Daladier was a member of the Radical Party and had a long career in French politics. He served in various ministerial positions before becoming Prime Minister in April 1938, succeeding Léon Blum. As Prime Minister, Daladier faced the growing threat of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler.
Daladier pursued a policy of appeasement towards Germany, hoping to avoid war by making concessions. In September 1938, he signed the Munich Agreement with Hitler, Neville Chamberlain of the United Kingdom, and Benito Mussolini of Italy, which allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia. The agreement was widely criticized as a betrayal of Czechoslovakia, but Daladier defended it as necessary to maintain peace.
However, the Munich Agreement failed to deter Hitler, who continued to pursue his aggressive foreign policy. In March 1939, Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, and in September, it invaded Poland. Britain and France, which had guaranteed Poland's independence, declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
As Prime Minister, Daladier was responsible for leading France into the war against Germany. He formed a coalition government with the support of the French Communist Party, and he took personal charge of the Ministry of National Defense. However, the French army was unprepared for war, and the Germans quickly advanced through France.
Daladier was forced to resign as Prime Minister in March 1940, after the German invasion of France. He was succeeded by Paul Reynaud, who attempted to continue the war, but France was defeated in June 1940. Daladier was arrested by the Vichy regime and imprisoned for collaborating with the Germans. He was released in 1945 and later served in the French National Assembly.
Daladier's role in World War II remains controversial. He has been criticized for his appeasement of Hitler and for his failure to adequately prepare France for war. However, he is also credited with trying to maintain peace in Europe and for his efforts to resist the Germans.