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Georges Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau
In office
October 25, 1906 – July 24, 1909
President Armand Fallières
Preceded by Ferdinand Sarrien
Succeeded by Aristide Briand
In office
November 16, 1917 – January 20, 1920
President Raymond Poincaré
Preceded by Paul Painlevé
Succeeded by Alexandre Millerand
Born September 28, 1841
Died November 24, 1929
Political party Radical
Profession Physician, newspaper publisher

Georges Benjamin Clemenceau[1] (Mouilleron-en-Pareds (Vendée), 28 September 1841 – 24 November 1929) was a French statesman, physician and journalist. The Prime Minister of France ( Premier ministre français) in Fifth Republic is the functional Head of the government and Council of Ministers Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Clément Armand Fallières (6 November 1841 22 June 1931 was a French Politician, president of the French republic from 1906 to 1913 Jean Marie Ferdinand Sarrien (1840-1915 was a French politician of the Third Republic. Aristide Briand (28 March 1862 – 7 March 1932 was a French statesman who served several terms as Prime Minister of France and won the Nobel Peace Prize The Prime Minister of France ( Premier ministre français) in Fifth Republic is the functional Head of the government and Council of Ministers Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Raymond Poincaré (20 August 1860 – 15 October 1934 was a French conservative Statesman who served as Prime Minister of France on five Paul Painlevé (5 December 1863 &ndash 29 October 1933 was a French Mathematician and politician Alexandre Millerand (10 February 1859 - 7 April 1943 was a French socialist Politician. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Radical Party ( Parti Radical, Rad also known as Parti radical valoisien) is a liberal and centrist political party in France A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor who practices Medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human Health A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Mouilleron-en-Pareds is a village located in France where Jean de Lattre de Tassigny and Georges Clemenceau were born The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends He served as the prime minister of France from 1906-1909 and 1917-1920. Early Modern France Chief Ministers of the French Kings Armand Jean du Plessis Cardinal Richelieu 1624-1642 Jules Cardinal He led France during World War I and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I.

Contents

Early life

Georges Clemenceau was born in a small village in the province of Vendée, France on 28 September 1841. He looked up to his father who fostered his strong republican political views, although he was the grandson of the noble seigneur du Colombier, who in turn descended nine times from King Jean de Brienne of Jerusalem, twice from King Fernando III of Castile and once from King Edward I of England. John of Brienne (c 1170 – 27 March, 1237) was a French nobleman who became King of Jerusalem by marriage and was later invited to become Latin Saint Ferdinand III (July 30 or August 5 1199 &ndash May 30, 1252) was the King of Castile from 1217 and King of León from 1230 Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost With a group of students he began publishing a paper Le Travail ("Work"). This was considered radical by Napoleon III and when affixing posters convening a demonstration he was seized by French police. Napoléon III, also known as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (full name Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte) (20 April 1808 9 January 1873 was the first President He spent 73 days in prison. When he was released he began another paper called Le Matin ("Morning"), but this again caused him trouble with the police. He eventually became a doctor of medicine May 13, 1865 with a thesis entitled De la génération des éléments atomiques (Of the generation of the atomic elements).

After studying medicine in Nantes he travelled to the United States and began living in New York. He was impressed by the freedom of speech and expression which he observed - something he had not witnessed in France under the reign of Napoleon III. He had a great admiration for the politicians who were forging American democracy and considered settling permanently in the country. He began teaching at an all girl’s school in Connecticut and eventually married one of his students, Mary Plummer, in 1869. They had three children together but divorced in 1876.

