Ukraine shows us that, alas, the war in Europe is no longer only part of history but also of the present. During wars, today as yesterday, politicians often invoke national unity, as if the political debate had to die out. However, when we look a little more in depth at the history of what is called “the Great War”, we see that the political battles continue, it is even a war that is being played out between Georges Clemenceau and Raymond Poincaré, President of the Republic of Lorraine origin (born in Bar-le-Duc in 1860). The two hate each other and from 1913, during the presidential election, Clemenceau supports a certain Jules Pams against Poincaré, Clemenceau declaring: “I support Pams because he is the most stupid of all”. Poincaré and Clemenceau do not like each other, they have very different characters. They still have points in common, and not least, they are two great Republicans and two great patriots. This will finally and reluctantly cause Raymond Poincaré to appoint Georges Clemenceau President of the Council in November 1917. He appoints his enemy to head the government and does so out of a patriotic spirit. He knows that Clemenceau has the power of a leader and great moral authority to lead the French troops to victory. But the bickering continues. The two, one President of the Republic, the other President of the Council send salty letters, like this exchange of October 1918 where a psychodrama at the head of the State is played out in the middle of the war. Clemenceau even threatens to resign, following remarks by Poincaré that he did not appreciate. Poincaré, in fact, is completely sidelined from decisions. At the end of the war, the two clash again (without anything ever being embarrassing and prohibitive for France); when Germany is at the end of its course, Poincaré wants to bring Germany to its knees (the fact that he is from Lorraine is not unrelated to this intransigence) and that the French go as far as Berlin; while Clemenceau, aware of the exhaustion of the troops, negotiates the peace of November 1918. There will be reconciliation between the two men and the event will take place in Lorraine. Poincaré and Clemenceau fight to know who will be the first to go to the reconquered territories, Alsace and Lorraine, and finally agree to go together to Metz. It takes place on December 8, 1918, they even kiss on the Place de la République! Very symbolic hug and reconciliation of very very short duration.
fbq('init', '188365081922073');
fbq('track', 'PageView');
source site-36