The Dreyfus Affair: The History and Legacy of France?s Most Notorious Antisemitic Political Scandal
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: History
Book Type: Paperback
This is a crisp, clear explanation of an important French case that eventually caused the world to stand up and take notice. A French army captain was convicted of treason for selling military secrets to Germans in 1894. It was considered to be a political scandal that divided the Third French Republic for 12 years. After his court-martial, Dreyfus was sent to Devil's Island. He served 5 years of his life-conviction before the case came before the courts again.
It is interesting that, because of this case, Jews came to realize that they needed a homeland. The press convinced the liberal French public to believe an innocent man to be a criminal because of his faith. This book makes a point of saying that Alfred Dreyfus was unpopular in the military and that he was an easy scapegoat. The military was weakened after the Franco-Prussian War and the military didn't want to dig too deeply for the culprit.
Dreyfus was exonerated and reinstated as a major in the French Army. Unbelievably, he served during the entire World War I. He ended with a rank of lieutenant-colonel.
It is interesting that, because of this case, Jews came to realize that they needed a homeland. The press convinced the liberal French public to believe an innocent man to be a criminal because of his faith. This book makes a point of saying that Alfred Dreyfus was unpopular in the military and that he was an easy scapegoat. The military was weakened after the Franco-Prussian War and the military didn't want to dig too deeply for the culprit.
Dreyfus was exonerated and reinstated as a major in the French Army. Unbelievably, he served during the entire World War I. He ended with a rank of lieutenant-colonel.
