Emile Driant

Emile Driant (September 11th 1855 - February 22nd 1916) was an officer of French career.

Son-in-law of the General Baker, writer under the pseudonym of Danrit , appointed Nancy, it takes again the service at the beginning of the First World War. He dies in Verdun with the head of the 56 {{E}} and 59 {{E}} battalions of hunters, in February 1916.

With the service of the General Baker

Emile Driant is born the September 11th 1855 with Neufchâtel-on-Aisne where his/her father was notary and Juge of peace. Raise with the college of Rheims, it obtains the first price of history to the open Competition. Contrary to the wish of his father to see it succeeding to him, Emile wishes being Soldat, marked by the defeat of 1871 and the passage of the Prussian troops. After having obtained a license be-letters and in right, it integrates Saint-Cyr military school into twenty years, in 1875. Left fourth two years later, it starts a military career of more deserving: " small, but solid, health with any test, very active and always loan; ride a horse extremely well and has a very marked taste for horsemanship, very intelligent has in front of him most beautiful avenir" will write one of its superiors at his exit, selected the Driant second lieutenant the Infanterie.

In May 1884, it becomes in Africa Aide-de-camp of the general Georges Boulanger, who ordered the division of occupation in Tunisia. It remains with the service of the general during several years and follows it to the same functions when Boulanger becomes Ministre for the War in 1886.

The October 29th 1887, it marries with Paris the girl of the General Baker whereas this one had just been put rather brutally at the retirement in March! That which one called the Revanche general after the humiliation of 1871 completes its course by a fall with the measurement of its popularity. It will commit suicide in September 1891, on the tomb of its mistress.

End 1892, Driant takes eight days of stops to have defended the memory of his/her father-in-law in Le Figaro.

Named Major since 1896, ordering it Driant is named in July 1899 chief of police of the 1 {{er}} Bataillon of Hunters to Foot in garrison with Troyes. He exerts his command with merit report his subordinate clauses and the local press, and made first battalion, the battalion of elite known in all the Army under the name of very popular “Driant Battalion” in Champagne.

Promised at the highest post offices of the military hierarchy, three successive businesses remove any hope from it to him.

The Business of the cards, in 1904, causes a scandal. Of 1900 with 1904, a system of parallel hierarchy illustrates the fight between the Socialisme and the Catholicisme within the Armée. The ministry had made draw up for each officer a political and denominational information sheet independent of the notes allotted by the hierarchically superiors.

Admittedly, the General Andre, Minister for the War, resigns, but Driant expresses high and strong in front of its officers his indignation. It is the subject at once of one call to order on behalf of the minister who, in addition, draws aside it from the promotion table for the following year.

In 1905, it takes 15 days of simple stops to have made publish in the press of the personal notes.

Last business, the celebration of the Sidi Brahim with Troyes begin with a mass in which part of the battalion takes part freely. But in full climate of separation of the Church and the State, the Berteaux general, Minister for the War, request explanations from the general ordering the 20 {{E}} body. The press seizes the incident and publishes the answer of Driant to its superior. Fifteen days of close arrest sanction this variation and break its career.

After the army, the policy

Emile Driant leaves without glory the army at 50 years, the December 31st 1905.

Noted but having publicly taken position on its institution because intransigent defender of the army, enemy of any concession made with the Germany, it launches out without delaying in Politique.

He is elected with the legislative elections of 1910 in the third district of Nancy, under the label of the liberal Action. He renews his mandate later four years.

He devotes these legislatures to the military questions like active member of the commission of the Army. Friend of Paul Déroulède and Maurice Bars, it quickly becomes one of the principal speakers against the left in the parliamentary debates relating to the army and defense.

Assiduous with the meetings of the House of Commons, interfering social Catholicism with Mun with the ideas with Vogue and Lavisse, it intervenes to make vote the military appropriations and supports Barthou at the time of the vote of the " Law of Hello " who increases to three years the national service, and rises against the downgrading of the frontier fortified towns - he manages to save that of Lille in 1912 -, and is interested before war in very recent military aeronautics. Driant is opposed to the theses and of Jaurès, being based on examples drawn from the events of Russia. The army must play a crucial role, before just like instrument of education of the popular classes, and if necessary like instrument counter-revolutionary. It is the concept of the army-school and the social apostolate, which fits then in the mobility of the Dragomirov, Art Roë and. It is interested thus in the social struggles, insofar as they can compromise the national Défense. It supports the trade unionism independent, known as " jaune" , founded by Pierre Biétry with the support of the industrialist Gaston Japy. Those preach association between the profit-sharing one and the capital-money. The texts of Driant defend the principle of freedom by the personal property, by means of the progressive participation of the workmen in the capital of the companies. Among the principal votes of the Driant deputy, during the legislature 1910-1914, appear of the resolutions such as day the ten hours, the retirement S, trade-union freedoms, and various assistance measures social.

Driant becomes the Danrit writer

Very early, still in activity, Emile Driant had launched out in the literature.

Here the “captain Danrit”, Anagram of his name to escape the censure from his chiefs, in this new kind of the science fiction novel in which Jules the Verne, most famous of them, had opened the way, and which feeds from progress that knows the time (electricity, engine spark-ignition, beginnings of aviation…).

Driant approaches the military topics most various while writing nearly thirty novels in twenty-five years, and success is with go.

Its accounts of are inspired by the model vernien novel of adventures, but read again through the defeat of Sedan the French and expansionism colonial. The discovery of the world and its wonders becomes the evocation of richnesses to be drawn or threats to be circumscribed; the extraordinary machines, which made it possible, at Verne, to travel through the airs and the seas, are from now on above all the engines of wars, to destroy the adversary. Its work is characteristic of the novel of colonial adventures of the end of the XIXe century to the more specific logic of the years preceding the First World War. In its writings, a vast place is granted to the army. He affirms his taste of the great men and his mistrust with regard to the members of Parliament. They are the reflection of a public opinion obsessed by the threat of a war. They accompany the daily speeches by the press, always attentive with the international incidents.

Its first book appears in 1892, the war of the fortresses which proposes the strategic value of the forts built on the border is France, forts which preserve the country of a surprised attack and which, while resisting a few days, makes it possible the French Armies to be mobilized and to join the borders. The fort of which it describes in its book will know indeed fire in September 1914!

Its second novel is entitled the war in open country and gives an example of mobilization, of transport of the troops by sea and railway.

Its third novel, the war in balloon brings a little appeasing to its major concern which is the next war: the war of tomorrow name of this trilogy.

In this work the romantic character, Driant exalte unceasingly service of France, the officer following the example of, the mission to achieve…

To answer waiting of the Driant readers his imagination by describing the war lets speak about the bicycles in 1894 then the Black Invasion , where the populations of Black Africa raised by the Turks invade Europe and will be stopped only by released asphyxiating gases French airships.

This frame of mind inspires by the teaching works with Histoire of a family of soldiers . It is about a trilogy running of the Revolution at the time of the author whom he writes starting from 1898. Jean Tapin evokes 1792 to 1830 and shows through the history of a young drum the need for informing himself to claim to order the men. Comes then the Godsons from Napoleon, under the Second Empire, which underlines the role of teacher of the officer. Lastly, Petit Porpoise leads to this army of the Third Republic in full recasting with the generalization of the conscription.

In 1898, it erects scaffolding the fatal war which is held initially on the seas against Perfidious Albion (without-doubt influenced by the Franco-English diplomatic serious attack related on the Affaire of Fachoda and the Guerre of Boers) with the role prevailing of the Sous-marin.

In 1905, very strongly impressed by the Japanese victory over the Russian fleet at the time of the battle of the islands Tsoushima, Driant conceives the invasion Jaune where the Japanese raise the Chinese human mass and Indian against Europe. The novel ends in the success of the armies Sino Japonaises on best the armed European one, that of the German empire, and thus the end of the prevalence of Europe.

