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France faced a significant economic weaknesses that stopped their military progress, industrial output, and social cohesion. Their main weakness was the stagnating of the France economy, the 40-hour week, the inferior economic capacity to Germany, The overvalued franc, and the dependence on external resources:

1. Stagnant industry: In the 1930’s France faced a stagnation on their economy. In 1938, the national income was 18% which was lower than 1929.

2. The 40-hour week and labor issues: There was a Popular front’s 1936 labor reform, and in this reform people had to work 40-hour work week, their limited factory capacity during their critical period, overtime work was illegal, so it was difficult to increase the arms production.

3. Inferior economic capacity to Germany: In 1939 the French economic capacity was lower than the German’s. France had an estimated 186 billion of output while Germany had an estimated 385 billion.

4. Financial instability and overvalued Franc: The French remained on the gold standard for too long, making franc(Frenchs monetary value) overvalued, this made the economic hardship rise, by consequence people feared the inflation so the government only took actions about defence very late.

• 5. Dependence on external resources: The French relied on raw materials, and energy from other countries. France was more self-sufficient in food than Germany, but when the war began and the secured routes were threatened the food couldn’t be circulated