French Aircraft Industry Nationalization

France

Rèpublique Française

Aircraft Industry Nationalization

Timeline of Events

1928 - 1937

6 September 1928 Ministère de l'Air (Air Ministry) created to oversee French military aviation development.

June 1933 Superior Air Council approves the French Air Ministry's Plan d'Equipement I proposal to acquire 1,010 airplanes over the period of two years to replace obsolete Aéronautique Militaire aircraft, as well as "...the widespread use of radio equipment and the introduction of high rate of fire automatically fed machine guns."^[8]

April or August (?) 1933 Armée de l'Air established as part of French Army.

2 July 1934 Armée de l'Air independent from French Army

16 July 1935 Air Ministry revises Plan I, calling for 1,023 new aircraft.

9 December 1935 Plan I further revised, calling for 1,151 new aircraft.

26 April 1936 French legislative elections result in Front Populaire gaining control of French legislature (Assemblée Nationale).

1 May 1936 International Worker's Day (May Day) demonstrations and marches by trade unions.

3 May 1936 French legislative elections result in Front Populaire gaining control of French legislature; Léon Blum selected as new Prime Minister.

9 May 1936 Breguet Le Havre factory director fires two militant laborers as reprisal for May Day demonstrations.

11 - 12 May 1936 Sit-down strike by 500 Breguet prototype and production shop workers.

? May 1936 Latécoère Toulouse personnel director fires three militant laborers as reprisal for May Day demonstrations.

13 May 1936 Sit-down strike by Latécoère workers.

14 - 15 May 1936 Sit-down strike by 700 workers in Bloch Courbevoie factory for improved worker benefits.

20 - 24 May 1936 Sit-down strike by workers in Lioré et Olivier Villacoublay factory for improved worker benefits.

21 May 1936 Sit-down strike by workers in Nieuport Issy-les-Moulineaux factory for improved worker benefits.

22 May 1936 Sit-down strike by workers in Compagnie Française de Raffinage refinery in Gonfreville.

May 1936 Additional strikes at Farman factory in Billancourt and Dewoitine factory in Toulouse.

28 May 1936 Strikes by Renault aircraft and armament workers.

28 May 1936 Meetings with Air Ministry, Fédération des Travailleurs en Métallurgie (FTM, metalworkers trade union) representatives and Chambre Syndicale des Industries Aéronautiques (CSIA, aircraft industry group); meetings with Labor Ministry and Union des Industries Métallurgiques et Minières (UIMM, metallurgical and mining industry group).

29 May 1936 Strikes by workers at Gnôme-et-Rhône, Salmson, Citroën, Fiat, Caudron, others.

May 1936 Strikes by approxmitely 200,000 workers demanding increased wages, reduced work hours, establishment of shop steward systems and recognition of worker's rights to join unions.

3 June 1936 Talks between FTM and UIMM; beginning of second wave of sit-down strikes, with ultimately over 1,000,000 industrial, commercial, insurance and banking workers on strike.

5 June 1936 New labor laws introduced into French legislature; Premiere Blum announces intention to nationalize arms industry.

6 June 1936 New French Premier Léon Blum announces new legislative program in address to parliament, to include 40-hour work week, collective bargaining and two-week paid vacations for all French workers.

7 June 1936 Matignon Accords signed between Confédération Générale de la Production Française (CGPF) employes' organization, Confédération Générale du Travail trade union and French government, resulting in legal right to strike, right to unionize, wage increase for all workers and right to elect shop stewards.

8 - 9 June 1936 Additional worker strikes.

10 June 1936 New collective contract negotiated for Paris aircraft workers by Air Ministry, aircraft employers and aircraft workers.

12 June 1936 New collective contract negotiated for metalworkers.

13 - 15 June 1936 Work resumes in Renault factories and steelworking industry.

20 June 1936 French Assembly passes law giving workers two weeks of paid vacation.

21 June 1936 French Assembly passes law giving workers a 40-hour work week.

24 June 1936 French Assembly passes law authorizing collective bargaining for workers.

June 1936 French Assembly repeals 1935 decree-laws regarding public servant wages and taxes on World War I veteran's pensions.

June - October 1936 Air Ministry develops Plan II to replace Plan I, proposing acquisition of 2,400 new aircraft by June 1940, including modernized fighters and 1,099 additional bombers.

