Events from the year 1946 in France.
Incumbents Chairman of the Provisional Government (also Prime Minister): until 26 January: Charles de Gaulle 26 January-24 June: Félix Gouin 24 June-28 November: Georges Bidault 28 November-16 December: Vincent Auriol (interim) starting 16 December: Leon Blum
Events 16 January – Charles de Gaulle resigns as a head of a French provisional government. 20 January – Charles de Gaulle resigns as President of France. 6 March – Ho Chi Minh signs an agreement with France which recognizes Vietnam as an autonomous state in the Indochinese Federation and the French Union. 19 March – French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion become overseas départements of France. 7 April – Syria's independence from France is officially recognised. 5 May – Constitutional Referendum held and proposed constitution rejected. 2 June – Legislative Election held. 5 July – The bikini, designed by Louis Réard, is first modeled by Micheline Bernardini at the Piscine Molitor in Paris. 13 October – Constitutional Referendum held and constitution approved, creating the French Fourth Republic. 10 November – Legislative Election held for the first National Assembly of the Fourth Republic. December – Severe winter weather. 12 December – Léon Blum founds a government of socialist parties in France. 16 December – Luxury brand Christian Dior is established in Paris by designer Christian Dior. 24 December – French Fourth Republic founded.
Births
January to June
11 January – Gilles Gaetner, politician 14 February – Tina Aumont, actress (died 2006) 2 March – Paul-Henri Nargeolet, explorer (died 2023) 7 April – Colette Besson, Olympic athlete (died 2005) 13 May – Jean Rondeau, motor racing driver and constructor (died 1985) 16 May – Jean-Michel Gaillard, politician (died 2005) 17 May – Philippe Tillous-Borde, entrepreneur and engineer (died 2022) 19 May – André the Giant, professional wrestler (died 1993) 17 June – Gérard Grisey, composer (died 1998)
July to December 22 July – Mireille Mathieu, singer 25 July – Nicole Farhi, sculptor and fashion designer 9 August - Alain Dorval, voice actor of Sylvester Stallone (died 2024). 23 September – Roger Rossat-Mignod, alpine skier 30 September – Claude Vorilhon, leader of Raëlian Movement 8 October – Jean-Jacques Beineix, film director (died 2022) 6 November – Romain Argyroudis, soccer player 18 November – Pierre Chanal, soldier and suspected serial killer (died 2003) 8 December – Jacques Bourboulon, photographer 17 December – François Lamoureux, European civil servant (died 2006) 24 December : Daniel Beretta, retired voice actor and singer (died 2024) Roselyne Bachelot, politician
Full date unknown Denise Pumain, geographer
Deaths 11 February – Ludovic-Oscar Frossard, socialist, communist politician (born 1889) 12 February – Georges Dumas, doctor, psychologist (born 1866) 25 February – René Le Grevès, cyclist (born 1910) 9 June – Charles Burguet, film director (born 1878) 10 August – Léon Gaumont, inventor, engineer, film pioneer and industrialist (born 1864) 16 September – Henri Gouraud, general (born 1867) 20 September – Raimu, actor (born 1883) 5 October – Cécile Brunschvicg, politician (born 1877) 12 December – Renée Jeanne Falconetti, actress (born 1892)
See also List of French films of 1946
References