Vichy France: on the Ruin of the Third Republic

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Related to said subject, I wholeheartedly recommend the works of Georges Bernanos, a French novelist and polemicist who was a fervent Catholic & Royalist. A fascinating figure, and a magnificent writer. A loyal Maurrassian, before breaking off with Maurras because the latter hesitated too much in taking action; at almost 50, and physically handicapped after a motorcycle accident, he went to Spain to support the Nationalists during the Civil War, before denouncing the excessive Francoist repressions (he pretty much predicted the long-term unsustainability of the Franco regime), and getting death threats from Francoist forces; fled to South America and became a sort of gentleman-farmer in southern Brazil, while writing regular articles for the newspapers of the French Resistance (he despised most of all what he saw as Pétain's and the Vichy Regime's cowardice). Came back to France after WWII to support de Gaulle (who deeply admired Bernanos, because of their shared Maurrassian heritage), while writing violent articles against the Christian Democrats, Marxists, and lukewarm Conservatives. Said one day to de Gaulle, face to face: "The mediocre ones will get the best of you." Died at 60, after years of poverty. A very interesting figure, if you want to know more about the so-called "vichysto-résistants": members of the French Resistance during WWII who pretty much shared the same worldview and philosophy as the Vichy Regime, but who could not forgive the spineless bureaucrats and bourgeois who so readily negotiated France's sovereignty with the Nazis: a lot of them agreed with some of the antisemitism of the period, but hated the Germans more than they hated the Jews. For the curious ones, you can check Cluny Media's website: they translated some of Bernanos' books, as well as a study by Thomas Molnar, who, I wager, is not an unknown writer in this corner of the Internet : "Bernanos: His Political Thought and Prophecy". I could go on, but I'll stop here. Sorry if such a long comment appears too discourteous, I'm not very good at synthesizing stuff. If this comment attracts some attention, I could continue my comment & trace some parallels between Bernanos and Tolkien & Chesterton - fascinating parallels to be made. Salutations from France, where the situation is getting worse, day by day.

Some advance that Pétain's military career had been unremarkable due to freemasonic hostility, he's known for having refused to denounce catholics amonsts his men.

Another great video AM , would love to know your opinion on Charles De Gaulle. Seems like a interesting character, leader of a republic with monarchical beliefs, western but anti American , militaristic but not imperialist and above all set in self sustainability and independence.

Petain is one of my favorite figures of the 20th century. Almost nobody else has shared his incredibly dramatic and volatile fate. He went from being hailed as a hero and savior of France - at Verdun and at Compeigne - to dying a traitors death. All of this in the last quarter of his life no less, a time when he could have been enjoying retirement and spending time with his family. Instead he selflessly offered himself up to serve his beloved nation and state, only to be put to death for doing so. AM - great job, more Vichy content would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps some smaller episodes or one big one similar to the Estado Novo Episode. Covering Laval, Darlan, the sinking of the French fleet, etc. Thank you!

thank you so much for the videos on the French right it really is fascinating

Love your work AM

Thank you for the nuanced analysis. Overall sense I get is one of frustrated energy, of a pseudo-opportunity. Yet there were many sound elements in the hodpodge, and perhaps, had Germany not lost, it might have opened a way out of the post-Revolutionary "end of history"-deadlock France has been set into.

Get Charles Coulombe for it !

“Now exists in popular memory As the interlude between catastrophes”. Feels familiar

Brilliant as always. Cheers & God Bless!

Splendid as always.

Good one!

CANNOT WAIT

Like noted in the superchat, we have made an AM-only fanclub on Discord. Come chat with us: https://discord.gg/WS4kBZ2K

Very informative. Have you ever thought about doing a video about Vidkun Quisling and Nasjonal Samling in Norway during WW2?

I've been looking forward to this one 🎉🎉

"Marshall, here we are!"

I'll be listening to this one carefully soon. Just noting before viewing that older frenchmen closer to our side consider Paxton to be biased and hostile. But I trust AM to be thoroughly read on all key aspects of the events, which is more than I can say for almost everyone else on this platform.

Audio is a bit quiet, but great video!