The Dreyfus Affair: A French Tragedy

In 1894, the French Army accused Captain Alfred Dreyfus of treason for passing secrets to Germany. This episode traces the shocking arrest, the secret court-martial, and the brutal public campaign that followed. We explore how Émile Zola’s open letter J’accuse…! ignited a national firestorm, pitting traditional Catholic nationalists against republican defenders of human rights. Through the eyes of Lucie Dreyfus, who fought tirelessly for her husband’s exoneration, we see how one man’s innocence became a proxy war for France’s soul. The story reveals deep-seated anti-Semitism in the military and press, and how the eventual reversal of justice exposed the fragility of democratic institutions. From the degradation ceremony at the École Militaire to the final pardon in 1906, this is a tale of courage, error, and the long road to truth. #AlfredDreyfus #DreyfusAffair #EmileZola #JAccuse #LucieDreyfus #FrenchHistory #AntiSemism #ThirdRepublic #ArmyHighCourt #Esterhazy #Intellectuals #Clemenceau #Picquart #DegradationCeremony #NationalIdentity #FrenchMilitary #JusticeSystem #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo