The summer of 1917 was a very hot summer.
The government of the Third Republic in Bordeaux immediately sent troops to suppress the Commune, which broke out in various places, centered around Paris. In the words of Supreme Commander Robert Nivelle, "Anyone who sympathized with the Commune was a 'traitor' and was tantamount to collaborating with the German army."
Furthermore, in order to put down the rebellion as quickly as possible, Nivelle ordered Philippe Pétain, the "Hero of Verdun," to put down the Commune, but contrary to expectations, Pétain refused the order, saying, "I cannot point my gun at my own people." Although he was dismissed for disobeying orders, this hardline stance ended up damaging the credibility of the Republican government, and an increasing number of people in the military sympathized with the Commune.
Further adding to the confusion was the response of other Allied powers, primarily Britain and the United States.
"As domestic investors have bought large amounts of French government bonds, we cannot afford for the current system to collapse."
"We don't want the communist revolution to be exported, and a separate peace with Germany would be tantamount to betrayal."
The United States, in order to protect its investors, and Britain, in order to prevent revolution and a separate peace, unanimously condemned the Commune and made clear their support for the Third Republic.
However, the fact that foreign countries supported the Third Republic, which had already lost the support of the people, had the worst possible result: the linking of xenophobic nationalism with communist ideology.
"The Republican government has degenerated into a puppet of global capitalism, not of the French people!"
"So many French people are dying, why is the government siding with American investors who are making huge profits from the war, instead of with the French people?"
"The Russian and Anglo-Saxon imperialists want us to take the fight to the fire and bring us down together with Germany!"
It didn't take long for these conspiracy theories to take hold among the general public.
In fact, the number of French casualties was more than double that of the other allied nations, and France was the only country whose homeland had been turned into a war zone and devastated. Although the number of British and Russian casualties was not small, the damage had not reached their homeland, and distrust of the allies grew among the French, who felt that "we were the only ones suffering."
Added to this are nationalists who stir up patriotism and proclaim "France First," and communists who spread conspiracy theories that "global finance capital is making huge profits from the war."
In this situation, foreign powers such as Britain, Russia, and the United States came out in support of the current government and labeled the Commune as "foolish traitors who are manipulated by conspiracy theories and populists." Although this may have been correct in theory, it was a completely bad move when you consider the feelings of the people.
Then, one man appeared and dealt the final blow.
"--All power to the Commune!!"
Vladimir Lenin, a revolutionary in exile in Switzerland, arrived in Paris on a sealed train.
Lenin quickly established contact with Communist Party members from around the world and established an international cooperation organization in Paris called the "Third International" or "Comintern." He then organized the "French Popular Front" as its French branch and gained support by representing the dissatisfaction of people who had lost patience with the existing government.
"Soldiers, peasants and workers of France! I would like to pay tribute first to all of you good citizens. You have continued to face unbearable and intolerable difficulties during these bitter war times. You have all worked diligently and fought bravely."
Lenin's words on the radio penetrated the hearts of many people.
Why are "good, hardworking, ordinary people" working hard and honestly struggling to make ends meet? Why are their efforts not being rewarded?
Lenin continues:
"A society in which ordinary people can be normally happy if they work normally is the very definition of normal! If a society cannot even achieve that level of 'normality', then it is society, not the people, that is at fault!"
Yes, that's right, and many voices rose in agreement.
Although the war situation was getting worse, it was not because we were slacking off. Everyone was doing their best and enduring the hardships of wartime shortages. It was through no fault of our own.
If so, something is wrong.
I don't know what that "something" is, and I don't believe everything the Russian-born intellectual revolutionary said on the radio.
---nevertheless.
"The Republic government has created the wrong society we have today, and we must not tolerate the vested interests that have taken root there!"
The people could no longer tolerate the dragging on of the current system. They had already reached the limit of their patience. That was what Lenin noticed.
"Even at this late date, the Republic government has not admitted its mistakes, instead branding those who speak out as 'unpatriotic' and imprisoning them! Aren't the real 'unpatriotic' people themselves, who have turned a blind eye to the lives of their own people and become lapdogs for foreign global financial capital?"
The Third Republic of France was unable to take effective action due to the limitations of democracy and republicanism. The complicated entanglements of interests and the rigid bureaucratic system meant that strong leadership could not be exercised in the midst of war, and the National Assembly wasted endless time on pointless debates. It was also unable to correct political corruption, and only a few investors were exploiting the citizens by taking advantage of the war...
"Let me state this clearly! Democracy is not functioning in the current republican government! All that remains are vested interests and factional disputes!"
Although Lenin was an idealistic revolutionary, he was more than aware of the limitations of the existing parliamentary democracy.
And the same sentiment, to varying degrees, came to be shared by many French people as the war dragged on.
"Three years have passed since the war began. During that time, the citizens have shed blood and endured with utmost patience! Their perseverance is to be admired. At the same time, I cannot help but feel disappointed at the incompetence of the government, which, despite being given such time to act, has continued to make the situation worse, rather than improving it!"
The time for patience is long past. We gave the government a chance. Despite that, the government failed to meet the people's expectations. There is no point in being patient any longer.
There were not many people who actively supported the Communists led by Lenin, but they gradually gained passive support as an outlet for dissatisfaction with the existing republican government, and people from the left to the right united under the red flag of the Commune to defeat the ``common enemy'', proclaiming ``anti-global capitalism, anti-imperialist, and anti-war''.
"For our freedom and democracy, for our bread and peace! Once again, the Republic must be dissolved and reorganized! With a more democratic and efficient government that gives a voice to the 'ordinary people'!"
To achieve this, reform is necessary. Change is required. Now is the time for revolution.
"French people! All citizens who suffer from incompetence and oppression! Unite and take possession of your future! And it will be given to you!"
Lenin's words were greeted with thunderous applause, and the authority of the Third Republic was shattered.
"To the privileged class! Do not forget the silent voice of the angry masses! We have nothing left to lose! All people who wish to recover what they have lost, seek us out!"
What is about to begin is a fight to recover what has been lost: to give back to ordinary people the legitimate rights that have been unjustly exploited.
"All power to the Commune! --- Workers of the world, unite!"