Clemenceau left New York and returned to France, settling in Paris. He established himself as a doctor, adopting medicine as his profession. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the He settled in Montmartre in 1869 and following the instauration of the Third Republic (1870-1940), was sufficiently well known to be nominated mayor of the 18th arrondissement of Paris (Montmartre) - an unruly district over which it was a difficult task to preside. Montmartre is a hill (the butte Montmartre) which is 130 metres high giving its name to the surrounding district in the north of Paris in the 18th The French Third Republic (in French, La Troisième République, sometimes written as La IIIe An arrondissement is an Administrative division in some French or Dutch -speaking countries

During the Franco-Prussian War, Clemenceau remained in Paris and was resident throughout the siege of Paris. The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War ( 19 July, 1870 — 10 May, 1871 The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 &ndash January 28, 1871, brought about French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War When the war ended on 28 January 1871 Clemenceau stood for election as mayor and on 8 February 1871 he was elected as a Radical to the National Assembly for the Seine département. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common For opposition to all forms of government social hierarchy or authority see Anarchism. The National Assembly is either a Legislature, or the Lower house of a Bicameral legislature in some countries In the Terminology of Political geography and Historiography a National department (département departamento is an administrative As a Radical, he voted against the proposed peace treaty with newly-formed Germany.

On 20 March 1871 he introduced a bill in the National Assembly at Versailles, on behalf of his Radical colleagues, proposing the establishment of a Paris municipal council of eighty members; but he was not re-elected at the elections of 26 March. Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Versailles (vɛʀsaj in French) formerly de facto capital of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Clemenceau played an important role in the Paris Commune. The Paris Commune (La Commune de Paris was a Government that briefly ruled Paris from 18 March (more formally from 26 March) to 28 May On 18 March 1871 he witnessed first-hand the murder of General Lecomte and General Thomas by communard members of the National Guard. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Communards were members and supporters of the short-lived 1871 Paris Commune formed in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and France's defeat The National Guard ( la Garde nationale) was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the Militias formed in each city in imitation of In his memoirs, he claims that he tried to prevent the murder of the generals and the murder of several army officers and policemen he saw being incarcerated by the National Guard, but this claim has neither been confirmed nor denied. His suspected anti-communard sympathies led to him being placed under surveillance by the Central Committee at the Hôtel de Ville, the main Communard body responsible for running Paris during the Commune. The Hôtel de Ville ( French for " City Hall " in Paris, France, is the building housing the City of Paris's administration The Central Committee ordered his arrest, but within a day he had been cleared and was released. During April and May, Clemenceau was one of several Parisian mayors who tried unsuccessfully to mediate between the Communard government in Paris and the Republican National Assembly at Versailles. When the loyalist Versaillais army broke into Paris on 21 May to end the commune and place Paris back under the jurisdiction of the French government, Clemenceau refused to give any help to the Communard government. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. After the ending of the Commune, Clemenceau was accused by various witnesses of not having intervened to save Generals Lecomte and Thomas when he might have done so. Although he was cleared of this charge, it led to a duel, for which he was prosecuted and sentenced to a fine and a fortnight's imprisonment.

The beginning of the Third Republic

He was elected to the Paris municipal council on 23 July 1871 for the Clignancourt quartier, and retained his seat till 1876, passing through the offices of secretary and vice-president, and becoming president in 1875. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

In 1876 he stood again for the Chamber of Deputies, and was elected for the 18th arrondissement. Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the Lower house of a Bicameral legislature or can refer to a Unicameral legislature He joined the far left, and his energy and mordant eloquence speedily made him the leader of the Radical section. Ultra-left|Radical left|Radicalism (historical|Hard left Far left and extreme left are terms used to discuss the position a group or person occupies within a Political spectrum In 1877, after the Seize Mai crisis, he was one of the republican majority who denounced the de Broglie ministry, and he took a leading part in resisting the anti-republican policy of which the Seize Mai incident was a manifestation. Jacques-Victor-Albert 4th duc de Broglie (13 June 1821 19 January 1901 was a French Monarchist politician His demand in 1879 for the indictment of the de Broglie ministry brought him into particular prominence.