7 August 1936 Bill passed into law by French parliament authorizing the nationalization of the French aircraft industry (la loi pour la nationalisation de l’industrie aéronautique), to be completed by 31 March 1937

11 August 1936 Bill passed into law by French parliament authorizing the nationalization of the French military industry (la loi pour la nationalisation des industries militaires), to be completed by 31 March 1937.

? 1936 French Naval Ministry nationalizes two small companies but otherwise leaves French shipbuilding industry intact.

? 1936 French War Ministry nationalizes nine munitions companies as state arsenals run by government.

August 1936 - April 1937 Approximately 80% of French aircraft industry nationalized into five regional companies, based on regional groupings: SNCA du Nord, SNCA de l'Ouest, SNCA du Sud-Ouest, SNCA du Sud-Est and SNCA du Centre; each SNCA retained at least one factory in Paris area; two-thirds of original company stocks obtained by government (Air Ministry and Finance Ministry); remaining shares held by private investors.

September 1936 French currency devalued.

September 1936 - April 1937 Dewoitine bankrupt; Latécoère refuses nationalization; aircraft workers request that both companies be nationalized; Dewoitine nationalized as SNCA du Midi; Latécoère remains private but workers given right to transfer to SNCA du Midi (549 of 807 employees do so).

November - December 1936 Henry Potez appointed as chief administrator of SNCA du Nord; Marcel Bloch appointed as chief administrator of SNCA de Sud-Ouest; Louis Aréne appointed as chief administrator of SNCA du Sud-Est; Outhenin-Chalandre appointed as chief administrator of SNCA du Centre; Marius Olive appointed as chief administrator of SNCA de l'Ouest; Henry de l'Escaille appointed as president of entire SNCA group.

November 1936 Air Ministry and aircraft industry leaders negotiate options for aircraft research facilities: include with aircraft company nationalization, or retain as private companies and attempt to develop and sell prototypes to French government (chosen by Morane-Saulnier, Amiot, Latécoère, Gourdou, Levasseur, Caudron), or retain private research companies but lease them to nationalized companies with French government having exclusive rights to prototype aircraft (Potez, Bloch).

Late 1936 Plan III procurement plan cancelled due to "procurement difficultes".^[9]

Early 1937 Plan IV procurement plan cancelled due to "procurement difficultes".^[9]

Spring 1937 Air Ministry acquires minority share of Gnôme-et-Rhône and Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine manufacturers (insufficient funds available to fully nationalize).

Spring 1937 SNCA stock capitalization expanded and boards enlarged.

April 1937 Lorraine nationalized as SN de Construction des Moteurs.

? 1937 Office Français d'Exportation de Matériel Aéronautique (OFEMA) established to promote and approve aircraft exports; Centre de Recherche established to promote aircraft testing and research; Coordinating Committee established to oversee SNCAs, containing members of Air Ministry, Finance Ministry, national companies, and CGT (Confédération Générale du Travail).

January 1938 Armée de l'Air aircraft totals included 793 fighter aircraft.

15 March 1938 Air Ministry develops new Plan V, calling for 2,617 new front-line aircraft with a reserve of 2,122 aircraft over the course of three years, including 1,081 fighters, 876 new bombers and 614 reserve bombers.

13 June 1939 Air Ministry develops Plan V renforcé, calling for 3,575 new aircraft by 1 January 1940 and 3,938 new aircraft by 1 January 1941.

1 September 1939 German invasion of Poland.

10 May 1940 Germany begins attacks on Western Europe and France; Armée de l'Air aircraft totals included 322 front-line bombers.

Translations and Definitions

Aéronautique Militaire: French military aviation service (lit., "Military Aeronautics"), established as branch of Armée de terre (French Army) on 22 October 1910.
Armée de l'Air: French Air Force (lit., "Army of the Air"); re-organized from Aéronautique Militaire in August 1933, but still part of Armée de terre (French Army); established as independent military branch on 2 July 1934; operated until June - July 1940 after surrender to Germany; re-established on 1 July 1943.
Centre de Recherche: French organization to promote aircraft testing and research (lit. "Research Center"), somewhat equivalent to the US NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics).
CGPF: Confédération Générale de la Production Française (General Confederation of French Production); a French employers organization (a union that defends employers interests).
CGT: Confédération Générale du Travail (General Confederation of Labor); a French national trade union (a union that defends employees interests).
CSIA: Chambre Syndicale des Industries Aéronautiques (Trade Union Chamber of Aeronautical Industries); French aircraft industry trade group that represented French aircraft manufacturers, aircraft engine manufacturers and aircraft equipment manufacturers.
FTM: Fédération des Travailleurs en Métallurgie (Federation of Metalworkers); French metalworkers trade union.
Front Populaire: Popular Front; French politicial alliance from 1936 - 1938 consisting of the French Communist Party, French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party; won May 1936 French legislative elections.
Ministère de l'Air: French Ministry of Air established on 14 September 1928 and dissolved on 22 October 1947.
OFEMA: Office Français d'Exportation de Matériel Aéronautique (French Office for the Export of Aeronautical Equipment); government office established in 1937 to promote and approve aircraft exports.
UIMM: Union des Industries Métallurgiques et Minières (Union of Metallurgical and Mining Industries); French metallurgical and mining trade union confederation.

