1872-1957. French Radical socialist
politician. An opponent of Poincare, who as
prime minister carried out the French
occupation of the Ruhr, Germany, he was
briefly prime minister 1924-25, 1926, and
1932. As president of the chamber of deputies
1940 he opposed the policies of the
right-wing Vichy government, was arrested and
later taken to Germany until released 1945 by
the Soviets.