Appeared in 1910, the revolution of tomorrow describes the rabble Parisian unchained to attack a barracks and to massacre the disarmed soldiers with blows of paving stones launched of the top of the roofs.

At that time, it described the four dangers which must be with the spirit of French: the England, the Germany, Yellows, blacks. It had foreseen well of it a fifth which it had dodged in the Revolution of tomorrow…

Other books

let us robinsons Them submarines (1901) Order of the Tsar (1906) Above the black continent Alarm in 1911 and the underground war in 1913 are written under the pressure of the events because Driant has the presentiment of an imminent war.

In the aviator of the Pacific writes in 1910, it tells the history of a brilliant French inventor who invented an aircraft with the multi-fuel engine. He decides to make the round the world tour to prove with the industrialized nations the reliability of his invention.

When it arrives at the top of the Pacific on the side of Pearl Harbourg - attacked Midway, it cannot prevent the the United States by radio telegraphy because the Japanese had in peaceful chain trawlers equipped with antennas intended to scramble the radio waves. Premonition? It was in 1910…

The success of these works, generally illustrated by Paul of Sowing or Georges Dutriac, was such as they were given at the time of the prize givings at the end of the year school. In December 1915, two writers aspire to the seat of Albert de Mum to the French Academy: Maurice Bars and the Driant lieutenant-colonel. Alas, the choice of immortal was quickly made since the February 22nd 1916, the second candidate fell, struck by a German ball, faithful to its convictions to its last breath.

The officer of hunters

Appointed at the entry of the war, it is 59 years old. Its mandate of deputy and its age easily draw aside it from any military obligation. He however asks to take again service and obtains the August 14th 1914 the command of the 56e and 59e battalions of hunters. It is with the autumn 1915 that it deals with the sector of the wood of the Caures, in front of Verdun.

End 1915, without still prejudging attack on Verdun which one did not imagine, Driant had alarmed the elected officials, and even the President of the Republic, on the very great insufficiency of the means of defense of the zone. February 1st, it made of it state near the Commission of the Army of the Room. Gallieni, Minister for the War wrote the 16 following with Joffre, which took the thing badly and could not find another thing only to offer its resignation.

The Battle of Verdun: the wood of Caures

From January, many indices however announce a nearest offensive.

The February 20th 1916, the day before the release of the battle of Verdun, the Lieutenant-colonel Driant addresses this last mail to his wife

“ I write only some hasty lines to you, because I go up up there, to encourage all my world, to see the final preparations; the order of the Bapst general that I send to you, the visit of Joffre, yesterday, prove that the hour is close and at the bottom, I test a satisfaction to see that I was not mistaken by announcing one month ago what arrives, by the order of the battalion that I sent to you. With the grace of God! You see, I will do my better and I feel very calm. I always had such a chance that I still believe in it for this time.

Their attack can take place this night as it can still move back several during the days. But it is certain. Our wood its first will have sliced taken as of the first minutes, because they will employ flames and gas there. We know it, by a prisoner of this morning. My poor battalions if saved up to now! Lastly, they also had chance until now… Who knows! There but as one feels few things at these hours. ”