Georges Clemenceau by Cecilia Beaux (1920).
Georges Clemenceau by Cecilia Beaux (1920). Cecilia Beaux ( May 1, 1855 &ndash September 7, 1942) was an American society Portraitist, in the nature of John

In 1880 he started his newspaper, La Justice, which became the principal organ of Parisian Radicalism. The Radical Party ( Parti Radical, Rad also known as Parti radical valoisien) is a liberal and centrist political party in France From this time onwards, throughout Jules Grévy's presidency, his reputation as a political critic and destroyer of ministries who yet would not take office himself grew rapidly. François Paul Jules Grévy (15 August 1807 - 9 September 1891 was a President of the French Third Republic and one of the leaders of the Opportunist Republicans Leading the Far Left in the National Assembly, he was an active opponent of Jules Ferry's colonial policy (which he opposed on moral grounds and also as a form of diversion from the “Revenge against Germany”) and of the Opportunist party, and in 1885 it was his instrumentalization of the Tonkin disaster which principally determined the fall of the Ferry cabinet. Jules François Camille Ferry (5 April 1832 17 March 1893 was a French statesman and ardent imperialist Early life Born in Saint-Dié, France was a dominant empire in the world from the 1600s to the late 1960s possessing many colonies in various locations around the world Revanchism (from French revanche " Revenge " is a term used since the 1870s to describe a political manifestation of the will to reverse territorial The Sino-French War ( Chinese:, French: Guerre franco-chinoise, Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Pháp-Thanh) was a limited conflict fought

At the elections of 1885 he advocated a strong Radical programme, and was returned both for his old seat in Paris and for the Var, selecting the latter. The' 1885 general election' was held on October 14 and 18 1885. The Var is a French department in Provence in southeast France Refusing to form a ministry to replace the one he had overthrown, he supported the Right in keeping Freycinet in power in 1886, and was responsible for the inclusion of General Boulanger in the Freycinet cabinet as War Minister. Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet (14 November 1828 - 14 May 1923 was a French statesman and President of the Council during the Third Republic, part When Boulanger showed himself as an ambitious pretender, Clemenceau withdrew his support and became a vigorous opponent of the heterogeneous Boulangist movement, though the Radical press and a section of the party continued to patronize the general.

By his exposure of the Wilson scandal, and by his personal plain speaking, Clemenceau contributed largely to Jules Grévy's resignation of the presidency in 1887, having himself declined Grévy's request to form a cabinet on the downfall of Maurice Rouvier's Cabinet. François Paul Jules Grévy (15 August 1807 - 9 September 1891 was a President of the French Third Republic and one of the leaders of the Opportunist Republicans Maurice Rouvier (17 April 1842 - 7 June 1911 was a French Statesman. He was also primarily responsible, by advising his followers to vote for neither Floquet, Ferry, or Freycinet, for the election of an "outsider" (Sadi Carnot) as president. Charles Thomas Floquet (2 October 1828 - 18 January 1896 was a French statesman For the French physicist and uncle of Marie François see Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot.

The split in the Radical party over Boulangism weakened his hands, and its collapse made his help unnecessary to the moderate republicans. A further misfortune occurred in the Panama affair, as Clemenceau's relations with Cornelius Herz led to his being included in the general suspicion. The Panama scandals (also known as the "Panama Canal Scandal" were a corruption affair that broke out in the French Third Republic in 1892 linked to the building Although he remained the leading spokesman of French Radicalism, his hostility to the Russian alliance so increased his unpopularity that in the 1893 election he was defeated for his Chamber seat, having held it continuously since 1876. The 1893 general election was held on August 20 and September 3 1893.

After his 1893 defeat, Clemenceau confined his political activities to journalism. His career was further overclouded by the long-drawn-out Dreyfus case, in which he took an active part as a supporter of Emile Zola and an opponent of the anti-Semitic and Nationalist campaigns. The Dreyfus Affair a Political scandal which divided France from the 1890s to the early 1900s Émile François Zola ( (2 April 1840 &ndash 29 September 1902 was an influential French Writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of

On 13 January 1898 Clemenceau, as owner and editor of the Paris daily L'Aurore, published Émile Zola's "J'accuse" on the front page of his paper. Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common L’Aurore (French for “The Dawn” was a literary liberal and socialist newspaper published in Paris France from 1897 to 1914 Clemenceau decided that the controversial story that would become a famous part of the Dreyfus Affair would be in the form of an open letter to the President, Félix Faure. The Dreyfus Affair a Political scandal which divided France from the 1890s to the early 1900s Félix François Faure (30 January 1841&ndash16 February 1899 was President of France from 1895 until his death

In 1900 he withdrew from La Justice to found a weekly review, Le Bloc, in which Clemenceau was practically the sole contributor. Le Bloc lasted until 15 March 1902. On 6 April 1902 he was triumphally elected senator for the Var, although he had previously continually demanded the suppression of the Senate, considered a strong-house of conservatism. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting He sat with the Radical-Socialist Party and moderated somehow his positions, although he still vigorously supported the Combes ministry, who spearheaded the anti-clericalist Republican struggle. The Radical Party ( Parti Radical, Rad also known as Parti radical valoisien) is a liberal and centrist political party in France Émile Combes (1835 - 1921 was a French statesman, charged in 1902 of the constitution of the Bloc des gauches 's cabinet In June 1903 he undertook the direction of the journal L'Aurore, which he had founded. In it he led the campaign for the revision of the Dreyfus affair, and for the separation of Church and State, which was implemented by the 1905 Act [2]. Separation of church and state is a Political and Legal Doctrine that Government and religious institutions are to be kept separate

In March 1906 the fall of the Rouvier ministry, owing to the riots provoked by the inventories of church property, and the Radicals' victory during the 1906 legislative election, at last brought Clemenceau to power as Minister of the Interior in the Sarrien cabinet. Maurice Rouvier (17 April 1842 - 7 June 1911 was a French Statesman. The 1906 general election was held on May 6 and 20 1906. Results Sources Roi et President Jean Marie Ferdinand Sarrien (1840-1915 was a French politician of the Third Republic. On a domestic level, Clemenceau reformed the police forces and ordered repressive policies towards the workers' movement. The National Police ( police nationale) formerly the Sûreté Nationale, is one of two National police forces and the main civil law enforcement He supported the formation of scientifical police by Alphonse Bertillon, as well as of the Brigades du Tigre ("Tiger's Brigades") by Célestin Hennion. Alphonse Bertillon ( April 23, 1853 &mdash February 13, 1914) was a French law enforcement officer and Biometrics researcher

The miners' strike in the Pas de Calais after the disaster at Courrieres (more than a thousand victims), leading to the threat of disorder on the 1st of May 1906, prompted him to employ the military; and his attitude in the matter — as well as the repression of the wine-growers' strike in the Languedoc-Roussillon — alienated the SFIO Socialist party, from which he definitively broke in his notable reply in the Chamber to Jean Jaurès, leader of the SFIO, in June 1906. Pas-de-Calais is a department in northern France. Its name is the French language equivalent of the Strait of Dover, which it borders The Courrières mine disaster, Europe's worst mining accident caused the death of 1099 miners (including many children in Northern France on 10 March 1906 Languedoc-Roussillon ( Occitan: Lengadòc-Rosselhon; Catalan: Llenguadoc-Rosselló) is one of the 26 regions of France. Jean Léon Jaurès (full name Auguste Marie Joseph Jean Léon Jaurès; 3 September 1859 31 July 1914) was a French

This speech marked him out as the strong man of the day in French politics; and when the Sarrien ministry resigned in October, he became premier. During 1907 and 1908 his premiership was notable for the way in which the new Entente cordiale with England was cemented, and for the successful part which France played in European politics, in spite of difficulties with Germany and attacks by the Socialist party in connection with Morocco (First Moroccan Crisis in 1905-06, settled by the Algeciras Conference). Flag of the United Kingdomsvg|right|70px]] The Entente cordiale is a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa The First Moroccan Crisis (also known as the Tangier Crisis) was the International crisis over the colonial status of Morocco between March 1905 and May The Algeciras Conference of 1906 took place in Algeciras Spain, and lasted from January 16 to April 7.

Clemenceau, who nicknamed himself "first cop of France" ("premier flic de France"), was defeated however on 20 July 1909 in a discussion in the Chamber on the state of the navy, in which bitter words were exchanged between him and Théophile Delcassé, former president of the Council whom Clemenceau had helped in his downfall. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Théophile Delcassé ( 1 March 1852 – 22 February 1923) was a French Statesman. Clemenceau refused to respond to Delcassé's technical questions, and resigned after his proposal for the order of the day vote was rejected. He was succeeded as premier by Aristide Briand, with a reconstructed cabinet. Aristide Briand (28 March 1862 – 7 March 1932 was a French statesman who served several terms as Prime Minister of France and won the Nobel Peace Prize

Between 1909 and 1912, Clemenceau dedicated his times to travels, conferences and also to the treatment of his sickness. He went to South America in 1910, traveling to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina (where he went as far as Santa Ana de Tucuman in the North-West of Argentina). There, he was amazed by the influence of French culture and of the French Revolution on local elites [3]. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an In 1912, he was operated because of a problem of the prostate. The prostate (from Greek προστάτης - prostates, literally "one who stands before" "protector" "guardian" is a

He published the first issue of the Journal du Var on 10 April 1910, before creating L'Homme libre (The Free Man) newspaper, based in Paris, on 6 May 1913, in which he published daily his editorial. In these tribunes, Clemenceau focused more and more on foreign policy, and condemned the Socialists' anti-militarism. Antimilitarism is a doctrine commonly found in the Anarchist and more globally in the Socialist movement which may be both characterized as Internationalist When World War I broke out, his newspaper was one of the first to be censored, being completely suspended from 29 September 1914 to 7 October. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All In standard conditions France does not have Censorship laws being a Liberal democracy respectful of Freedom of press. In response, Clemenceau changed its name to L'Homme enchaîné (The Man in Chains), and criticized both the lack of transparency of the government and its inefficacity, while defending the patriotic Union sacrée against the German Empire. L'union sacrée (French for Sacred Union) was a truce in France to which the left-wing agreed during World War I, of not opposing the government nor starting

World War I

When World War I broke out in 1914 Clemenceau refused to act as justice minister under the French Prime Minister René Viviani. Jean Raphaël Adrien René Viviani (8 November 1863 7 September 1925 was a French politician of the Third Republic, who served as Prime Minister for

In November 1917 Clemenceau was appointed prime minister. Unlike his predecessors, he immediately halted disagreement and called for peace among senior politicians.

When Clemenceau became Prime Minister in 1917 victory seemed to be a long way off. There was little activity on the Front because it was believed that there should be limited attacks until the American support arrived. At this time, Italy was on the defensive, Russia had virtually stopped fighting – and it was believed they would be making a separate peace with Germany. At home the government had to combat increasing resentment against the war. They also had to handle increasing demonstrations against the war, scarcity of resources and air raids – which were causing huge physical damage to Paris as well as damaging the morale of its citizens. It was also believed that many politicians secretly wanted peace. It was a challenging situation for Clemenceau, because after years of criticising other men during the war, he suddenly found himself in a position of supreme power. He was also isolated politically. He did not have close links with any parliamentary leaders (especially after years of criticism) and so had to rely on himself and his own circle of friends.

Clemenceau’s ascension to power meant little to the men in the trenches at first. They thought of him as ‘Just another Politician’, and the monthly assessment of troop morale found that only a minority found comfort in his appointment. Slowly, however, as time passed, the confidence he inspired in a few began to grow throughout all the fighting men. They were encouraged by his many visits to the trenches. This confidence began to spread from the trenches to the home front and it was said “We believed in Clemenceau rather in the way that our ancestors believed in Joan of Arc. ”

Clemenceau was also well received by the media because they felt that France was in need for strong leadership. It was widely recognised that throughout the war he was never discouraged and he never stopped believing that France could achieve total victory. There were sceptics, however, that believed that Clemenceau, like other war time leaders, would have a short time in office. It was said that “Like everyone else … Clemenceau will not last long- only long enough to clean up [the war]. ”

He supported the policy of total war – “We present ourselves before you with the single thought of total war” – and the policy of la guerre jusqu'au bout (war until the end). One of his speeches advocating these policies was so effective it left a vivid impression on Winston Churchill, (see Appendix 1. 0). These policies promised victory with justice, loyalty to the fighting men and immediate and severe punishment of crimes against France. Joseph Caillaux, a German appeaser and former French prime minister, adamantly disagreed with Clemenceau’s policies. Caillaux was an avid believer in negotiated peace – which could only be achieved by surrendering to Germany. Clemenceau believed that Caillaux was a threat to national security and that if France were to be victorious, his challenge had to be overcome. Unlike previous ministers, Clemenceau was not afraid to act against Caillaux. It was decided by the parliamentary committee that he would be arrested and imprisoned for three years. Clemenceau believed, in the words of Jean Ybarnégaray, that Caillaux’s crime “was not to have believed in victory [and] to have gambled on his nations defeat”.

It was believed by some in Paris that the arrest of Caillaux and others was a sign that Clemenceau had begun a Reign of Terror. Saint justjpg|thumbnail|200px| Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just]] The Reign of Terror' (5 September 1793 &ndash 28 July 1794 or simply The Terror (la Terreur was This was only really believed by the enemies of Clemenceau, but the many trials and arrests aroused great public excitement, one newspaper ironically reported “The war must be over, for no one is talking about it anymore”. These trials, far from making the public fear the government, inspired confidence as the they felt that for the first time in the war, action was being taken and they were being firmly governed. Although there were accusations that Clemenceau’s ‘firm government’ was actually a dictatorship, the claims were not supported. Clemenceau was still held accountable to the people and media and he relaxed censorship on political views as he believed that newspapers had the right to criticize political figures - “The right to insult members of the government is inviolable”. The only powers that Clemenceau assumed were those that he thought necessary to win the war.

In 1918, Clemenceau thought that France should adopt Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, despite believing that some were utopian, mainly because one of the points called for the return of the disputed territory of Alsace-Lorraine to France. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28 1856—February 3 1924 was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. The Fourteen Points were listed in a speech delivered by President Woodrow Wilson of the United States to a joint session of the United Alsace-Lorraine (Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen generally Elsass - Lothringen) was a territorial entity created by the German Empire in 1871 This meant that victory would fulfill one war aim that was very close to the hearts of the French people. Clemenceau was also very sceptical about the League of Nations, believing that it could succeed only in a utopian society. The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920

As war minister Clemenceau was also in close contact with his generals. Although it was necessary for these meetings to take place, they were not always beneficial as he did not always make the most effective decisions concerning military issues. He did, however, mostly heed the advice of the more experienced generals. As well as talking strategy with the generals he also went to the trenches to see the Poilu , the French infantrymen. Poilu is a warmly informal term for a French World War I Infantryman, meaning literally hairy one. He wanted to talk to them and assure them that their government was actually looking after them. The Poilu had great respect for Clemenceau and his disregard for danger as he often visited soldiers only yards away from German frontlines. These visits to the trenches contributed to Clemenceau’s title Le Père de la Victoire (Father of Victory).

