French Communist Party

The French Communist Party (French: Parti communiste français or PCF) is France's largest communist party and a member of the European Left group.

Wartime influence

This position changed when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. The party then took an active part in the Resistance movement, regaining credibility as an anti-fascist force. By 1944 the PCF had reached the height of its influence, controlling large areas of the country through the Resistance units under its command. Some in the PCF wanted to launch a revolution as the Germans withdrew from the country, but the leadership, acting on Stalin's instructions, opposed this and adopted a policy of co-operating with the Allied powers and advocating a new Popular Front government. Many well-known figures joined the party during the war, including Pablo Picasso, who joined the PCF in 1944.

Related Topics:
1941 - Resistance movement - 1944 - Pablo Picasso

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With the liberation of France in 1944, the PCF, along with other resistance groups, entered the government of Charles de Gaulle, but were forced to quit the government of Paul Ramadier in 1947. Beginning in 1947, the onset of the Cold War led the PCF to pursue a more militant policy, alienating it from the SFIO and allowing the right-wing parties to stay in power. During the Fourth Republic, as the SFIO and the Radicals declined, the PCF consistently received more votes than any other party, although they were not allowed to enter the government and did not want to.

Related Topics:
1944 - Charles de Gaulle - Paul Ramadier - 1947 - Cold War - Fourth Republic

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