The Dreyfus Affair: France Divided

In 1894, Jewish artillery officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason based on flimsy evidence, sparking a scandal that tore France apart for over a decade. This episode of The Story of France explores the Dreyfus Affair in depth: the forged bordereau, the role of antisemitism in the army and press, Émile Zola's explosive open letter 'J'accuse…!', the rival factions of Dreyfusards and anti-Dreyfusards, and the eventual exoneration of Dreyfus in 1906. We examine key figures like Colonel Picquart, who discovered the real traitor, Major Esterhazy; and the political convulsions that pitted republicans against monarchists, nationalists, and the Catholic Church. The affair exposed deep fault lines in French society—between left and right, secularism and religion, justice and authority—and its legacy shaped modern France. Join Lucas and Luna as they unravel this gripping tale of injustice, courage, and the fight for truth. #DreyfusAffair #AlfredDreyfus #ThirdRepublic #JAccuse #EmileZola #GeorgesPicquart #FerdinandEsterhazy #Antisemitism #FrenchHistory #MilitaryJustice #Bordereau #DevilSIsland #Dreyfusards #AntiDreyfusards #Secularism #Intellectuals #History #FexingoHistory #FrenchRevolution #NapoleonBonaparte Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo