Memory of War in France, 1914–45: César Fauxbras, the Voice of the Lowly

266 Pages·2011·1.632 MB·English

by  Matt Perry (auth.)

Memory of War in France, 1914–45
Also by Matt Perry:
BREAD AND WORK: The Experience of Unemployment 1918–39
MARXISM AND HISTORY
PRISONERS OF WANT: The Experience and Protest of the Unemployed in France,
1921–45
THE JARROW CRUSADE: Protest and Legend
Memory of War in France,
1914–45
César Fauxbras, the Voice of the Lowly
Matt Perry
Reader in Labour History, Newcastle University, UK
© Matt Perry 2011
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2011 978-0-230-59441-8
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First published 2011 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
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ISBN 978-1-349-36929-4 ISBN 978-0-230-29774-6 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9780230297746
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
To Kelly and Frank

Contents
List of Abbreviations viii
Acknowledgements ix
Preface x
Introduction 1
Part I Great War at Sea
1 An Ordinary Sailor 17
2 Black Sea Mutiny: Consciousness and Memory 38
Part II The Crisis of the 1930s
3 Amongst the Unemployed: Meat to be Burnt 61
4 A Candide for the 1930s: The Myths of the Popular Front 81
5 Pacifism on the Precipice of War 100
Part III Defeat and Occupation
6 Survey of Defeat 1940 123
7 Occupation Diary 1941–44 147
Epilogue 170
Appendices 182
Notes 196
Select Bibliography 241
Index 253
vii
Abbreviations
AEAR Association des Écrivains et Artistes Révolutionnaires (Association
of Revolutionary Writers and Artists).
CAA C omité d’Action Antibolchévique (Anti-Bolshevik Action
Committee).
CGT C onfédération Générale du Travail (General Confederation of
Labour).
HLM Hébergement à loyer modéré (low rent social housing).
LVF L égion des Volontaires Français contre le Bolchévisme (Legion of
French Volunteers against Bolshevism).
PCF Parti Communiste Française (French Communist Party).
POW Prisoner of war.
PPF Parti Populaire Français (French Popular Party).
PSF Parti Social Français (French Social Party).
RNP Rassemblement National Populaire (literally, National Popular
Assembly).
SFIO S ection Française de l’Internationale Ouvrière (French Section of
the Worker’s International).
viii
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to a host of people who assisted me while I was working
on this book. First mention must go to Fauxbras’s grandson Anthony
Freestone who extended such generous assistance and access to his
grandfather’s personal papers. Friends and colleagues – Claudia Baldoli,
Steve Cannon, Alejandro Quiroga and Xavier Guégan – have read drafts
of the typescript and provided invaluable comments. I am grateful for
the help of archivists at Archives Nationales, Archives Départementales de
Seine-Saint-Denis, Préfecture de Police de Paris, and Archives de la Service
Historique de la Marine. I would also express gratitude for the financial
support of British Academy, the Welcome Trust and School of History at
Newcastle University. Michael Strang and Ruth Ireland have been most
helpful and supportive at Palgrave. The anonymous referee was both
insightful and generous. Finally, special thanks to MLG.
ix