Latest news with #ÉcoleMilitaire
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
France promotes Jewish officer 130 years after he was wrongly convicted of treason
In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was wrongly convicted of spying for Germany. The case became a major scandal in 1898 when writer Emile Zola published an article exposing the unfair trial read more Reinstated in the army, Alfred Dreyfus was decorated with the Legion of Honour at the École Militaire on 21 July 1906. Here he is speaking with General Gillain and Commander Targe after the ceremony. Source: Wikimedia CommonsReinstated in the army, Alfred Dreyfus was decorated with the Legion of Honour at the École Militaire on 21 July 1906. Here he is speaking with General Gillain and Commander Targe after the ceremony. Source: Wikimedia Commons The French National Assembly earlier this week voted to promote Jewish Captain Alfred Dreyfus to the rank of general posthumously, who fell victim to an antisemitic conspiracy over 130 years ago. The conspiracy, known as the Dreyfus Affair, flew around as tensions between France and Germany escalated ahead of the First World War. The bill to honour Dreyfus was proposed by former Macronist Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, currently leader of the presidential party's MPs. The lawmakers on June 2 unanimously voted to promote Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What was the conspiracy against Alfred Dreyfus? In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was wrongly convicted of spying for Germany. The accusations were false, meant to protect the real culprits. At first, the case didn't get much attention, but it became a major scandal in 1898 when writer Emile Zola published an article exposing the unfair trial. France split into two groups: the 'Dreyfusards,' who believed Dreyfus was innocent and fought for justice, and the 'anti-Dreyfusards,' who thought he was guilty and supported the army and national pride. This division caused lasting political tensions in France, still felt today between the political Right and Left. Dreyfus was sent to a harsh prison in Cayenne but was pardoned in 1899. He was cleared of charges in 1906, though he couldn't fully restart his army career. He left the army in 1907 but served again in World War I. In 2006, President Jacques Chirac honoured Dreyfus, admitting that justice wasn't fully served since his career wasn't restored. Today, almost everyone agrees Dreyfus was innocent. A law was passed to recognise this, though some questioned why it was needed so long after the events. Some lawmakers have however expressed concerns that the Dreyfus case was being 'exploited' by some parties for political benefits. The centrist MPs of the MoDem party said the case was being revived so that the Rassemblement National (RN) on the Right and La France Insoumise (LFI) on the Left, can 'buy themselves a licence to be respectable.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
For military staff across Europe, wargaming is all the rage
Once dismissed as frivolous, wargames have emerged as crucial strategic tools amid rising global tensions. A recent simulation at Paris's École Militaire, where 500 participants played out high-intensity conflict scenarios, reflects a growing international trend toward gamified military preparedness. Every person in the packed conference hall stands up as two French soldiers greet each other onstage with a military salute. Major General Bruno Baratz approaches the lectern and speaks into the microphones. 'We are running five minutes behind schedule,' he says with a grin. 'There was a queue to get in.' On the podium from which he speaks are the words 'Jeu de guerre' (Wargame), with the theme of the day written below. It is the year 2035 and France is on the brink of war. A handful of young participants sit at a table in the middle of the stage. A map of central and eastern Europe is splayed across the top, littered with green and red markers. Sliding scales at the bottom of the map represent France's economic, diplomatic, military power and political stability. Then, a fictional news bulletin plays on the projector overhead, upping the stakes. Russian troops have reached the borders of Poland and the Baltic States. China is about to invade Taiwan. And while Europe holds its breath, France enters defence stage three – two steps below full-blown war. The event – organised by Future Combat Command (CCF), a branch of the French Armed Forces tasked with responding to new military threats, alongside two youth organisations – was a hit. France has only recently embraced the use of wargames as a serious military tool. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Twenty-four hours in Ukraine's Kharkiv, where life goes on despite the warBaltic region prepares for war as Russia and US debate Ukraine's fate
