Righting history's wrong: Will France posthumously promote Alfred Dreyfus 90 years after his death?

France’s National Assembly Defense Committee has unanimously approved a measure to posthumously beforehand Captain Alfred Dreyfus to nan rank of brigadier general, marking a historical correction of nan antisemitic injustice he endured.  

The measure comes 90 years aft Dreyfus’ death and has been described as “an important measurement successful nan history of Alfred Dreyfus and successful nan history of nan Republic,” according to Charles Sitzenstuhl, nan Ensemble move la république (EPR) MP for Bas-Rhin and nan rapporteur for nan bill.  

“The anti-Semitism that struck Alfred Dreyfus is not a point of nan past. Today's acts of hatred are a reminder that this conflict is still applicable today,” pointed retired erstwhile Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who tabled nan measure connected 7 May.  

The matter besides states that “five years of deportation and humiliation irreparably hampered (Dreyfus’) military career” and it is “indisputable that without this injustice, Alfred Dreyfus would people person risen to nan highest ranks.” 

In a statement, nan French Embassy successful Israel said: “The French federation is committed to justness and does not forget. It is posthumously promoting Alfred Dreyfus to brigadier wide — to correct a wrong, to grant a soldier, and to affirm that antisemitism, past aliases present, has nary spot successful nan Republic.” 

For those successful request of a refresher connected nan Dreyfus Affair, French intelligence intercepted a memo from a French serviceman to a German embassy charismatic successful Paris successful 1894. Suspicion fell connected Dreyfus, who was tried by a subject tribunal and convicted of treason. In January 1895, was stripped of his rank successful a nationalist degradation ceremonial and sentenced to life imprisonment connected Devil’s Island successful French Guiana. 

The proceedings was fueled by wide antisemitism wrong nan subject and French society. A nationalist run to clear Dreyfus’ sanction soon emerged, led by journalist Bernard Lazare.

In 1896, caller intelligence main Lt. Col. Georges Picquart discovered that nan existent traitor was different officer, Maj. Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. 

Respected French novelist Émile Zola published his celebrated unfastened letter, “J’accuse” (“I Accuse”), successful January 1898, denouncing nan military’s domiciled successful nan miscarriage of justice. 

In 1906, France’s highest tribunal overturned nan conviction, afloat exonerating Dreyfus. He was reinstated successful nan service arsenic a awesome and went connected to service during World War I.  

Dreyfus died connected 12 July 1935 astatine nan property of 76, and nan Dreyfus Affair became synonymous pinch nan wrongful condemnation of nan innocent. It besides remains 1 of France’s - and history’s - astir enduring examples of organization antisemitism. 

The bill will beryllium further debated connected 2 June and if it is adopted, “it does not adjacent nan doorway connected nan beardown awesome that would beryllium nan pantheonisation of Dreyfus,” according to historian Philippe Oriol, a master successful nan Dreyfus Affair – who refers to nan Panthéon, the nationalist necropolis reserved for nan believe of illustrious men. 

“The thought is not to see a infinitesimal successful history” successful nan Pantheon, but “to see a man”, added Oriol. 

“I tin only regret that this promotion did not return spot during his lifetime,” said Charles Dreyfus, grandson of Alfred Dreyfus. He told France Inter: “Most of nan tributes paid to him were posthumous,” and really this motion of reparation initiated by nan parliamentarians remains a powerful symbol.  

“It is important to show what antisemitism tin do.” 

Additional sources • France Inter