The February 21st 1916, with 7:15, Ve armed German starts a steel storm of an amazing power. Positions of the Coast of the Brabant, the wood of Haumont, Caures, City and Herbevois. The shooting plows the first and at the same time the second line. Shells with gas explode in the ravines separating wood from Haumont de Vacherauville. The hunters of Driant await the attack.
With the Wood of Caures, it is the 59e Bataillon of Hunters which is on line. The first line is completely disorganized. Many hunters perish buried by the bombardment. With the farm of Mormont, 56e B.C.P. prepares to support the 59e. Around 4 p.m., fire refers on the back, signs imminent attack.
The regiments of the 18th Body emerge in front of the wood of Caures and wood neighbors. With the wood of Haumont, there remain nothing of the two battalions on line. The enemy occupies the ground without difficulty.
However with the wood of Caures, the hunters of Driant are always there and accommodate the Germans. Three companies out of four end up yielding. Driant makes go up on line 56e B.C.P. Its hunters counter-attacks at the fallen night and takes again almost all the lost trenches. But it is necessary to hold, and Driant claims reinforcements which arrive under the German shells.
All the night from February 21st to 22nd, the reinforcements flow under snow and the shells. In middle of the night, the German artillery redoubles violence. In the morning, it suspends its shooting and the infantry attacks again. Launched in mass, it submerges the hunters. 59e B.C.P. disappears almost on the spot.
The lieutenant-colonel Driant, a rifle with the hand, is held on the line of fold with the survivors of his battalions whereas the enemy wraps his positions.
Around 4 p.m., it decides the fold towards south-west, in direction of Beaumont. The hunters leave in four columns. Only one will arrive about intact. Driant leaves in the last, accompanied by the sergeants Coisne and Hacquin, jumping of shell holes in shell hole. Driant stops to make a first-aid dressing with the one of its men, wounded at the bottom of a funnel. Whereas it set out again and that it was going to jump in a new shell hole, a ball of machine-gun strikes it with the temple. “Oh, there, there, my God” hear the two sergeants!
The wood of Caures was taken by German with two divisions against the two battalions of hunters. There does not remain one the third of manpower of these units, but their sacrifice is without price for the French Army: the 56e and the 59e battalions of hunters sufficiently slowed down the enemy, as of its first attack, to allow the troops sent in reinforcement to contain the German push little by little and to protect Verdun.

The construction of the Driant myth

The noise of died of the Driant lieutenant-colonel circulates with Paris as of February 24th and 25th. Maurice Barrès, which took a decisive share in the construction of the “Driant myth”, first of all refused to accept the “first rumors”.

It waits on April 8th to write in the Echo of Paris: “the lieutenant-colonel Driant, deputy of Nancy, remains lengthened on the ground Lorraine, bathed of his blood. ” But “it breathes, it acts, it creates; it is the alive example”, adds the Barrès following day.

Its death has a all the more important repercussion as for much, it is that of the “Danrit captain”, whose works were the reading of French youth before the Great War. The death of the writer exceeded and magnifié that of the soldier.

Its sacrifice is recovered by the press and the publications of the war, to galvanize the troops. The House of Commons announces officially his death, its praise funeral is marked on April 7th by Paul Deschanel, on June 28th, the Ligue of the patriots of Maurice Barrès makes celebrate a solemn service with Notre-Dame (Paris) chaired by the Amette cardinal. It is buried by the Germans near the places of his demise, whereas its effects are turned over to its widow via Switzerland.

After the Great War, the Driant lieutenant-colonel is high with the row of national glory as well as the marshals Joffre, Gallieni, Pétain and Foch…

In October 1922, the body of Driant is exhumed. A Mausoleum, decided by war veterans of which is set up there. Each year, a ceremony is celebrated there on February 21st, in remembering colonel Driant and its hunters fallen for defense from Verdun.

The heroic resistance as of its hunters and its death are also the illustration of a battle, that of Verdun, where the men were opposed to the guns (163 000 killed French, 143.000 on the German side), 80% of the losses were caused by shells. This battle accredited the idea that the war had been gained by the privates, apart from the command and sometimes against this one…

The Driant lieutenant-colonel was an officer devoted to his country. He illustrates, by fidelity with his principles, the defense of the size of France in his career of writer or officer, by the influence of the ideas of the beginning of the XXe century on his writings and his thoughts, a man French of his time, attache with the defense of his country, honest and courageous. He was never taken in contradiction between his ideals and his acts.

Its death is under this aspect, a result.

Military Cross 1914-1918

External bonds

One finds a page devoted to the work of the Danrit Captain (study and bibliography) on the site the novel of adventures.

Portrait

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