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© 1997-2017, Robert Beechy
http://fire.prohosting.com/uncommon/reference/france/timeline.html
Originally posted 27 Decenber 2017
Modified: 12/27/2017

6 September 1928	Ministère de l'Air (Air Ministry) created to oversee French military aviation development.
June 1933	Superior Air Council approves the French Air Ministry's Plan d'Equipement I proposal to acquire 1,010 airplanes over the period of two years to replace obsolete Aéronautique Militaire aircraft, as well as "...the widespread use of radio equipment and the introduction of high rate of fire automatically fed machine guns."^[8]
April or August (?) 1933	Armée de l'Air established as part of French Army.
2 July 1934	Armée de l'Air independent from French Army
16 July 1935	Air Ministry revises Plan I, calling for 1,023 new aircraft.
9 December 1935	Plan I further revised, calling for 1,151 new aircraft.
26 April 1936	French legislative elections result in Front Populaire gaining control of French legislature (Assemblée Nationale).
1 May 1936	International Worker's Day (May Day) demonstrations and marches by trade unions.
3 May 1936	French legislative elections result in Front Populaire gaining control of French legislature; Léon Blum selected as new Prime Minister.
9 May 1936	Breguet Le Havre factory director fires two militant laborers as reprisal for May Day demonstrations.
11 - 12 May 1936	Sit-down strike by 500 Breguet prototype and production shop workers.
? May 1936	Latécoère Toulouse personnel director fires three militant laborers as reprisal for May Day demonstrations.
13 May 1936	Sit-down strike by Latécoère workers.
14 - 15 May 1936	Sit-down strike by 700 workers in Bloch Courbevoie factory for improved worker benefits.
20 - 24 May 1936	Sit-down strike by workers in Lioré et Olivier Villacoublay factory for improved worker benefits.
21 May 1936	Sit-down strike by workers in Nieuport Issy-les-Moulineaux factory for improved worker benefits.
22 May 1936	Sit-down strike by workers in Compagnie Française de Raffinage refinery in Gonfreville.
May 1936	Additional strikes at Farman factory in Billancourt and Dewoitine factory in Toulouse.
28 May 1936	Strikes by Renault aircraft and armament workers.
28 May 1936	Meetings with Air Ministry, Fédération des Travailleurs en Métallurgie (FTM, metalworkers trade union) representatives and Chambre Syndicale des Industries Aéronautiques (CSIA, aircraft industry group); meetings with Labor Ministry and Union des Industries Métallurgiques et Minières (UIMM, metallurgical and mining industry group).
29 May 1936	Strikes by workers at Gnôme-et-Rhône, Salmson, Citroën, Fiat, Caudron, others.
May 1936	Strikes by approxmitely 200,000 workers demanding increased wages, reduced work hours, establishment of shop steward systems and recognition of worker's rights to join unions.
3 June 1936	Talks between FTM and UIMM; beginning of second wave of sit-down strikes, with ultimately over 1,000,000 industrial, commercial, insurance and banking workers on strike.
5 June 1936	New labor laws introduced into French legislature; Premiere Blum announces intention to nationalize arms industry.
6 June 1936	New French Premier Léon Blum announces new legislative program in address to parliament, to include 40-hour work week, collective bargaining and two-week paid vacations for all French workers.
7 June 1936	Matignon Accords signed between Confédération Générale de la Production Française (CGPF) employes' organization, Confédération Générale du Travail trade union and French government, resulting in legal right to strike, right to unionize, wage increase for all workers and right to elect shop stewards.
8 - 9 June 1936	Additional worker strikes.
10 June 1936	New collective contract negotiated for Paris aircraft workers by Air Ministry, aircraft employers and aircraft workers.
12 June 1936	New collective contract negotiated for metalworkers.
13 - 15 June 1936	Work resumes in Renault factories and steelworking industry.
20 June 1936	French Assembly passes law giving workers two weeks of paid vacation.
21 June 1936	French Assembly passes law giving workers a 40-hour work week.
