French Third Republic
French Republic République française 1870–1940 Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (French) "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" Anthem: "La Marseillaise" French Republic on the eve of World War I France French protectorates territories and colonies of French Republic at the end of 1939 Dark blue: Metropolitan territory of French Republic Light blue: Colonies, mandates, and protectorates of French Republic Capital Paris Common languages French (official), several others Religion Roman Catholicism Calvinism Lutheranism Judaism (4 September 1870—9 December 1905; applied to Alsace-Lorraine from December 5, 1918 to 10 July 1940) Secular state (9 December 1905—10 July 1940; excluding Alsace-Lorraine) Government Unitary parliamentary republic President • 1871–1873 Adolphe Thiers (fi