained a massive army and navy to police its overextended empire.

In 1926, Napoleon V died and Napoleon VI was crowned the new head of House Bonaparte. Although, a skilled and ambitious ruler, the old guard officers and bureaucrats from Napoleon III, IV and V's regimes still filled the general staff and government. Meanwhile, the French economy remains on shaky ground; stagnation and simmering unrest threaten to undue the partial recovery France has managed in the wake of the '22 recession. With war on the horizon, the French will have to act fast if they are to stand a chance of preserving their young empire.

Politics
France is an Absolute Monarchy (Reactionism)

Reactionism
House of Bonaparte - was founded in 1804 by Napoleon I and is the ruling House of France. It is represented by a golden eagle. The House of Bonaparte is an Absolute Monarchist party and the head of the House of Bonaparte is called Emperor. Napoleon VI is the leader and the party seeks to secure France's dominant position in Europe and promote French identity and culture.

House of Orleans - purports to be the legitimate Royal House of France and maintains that the House of Bonaparte are pretenders to the throne. Seeking a return to the traditional French way of governance and life, the Orelanists are traditionalists and Absolute Monarchists. The head of the House of Orleans, John III, is called King. This party seeks to restore monarchies across Europe, particularly regimes French amenable to French influence.

Socialism
Front Populaire - the French Popular Front is a Coalition of Collectivists, and the greatest challenge to the House of Bonaparte's control. The front is popular among much of the French working class, and their uncompromising republican ideals make them a favorite among those who want to be rid of the monarchy all together. The party is lead by Édouard Herriot, who seeks to reform France, keep right wing governments in check, and secure France's overseas holdings.

Totalism
Parti Totaliste Francais - The French Totalist Party is a radical revolutionary party dominated by trotskyists, it is especially popular among the urban working class. They are the most radical and vocal opposition to the House of Bonaparte and France's democratic institutions. They regularly engage in acts of sabotage. This party is led by Justin Godart, who seeks to export Totalist beliefs around the world, and crush right wing movements.

Social Conservatism
Parti Démocratique - The Democratic Party is a Traditionalist Party in France. This party has struggled to make headway in the past, but a cascade of French victories and a succession of popular monarchs have made it a favorite among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy activists. The leader of this party, André Tardieu, has vision for an expanded French democracy, one where a freely elected government is kept in check by traditional French social moores and a monarch-led executive branch.

Social Liberalism
Parti Radical - The Radical Party was the dominant force in politics for many years, sharing power with the Monarchists. But years of war and economic stagnation have driven their supporters to more radical ideologies draining the Radical Party of its members and influence. However, this parties leader, Camille Chautemps is determined to bring his party back from the shadows and into the limelight again. This party wishes to abolish the French monarchy, promulgate free elections, expand welfare programs and establish lasting peace in Europe.

Integralism
Mouvement Franciste - The France Movement (tr) is a party masterminded by its leader Charles Maurras. This Resurrectionist party is a violent and ultra-nationalistic para-military movement. Although relatively new, it has made inroads among the French public with its fiery traditionalist and nationalist rhetoric. This party wishes to see France embrace its rightful place, as Europe's leading cultural, military and economic superpower. Maurras considers conquest and influence means to this end and disdains those too weak to wield them forcefully.

Ideas
ADD_IMAGES:

National Focus
In Development.

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Army
The French military is certainly very powerful and France has a large number of divisions:

France is over reliant on old doctrines and schools of combat, placing heavy emphasis on cavalry and infantry, and has underdeveloped armored and motorized capabilities. France uses the Grand Battleplan Doctrine and the majority of their commanders possess the Old Guard trait, and suffer from poor defensive skill, preferring offense.

France's Infantry and Cavalry Divisions are fully equipped and their Infantry is experienced. However, Armored Divisions are under-equipped. Their Colonial Garrisons are also under-equipped, but highly trained.

France has very large division templates with high combat width, but good attack and defense statistics. France has an Old Guard spirit at the start of the game massively increasing the research time for land, air and naval doctrines other than the ones it has already started to research.

Navy
France has a very strong navy:

France's Captains and Admirals are of low skill. At the start of the game there are only 3 Naval Commanders to the many fleets France possess, meaning France will be required to recruit new Captains. France uses the Fleet in Being doctrine and has a not researched any more than basic naval tech.

France's Navy is poorly trained, and some ships are in repair. Nearly all of their ships are older models and need to be refitted. France bases a large portion of their Navy in the English Channel, and uses its Light Cruisers and Destroyers to police its empire.

Air Force
France has a mediocre air force:

France uses the Operation Integrity Doctrine and places very strong emphasis on Air Superiority rather than CAS or Strategic or Tactical Bombing. France only posses low level Fighter planes and basic Tactical Bombing planes, making them inferior to other nations in the air.

Factories
France has an incredibly strong industrial sector sporting 24 Civilian Factories, 10 Dockyards and 22 Military Factories, making them one of the most powerful industrial nations in Europe.

Resources
France also produces 344 Aluminium, 761 Steel and 46 Chromium, allowing it to quickly build infantry equipment and ships with ease. However, poor oil, tungsten and rubber production severely hamper France's ability to produce Planes, Tanks or run other motorized equipment efficiently. Efforts can be made in game to change this.

France has very well researched Artillery, Infantry Equipment, Support Equipment, Special Forces and Support Companies at the start of the game, giving themselves a headstart on other nations in this sector. However, France has not thoroughly researched Tank, Ship, or Plane technology.

France has an Inefficient Economy and a Worker Shortage at the start of the game, reducing their production and construction speeds, but these can be removed later on in the game through focuses.

Territory


for higher quality image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/HDR_map_france-colony1.png