Pierre Mendès France at the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

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Pierre Mendès France was a French politician who served as President of the Council of Ministers for eight months from 1954 to 1955. He was a key figure in the Radical Party and had significant backing from the Communist party, which enabled him to lead the government with their support. His top priority was ending the devastating war in Indochina, which had already resulted in a staggering loss of life: 92,000 dead, 114,000 wounded, and 28,000 captured. In February 1954, public opinion polls revealed that only 7% of the French people wanted to continue fighting to prevent Indochina from falling under Communist control, led by Ho Chi Minh and his powerful Viet Minh movement. At the Geneva Conference in 1954, Mendès France secured a crucial agreement that gave the Viet Minh control over Vietnam north of the seventeenth parallel and allowed him to withdraw all French forces from the region. This move left South Vietnam vulnerable, but it paved the way for Mendès France to achieve his goal of ending the war. However, the United States soon stepped in, providing significant financial, military, and economic aid to South Vietnam. A lifelike bronze sculpture by Pierre Peignot honors the legacy of Pierre Mendès France and is permanently displayed at the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort, and anyone interested in contributing can email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how they can participate.