24 June 1936	French Assembly passes law authorizing collective bargaining for workers.
June 1936	French Assembly repeals 1935 decree-laws regarding public servant wages and taxes on World War I veteran's pensions.
June - October 1936	Air Ministry develops Plan II to replace Plan I, proposing acquisition of 2,400 new aircraft by June 1940, including modernized fighters and 1,099 additional bombers.
7 August 1936	Bill passed into law by French parliament authorizing the nationalization of the French aircraft industry (la loi pour la nationalisation de l’industrie aéronautique), to be completed by 31 March 1937
11 August 1936	Bill passed into law by French parliament authorizing the nationalization of the French military industry (la loi pour la nationalisation des industries militaires), to be completed by 31 March 1937.
? 1936	French Naval Ministry nationalizes two small companies but otherwise leaves French shipbuilding industry intact.
? 1936	French War Ministry nationalizes nine munitions companies as state arsenals run by government.
August 1936 - April 1937	Approximately 80% of French aircraft industry nationalized into five regional companies, based on regional groupings: SNCA du Nord, SNCA de l'Ouest, SNCA du Sud-Ouest, SNCA du Sud-Est and SNCA du Centre; each SNCA retained at least one factory in Paris area; two-thirds of original company stocks obtained by government (Air Ministry and Finance Ministry); remaining shares held by private investors.
September 1936	French currency devalued.
September 1936 - April 1937	Dewoitine bankrupt; Latécoère refuses nationalization; aircraft workers request that both companies be nationalized; Dewoitine nationalized as SNCA du Midi; Latécoère remains private but workers given right to transfer to SNCA du Midi (549 of 807 employees do so).
November - December 1936	Henry Potez appointed as chief administrator of SNCA du Nord; Marcel Bloch appointed as chief administrator of SNCA de Sud-Ouest; Louis Aréne appointed as chief administrator of SNCA du Sud-Est; Outhenin-Chalandre appointed as chief administrator of SNCA du Centre; Marius Olive appointed as chief administrator of SNCA de l'Ouest; Henry de l'Escaille appointed as president of entire SNCA group.
November 1936	Air Ministry and aircraft industry leaders negotiate options for aircraft research facilities: include with aircraft company nationalization, or retain as private companies and attempt to develop and sell prototypes to French government (chosen by Morane-Saulnier, Amiot, Latécoère, Gourdou, Levasseur, Caudron), or retain private research companies but lease them to nationalized companies with French government having exclusive rights to prototype aircraft (Potez, Bloch).
Late 1936	Plan III procurement plan cancelled due to "procurement difficultes".^[9]
Early 1937	Plan IV procurement plan cancelled due to "procurement difficultes".^[9]
Spring 1937	Air Ministry acquires minority share of Gnôme-et-Rhône and Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine manufacturers (insufficient funds available to fully nationalize).
Spring 1937	SNCA stock capitalization expanded and boards enlarged.
April 1937	Lorraine nationalized as SN de Construction des Moteurs.
? 1937	Office Français d'Exportation de Matériel Aéronautique (OFEMA) established to promote and approve aircraft exports; Centre de Recherche established to promote aircraft testing and research; Coordinating Committee established to oversee SNCAs, containing members of Air Ministry, Finance Ministry, national companies, and CGT (Confédération Générale du Travail).
January 1938	Armée de l'Air aircraft totals included 793 fighter aircraft.
15 March 1938	Air Ministry develops new Plan V, calling for 2,617 new front-line aircraft with a reserve of 2,122 aircraft over the course of three years, including 1,081 fighters, 876 new bombers and 614 reserve bombers.
13 June 1939	Air Ministry develops Plan V renforcé, calling for 3,575 new aircraft by 1 January 1940 and 3,938 new aircraft by 1 January 1941.
1 September 1939	German invasion of Poland.
10 May 1940	Germany begins attacks on Western Europe and France; Armée de l'Air aircraft totals included 322 front-line bombers.