Melvyn bragg and guests discuss the dreyfus affair, which tore france apart in the 1890s. Alfred dreyfus 18591935, a french artillery officer and graduate of the french military academy. Affaire dreyfus article about affaire dreyfus by the. Numerous books have been written about the affair in which french army officer. Affair, which tore france apart in the 1890s after a jewish army officer was. The french supreme court in 1906 had overturned dreyfus 1894 conviction of spying for germany, but the army had yet to openly state that the jewish officer had not betrayed france, according to. A scandal that rocked france in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the dreyfus affair involved a jewish artillery captain in the french army, alfred dreyfus 18591935, who was falsely. He volunteered to serve again in the french army at the beginning of world war i, and finished the war as a. Alfred dreyfus 18591935 was the central figure in the infamous dreyfus affair trial that tore apart french politics and inspired the nascent zionist movement. The affair from 1894 to 1906 divided france into prorepublican, anticlerical, dreyfusards and proarmy, mostly catholic antidreyfusards. The case is presented of a french army officer, captai. Its been a century since the french army framed alfred dreyfus.
The story behind polanskis film jewish french army captain convicted and later exonerated of spying for the germans in late 19th century. The museum created an online platform in 2006 dedicated to the dreyfus affair. French ministry posts online full file on dreyfus affair. In 1894, the french army discovered the existence of a traitor alsatian and jewish, the french officer alfred dreyfus makes an ideal culprit. Polanski wins venice prize for film on dreyfus affair, a. At nine oclock on monday morning, october 15, 1894, a french artillery officer serving as a trainee with the armys general staff reported to the ministry of war. In late nineteenth century alfred dreyfus, a french army officer of jewish heritage, is falsely accused of espionage.
Every episode of in our time is available to download. Numerous books have been written about the affair in which french army officer alfred dreyfus was wrongfully accused of treason, and this volume by. French officer alfred dreyfus, condemned for passing military secrets to the germans, is stripped of his rank in a humiliating public ceremony in the courtyard of paris ecole militaire. Article information, pdf download for captain alfred dreyfus. But when it emerged that dreyfus was innocent, a scandal erupted which engulfed the army, the church and french society as a whole, exposing deep. Alfred dreyfus was a 36yearold jewish army captain from frances alsace region, which had been.
He is best known for his role in the dreyfus affair. In 1894, a highflying jewish staff officer in the french army, one alfred dreyfus, was convicted of spying for the prussians. Rising to the rank of captain in the french army, he was falsely accused of treason and put on trial, where his humiliating conviction was accompanied by cries of death to the jews. The affair, as it is known in french, has come to symbolise modern injustice in the francophone world, and it remains one of the most notable examples of a complex miscarriage of justice and antisemitism. The affair from 1894 to 1906 divided france into prorepublican, anticlerical, dreyfusards and proarmy, mostly catholic anti. The effort to clear his name, known to history as the dreyfus. Dreyfus was the son of a wealthy jewish textile manufacturer. One hundred years ago, a young officer in the french army was unjustly convicted for treason. Alfred dreyfus was a french artillery officer of jewish faith and ancestry whose trial and. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. In december 1894, french officer alfred dreyfus was convicted of treason by a military courtmartial and sentenced to life in prison for his alleged crime of passing military secrets to the germans.
This genuine original antique colored vanity fair lithograph caricature is titled major esterhazy, by guth jean baptiste guth published in vanity fair may 1898. The importance of the dreyfus affair transcends the military history of france after 1870. The dreyfus affair, which deeply divided france and called forth a vicious wave of antisemitism, was finally over. After 101 years, french army admits innocence of dreyfus.
In 1894 papers discovered in a wastebasket in the office of a german military attache made it appear that a french military officer was providing secret information. Following french military custom of the time, dreyfus was formally degraded cashiered by. Mariegeorges picquart 6 september 1854 19 january 1914 was a french army officer and minister of war. A scandal that rocked france in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the dreyfus affair involved a jewish artillery captain in the french army, alfred dreyfus.
Alfred dreyfus, born october 9, 1859, mulhouse, francedied july 12, 1935, paris, french army officer whose trial for treason began a 12year controversy, known as the dreyfus affair, that deeply marked the political and social history of the french third republic. The scandal that tore france in two and millions of other books are. Alleged spy alfred dreyfus stripped of his rank history. French ministry posts online full file on dreyfus affair by steven erlanger. Judged and sentenced, dreyfus is deported to devils island. For lack of evidence, the war ministry creates a damning document dreyfus overwhelming. On a cold paris morning in january 1895, as 20,000 people shouted, death to the traitor, death to the jew, french army captain alfred dreyfus was publicly stripped of his rank for committing. Found guilty of treason he is drummed out of the army and sent to prison on devils island.
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