On 21 March the Germans began their great spring offensive. The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht ( Kaiser's Battle) and also known as the Ludendorff Offensive was a series of German attacks along the The Allies were caught off guard as they were waiting for the majority of the American troops to arrive. As the Germans advanced on the 24th of March, the British Fifth army retreated and a gap was created in the British/French lines - giving them access to Paris. This defeat cemented Clemenceau’s belief, and that of the other allies, that a coordinated, unified command was the best option. It was decided that Foch would be appointed to the supreme command.

The German line continued to advance and Clemenceau believed that they could not rule out the fall of Paris (see appendix 2. 0). It was believed that if ‘the tiger’ as well as Foch and Pétain stayed in power, for even another week, France would be lost. It was thought that a government headed by Briand would be beneficial to France because he would make peace with Germany on advantageous terms. Clemenceau adamantly opposed these opinions and he gave an inspirational speech to parliament and ‘the chamber’ voted their confidence in him 377 votes to 110.

Post-WWI

As Allied counteroffensives began to push the Germans back, with the help of American reinforcements, it became clear that the Germans could no longer win the war. Although they still occupied allied territory, they did not have sufficient resources and manpower to continue the attack. As countries allied to Germany began to ask for an armistice, it was obvious that Germany would soon follow. On 11 November an armistice with Germany was signed – Clemenceau saw this as an admission of defeat. Clemenceau was embraced in the streets and attracted admiring crowds. He was a strong, energetic, positive leader who was key to the allied victory of 1918.

It was decided that a peace conference would be held in France, officially Versailles. On 14 December Woodrow Wilson visited Paris and received an enormous welcome. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28 1856—February 3 1924 was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. His 14 points and the concept of a league of nations had made a big impact on the war weary French. Clemenceau realized at their first meeting that he was a man of principle and conscience but narrow minded.

It was decided that since the conference was being held in France, Clemenceau would be the most appropriate president – ‘Clemenceau was one of the best chairmen I have ever known – firm to the point of ‘tigerishness’ when necessary, understanding, conciliatory, witty and a tremendous driver. His leadership never failed from first to last, and was never questioned. ’ He also spoke both English and French, the official languages of the conference.

The Conference progress was much slower than anticipated and decisions were being constantly adjourned. It was this slow pace that induced Clemenceau to give an interview showing his irritation to an American journalist. He said he believed that Germany had won the war industrially and commercially as their factories were intact and its debts would soon be overcome through ‘manipulation’. In a short time, he believed, the German economy would be much stronger than the French.

Clemenceau was shot by an anarchist ‘assassin’ on 19 February 1919. Seven shots were fired through the back panel of his car – one striking him in the chest. It was discovered that if the bullet had entered a millimeter to the left or right, it would have been fatal.

When Clemenceau returned to the council of ten on 1 March he found that little had changed. One issue that had not changed was a dispute over the long running Eastern Frontier and control of the German province Rhineland. Clemenceau believed that Germany’s possession of the territory left France without a natural frontier in the East and so simplified invasion into France for an attacking army. The issue was finally resolved when Lloyd George and Woodrow Wilson guaranteed immediate military assistance if Germany attacked without provocation. It was also decided that the Allies would occupy the territory for 15 years, and that Germany could never rearm the area.

There was increasing discontent among Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Woodrow Wilson about slow progress and information leaks surrounding the Council of Ten. They began to meet in a smaller group, called the Council of Four. This offered greater privacy and security and increased the efficiency of the decision making process. Another major issue which the Council of Four discussed was the future of the German Saar province. Clemenceau believed that France was entitled to the province and its coal mines after Germany deliberately damaged the coal mines in Northern France. Wilson, however, resisted the French claim so firmly that Clemenceau accused him of being ‘pro German’. Lloyd George came to a compromise and the coal mines were given to France and the territory placed under French administration for 15 years, after which a vote would determine whether the province would rejoin Germany.

