As we all know, France is the largest capitalist power in Western Europe, in the 19th and 20th centuries, with its peak national strength, it established the second largest colonial empire in the world after Britain, although it experienced a wave of independence that swept the world, but with its rich colonial heritage, France still retained nearly 100,000 square kilometers of overseas land, which constituted a bridgehead for the extension of French national power to the world. The main introduction is as follows:
One. African territory
1． Reunion
In 1642, France was about to take over. After World War II, its administrative status was gradually upgraded, and in 1946 it was upgraded to an overseas province, and in 1973, it became a large region of France (the first administrative division of France, divided into provinces).
Figure below (Figure 1) – Map of the relative position of Reunion Island
2． Mayotte
In the wave of the partition of Africa, Mayotte, the other islands of the Comoros, and Madagascar became an overseas territory of France, while the independence storm swept across the African lands, Mayotte chose to remain in France.
Upgraded to France's overseas province in 2011, the neighboring Republic of the Comoros has always claimed sovereignty over the region, and has been at loggerheads with France, even taking the case to the United Nations (France, which has a veto, says there is no pressure).
Figure below (Figure 2) – Map of Mayotte's relative position
Two. Territory of Oceania
1． New Caledonia
More than 1,500 kilometres west of Australia, which currently enjoys full autonomy, will make it possible to become independent and establish a federal government.
On July 27, 2013, the French prime minister visited and announced that the island would hold an independence referendum around 2018.
2． French Polynesia
Located in the southeast of the Pacific Ocean, it is composed of 118 islands such as the Social Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, and the Tubua Archipelago, all of which became French colonies by the end of the 19th century.
Figure 3 below – French Pacific Territory
It has been a French nuclear weapons testing ground for many years (135 underground and 52 atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted in 1975-1992).
3． Wallis and Futuna Islands
It is located on the west side of the Pacific Southwest International Date Line, between Fiji and Samoa. In 1887 and 1888, it became a French occupation.
Three. South and North America
Saint Martin, Martinique and Guadeloupe are also part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, the latter two became French overseas provinces in 1946 with French Guiana on the South American mainland, and were promoted to overseas regions in 1977.
1． Saint Martin
With an area of 86 square kilometers, in 1648, the Dutch and French signed an agreement to divide the island. It is the smallest island in the world that belongs to two countries.
The south (about 1/3,34 square kilometers) was under Dutch rule and the north (about 2/3,52 square kilometers) was ruled by France. It is said that no one crossing the island's borders requires formalities.
2． martinique
Hailed by Columbus as the most beautiful "country" in the world, the beaches and volcanoes are surrounded by plants such as sugar cane, palm trees, bananas and pineapples. In 1674, the island was declared a French overseas territory.
Figure below (figure 4) – Territory of the French Caribbean
3． Guadeloupe
In 1635, France began to invade this place, and since then, the British and French have sung and taken the stage, and they have been fighting for each other. Finally, in the early 19th century, Guadeloupe was completely under French control.
4． Law belongs to Guyana
This South American land on the Atlantic coast caused a strong competition between Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal and other countries, and in 1604 France stepped in, and after hundreds of years of endless overturning of the river and the sea, in 1816, this land of more than 80,000 square kilometers was finally swallowed up by France.
5． Saint Pierre and Miquelon
It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, 25 km south of the Canadian island of Newfoundland in North America.
Figure below (figure 5) – Map of the relative positions of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
Since 1604, when French fishermen established their first permanent settlement here, Britain and France often fought over the island with red faces and thick necks, and even went to great lengths. More than two hundred years later, in 1816, the French laughed to the end.
Below (figure 6) – Detailed map of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The area of mainland France is 544,000 square kilometers, including 632,800 square kilometers of overseas territories, and overseas territories account for about 1/6 of them, and the proportion is still quite high. With such a rich colonial heritage, France's territorial scope is embedded in all the oceans and continents of the world, which makes people look really envious and hateful!
Alas, how important it is to seize the historical opportunity! It should always be remembered.