The Dreyfus Case Books

The Dreyfus affair was clearly an outrage, a reflection of the anti-Semitism rampant in Europe in the late XNUMXth and early XNUMXth centuries. Captain Alfred Dreyfus, was made the perfect scapegoat to cover the shortcomings of a decaying state. The young military man of Jewish origin was arrested during the early morning of October 14, 1894, accused of transmitting information to Germany.

Jordi Corominas from The Confidential (2020), affirms that the conditions of the foundation of the Third French Republic originated the context of injustice. There was much resentment in France after losing the war against Prussia in 1870 and the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles. Furthermore, the revolutionary outbreak of the Commune driven by Marxist workers' demands ended up plunging the country into permanent convulsion.

Background

The shadow of the monarchical restoration plus the removal of religious orders to make way for a secular education, increased the prevailing tension. The French carried all these frustrations quietly, but very present in their psyche along with longings for revenge and a growing nationalism. Likewise, the establishment of contemporary anti-Semitism by Édouard Drumont exacerbated the situation.

The last two decades of the XNUMXth century saw a constant erosion of the morale of French pride. First, the threat of a coup by the populist General Boulanger was very latent. Later, the Panama Canal scandal uncovered a huge corruption plot that affected businessmen, parliamentarians and journalists. A note found in a rubbish bin at the German embassy signified the big bomb.

Alfred dreyfus

Alfred Dreyfus was the most suitable suspect to quench French society's thirst for revenge. Born in Alsace on October 9, 1859, Dreyfus moved with his wealthy Jewish family to France when Germany conquered his homeland. He decided to become a French citizen and desired the reintegration of Alsace into France. For this reason, he embarked on a military career and entered the École Polytechnique in 1882.

In 1889 he reached the rank of captain and a year later he joined the State of War. Already in 1893 he was part of the General Staff of the French War Ministry. In 1894 he was indicted on the charge of espionage and the controversy that marked a milestone in the history of anti-Semitism broke out. During the twelve years since the case (1894 - 1906), French society was deeply divided between supporters and detractors of Dreyfus.

The consummation of a historical injustice

The Dreyfus case has produced a large number of publications to date. Most of these works are not historical documents, rather they focus on polemics and inconsequential diatribes. However, they are quite useful writings to understand the psychosocial framework of the issue. Particularly disturbing is the fierce stance of much of the Gallic press against Dreyfus for his Hebrew heritage.

Alfred Dreyfus had been tried very quickly by a court martial on the charge of high treason and sentenced to serve a life sentence on Devil's Island (French Guyana). The defendant's allegations were never heard and at no time was he allowed to see what the evidence was against him. Instead, he was publicly humiliated and all of his military ranks were demoted.

J'Accuse

J'Accuse (I accuse) by Émilie Zola is probably the most relevant text written during the height of the Dreyfus case. It appeared on the front page of the newspaper L'Aurore on January 13, 1898 in the form of an open letter to the French president, Félix Faure. Zola tried - successfully - to be arrested and to put the "forgotten" Dreyfus affair back on the forefront of French public opinion.

Two years after Dreyfus' conviction, the newly promoted intelligence chief, Georges Picquart, discovered the true traitor within the French army. The real culprit was the commander (disciple of Drumont) Ferdinand Walsin Esterházy. But Picquart was accused of presenting false evidence and sent to overseas territories so as not to rekindle the lawsuit. With J'Accuse, Zola stirred up all the ignominy that had occurred until then.

The consequences for Émile Zola

Zola became a hero to all good men bowed to the cause dreyfusarde. Among the intellectuals in favor of Dreyfus, Bernard Lazare had published during 1896 texts against the inconsistencies of the accusation. But Lazare did not suffer as many expletives compared to Zola received. Well, all the anti-Semitic and conservative press identified the latter as a man contrary to the interests of the country.

Émilie Zola had to go into exile in England. From there he continued with his defense of Dreyfus and his attack on the participants in the disastrous trial: Colonel Paty de Clam, Generals Mercier and Billot ... Finally, Zola died on September 29, 1902 (supposedly) asphyxiated after clogging the chimney of his house. Although, in books published a posteriori about J'Accuse, have raised theories about a murderer who covered the fireplace stove.

The story of the Dreyfus caseby Joseph Reinach

The intellectual dreyfusarde released his work in seven volumes between 1901 and 1911. It contains pretty solid scientific evidence and some personal guesses as to the root of the matter. Reinach's work forms the basis of the publications that have appeared on the Dreyfus affair from 1960 on. Among them, Case without Dreyfus (1961) by Marcel Thomas and Esterházy Enigma by Henri Guillemin (both from 1961).

Most recent posts

One of the most recent books was written by Denis Bon. This author is passionate about the most renowned and controversial trials in modern history. In his deliberation he leaves questions in order to disturb the reader. Was it a case of espionage or was it a matter of state? Is it an indication of the anti-Hebrew racism of French society at the time? The Dreyfus Affair (2016) by Bon, leaves no loose ends.

Also, in The crime book From aa. VV. (2018), offers an ideal perspective for law and criminology students. The Dreyfus case (among others) is described through the psychosocial analysis of its perpetrators in complicity with a biased judicial system. In addition, it presents extensive documentary research and numerous illustrations that enrich the story.

The resolution of the case

Walsin Esterházy confessed to his crimes several years after the resolution of a case that had become more muddy with the 1899 ratification. A second court martial - in the absence of the accused - found him guilty under "exculpatory circumstances." The new French president, Émilie Loubet, offered a pardon to Dreyfus (to clean his image and that of his political party). But the deal was humiliating: Dreyfus could not claim his innocence.

Alfred Dreyfus accepted the offer because he only wanted to return to his family. He returned to France surrounded by absolute secrecy. He had to wait until July 1906 to be completely acquitted and rehabilitated by a civil court. Although he was never acquitted by any military court, his military rank was restored in the same place where he was stripped of his sword and uniform.

Last years of Alfred Dreyfus and the legacy of his case

Alfred Dreyfus was active during World War I as a lieutenant colonel in a resupply unit. At the end of the war, he permanently retired until his death in Paris, on July 12, 1935; he was 75 years old. By that time, the anti-Semitic fervor fostered by the fascist movements in Nazi Germany and Mussolini's Italy had already witnessed.

Alfred Dreyfus himself was the victim of an assassination attempt in the French Pantheon in 1908. It occurred during the ceremony for the transfer of the remains of Émile Zola, when Louis Gregori wounded him with a shot in the arm. The aggressor was acquitted after declaring that he had not attempted against the man, but against the cause. The event was a premonition of the atrocities against Jews unleashed until the middle of the XNUMXth century.