The '''Third Republic''' existed as the French government between the [[Franco-Prussian War]] and [[World War II]] (1870 – 1940). It followed the [[French Second Empire]] and was succeeded by the [[Vichy regime]]. So it began in the turbulence after the Franco-Prussian War and ended in the turbulence of the quick French defeat at the hands of [[Nazi Germany]] early in World War II. Both the beginning and the end came about due to shocking defeats at the hands of German armies. | The '''Third Republic''' existed as the French government between the [[Franco-Prussian War]] and [[World War II]] (1870 – 1940). It followed the [[French Second Empire]] and was succeeded by the [[Vichy regime]]. So it began in the turbulence after the Franco-Prussian War and ended in the turbulence of the quick French defeat at the hands of [[Nazi Germany]] early in World War II. Both the beginning and the end came about due to shocking defeats at the hands of German armies. |