René Viviani: Premier at the Outbreak of War

René Viviani was Prime Minister of France when World War I erupted in August 1914. Tasked with managing the July Crisis following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Viviani helped establish the Union Sacrée to unify a divided parliament. During the initial German invasion, his government made the strategic decision to order French troops 10 kilometers back from the border to prove defensive intent, then relocated the cabinet to Bordeaux as enemy forces advanced. Viviani organized early industrial mobilization before resigning in October 1915 due to growing political friction and ammunition shortages.

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