BLUM Leon (Blum Leon)

(1872-1950)
Born April 9, 1872 in Paris. In 1894 he graduated from the Faculty of the Sorbonne. Received a doctorate in law. Until 1919 he worked as a lawyer. At the same time engaged in literary activity. Among his works - New talk Goethe and Eckermann (Nouvelles Conversations de Goethe avec Eckermann, 1901); about marriage (Du Mariage, 1907), Stendhal and Beylism (Stendhal et le Beylisme, 1914).
Dreyfus Affair led Blum to enter politics. In 1904 Blum joined the French Socialist Party and published articles in the newspaper 'L'Humanite' ( 'L'Humanit'). Death of Jaures in 1914 and frustration in politics Clemenceau led him to embark on the path of political struggle. In 1919, Blum became chairman of the executive committee of the French Socialist Party and a member of the Chamber of Deputies.

Blum spoke against joining the Socialist Party to the Comintern, became the leader on the merits of the new Socialist Party, has kept the former name (CBF). Blum led the Socialist faction in parliament, he published a daily newspaper 'Le Populaire de Paris' ( 'Le Populaire de Paris'). It was he who persuaded the other socialist leaders to remain in opposition in 1920 and he did not agree to proposals to join the government.

In 1936, when France under threat of fascism, Blum formed a coalition of socialists, communists and radicals - the Popular Front, the victorious 1936. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Popular Front, headed by Blum in power from June 1936 to June 1937. One year before the Second World War, Blum strongly opposed the Munich Agreement of 1938. In September 1940, after the military defeat of France, was arrested by the Vichy government and brought to justice. In April 1943, was imprisoned in a German concentration camp in May 1945 released by U.S. troops. In prison, wrote a political essay for all mankind (A l'chelle humaine, 1945).

After the liberation of France Blum began again to publish an article in 'Le Populaire de Paris'. In January 1946 he was offered the post of Ambassador Extraordinary to the negotiation of loans for post-war economic recovery. C in December 1946 to January 1947 Blum - once again Prime Minister, in 1948 - Deputy Prime Minister and head of the French delegation at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Blum died in Jouy-en-Josas 30 March 1950.