Although Clemenceau had little knowledge of the Austrian-Hungarian empire, he supported the causes of its smaller ethnic groups and his adamancy lead to the stringent terms in the Treaty of Trianon which dismantled Hungary. The Treaty of Trianon is the peace treaty concluded at the end of World War I by the Allies of World War I, on one side and Hungary, seen as a successor Rather than recognizing territories of the Austrian-Hungarian empire solely within the principles of self-determination, Clemenceau sought to weaken Hungary just as Germany and remove the threat of such a large power within Central Europe. The entire Czechoslovakian state was seen a potential buffer from Communism and this encompassed majority Hungarian territories.

Clemenceau did not have experience or knowledge in economics or finance but was under strong public and parliamentary pressure to make Germany’s reparation bill as big as possible. It was generally agreed that Germany should not pay more than it could afford, but the estimates of what it could afford varied greatly. Figures ranged between £2000 million which was quite modest compared to another estimate of £20,000 million. Clemenceau realised that any compromise would anger both the French and British citizens and that the only option was to establish a reparations commission which would examine Germany’s capacity for reparations. This meant that the French government was not directly involved in the issue of reparations.

Clemenceau's retirement and death

In the eyes of the French people, Clemenceau failed to achieve all of their demands through the Treaty of Versailles. This resulted in his loss in the French elections of January 1920. Ironically, Clemenceau always opposed leniency toward Germany and it is believed by some that the effects of his decisions post-war contributed to the events that led to World War II. Clemenceau's historical reputation in the eyes of some was tainted as a result. Clemenceau is especially vilified in John Maynard Keynes "The Economic Consequences of the Peace," where it is stated that "Clemenceau had one illusion, France, and one disillusion, mankind. "

After retiring from politics Clemenceau began to write his own memoirs, Grandeur et Misère d'une victoire (The Grandeur and Misery of a Victory). Clemenceau wrote about the high possibility of further conflict with Germany and predicted that 1940 would be the year of the gravest danger. George Clemenceau died in Paris on 24 November 1929 of natural causes.

Clemenceau's First Ministry, 25 October, 1906 - 24 July, 1909

Changes

Clemenceau's Second Ministry, 16 November, 1917 - 20 January, 1920

Changes

Other information

Notes

  1. ^ Clemenceau's name is spelled with an e and not with the é that is normally required in French for the correct pronunciation.
  2. ^ See the 30 September 1906 discourse in La Roche-sur-Yon (French)
  3. ^ G. La Roche-sur-Yon is a town and commune in western France, préfecture (capital of the Vendée département. Clemenceau, Notes de voyage dans l'Amérique du Sud, Hachette, 1911
  4. ^ "Unquote" Mark T. Shirey
  5. ^ [Yanks, John S. D. Eisenhower]
  6. ^ Musée Clémenceau

Sources

External links

Preceded by
Ferdinand Sarrien		 Prime Minister of France
1906-1909		 Succeeded by
Aristide Briand
Preceded by
Paul Painlevé		 Prime Minister of France
1917-1920		 Succeeded by
Alexandre Millerand
Preceded by
Émile Fauget		 Seat 3
Académie française
1918–1929		 Succeeded by
André Chaumeix
Jean Marie Ferdinand Sarrien (1840-1915 was a French politician of the Third Republic. Early Modern France Chief Ministers of the French Kings Armand Jean du Plessis Cardinal Richelieu 1624-1642 Jules Cardinal Aristide Briand (28 March 1862 – 7 March 1932 was a French statesman who served several terms as Prime Minister of France and won the Nobel Peace Prize Paul Painlevé (5 December 1863 &ndash 29 October 1933 was a French Mathematician and politician Early Modern France Chief Ministers of the French Kings Armand Jean du Plessis Cardinal Richelieu 1624-1642 Jules Cardinal Alexandre Millerand (10 February 1859 - 7 April 1943 was a French socialist Politician. This is a list of members of the Académie française (French Academy by seat number L'Académie française, or the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language.
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