The French socialists were strongly pacifist , but following the assassination of JaurÃ s in 1914 they were unable to resist the wave of militarism which followed the outbreak of World War I. The French socialists were strongly anti-war , but following the assassination of JaurÃ s in 1914 they were unable to resist the wave of militarism which followed the outbreak of World War I. They suffered a severe split over participation in the wartime government of national unity .