Gringoire

Gringoire is a weekly magazine Politique and Littéraire French founded in 1928 by Horace de Carbuccia, son-in-law of the prefect of police Jean Chiappe (mixed with the scandal Stavisky).

It is one of the large weekly magazines of the inter-war period, according to a formula initiated by Candide , and which is taken again, not only by Gringoire , but also by the weekly magazines of left Friday and Marianne : an important place granted to the policy, a literary page of quality, great reports and great serials (in fact with Pierre Drieu La Rochelle and Francis Carco), of satirical drawings (the principal draftsman of Gringoire is Roger Roy), a simple presentation.

Center right with the national right-hand side

From the start, Gringoire is lampoonist. It is even the principal common feature of a newspaper that Carbuccia itself defines as “a macedoine”. The Marxism and the left in general are its favorite targets. But, initially, it is not a newspaper of extreme right-hand side. It is satisfied to represent the fringe on the right of the National union directed by Raymond Poincaré, with a war veteran spirit which impregnates the newspaper until the end.

After the February 6th, 1934, according to the general movement of toughening, the newspaper becomes antiparlementarist. The influence of the French Action is felt. In October 1935, he decides against the international sanctions imposed on the Italy following his invasion of the Ethiopia. Gringoire is shown for a long time very favorable to the Italian Fascisme, like with the mode of Salazar to the Portugal. It also develops an increasingly marked anglophobia. Henri Béraud, writer of the newspaper, in the edition of October 11th, 1935, is an article entitled publishes “Necessary to reduce England in slavery? ”. From 1930 to 1936, the newspaper, initially germanophobe and nationalist, slip towards a very clear hostility with any war, and even with any military intervention in Europe.

Antibellicism with the vichysme

As from 1936, a second toughening takes place. Antibellicism and hostility (become heinous) with regard to the left convergent: the partisans of the war are the partisans of the extension of the Communisme. This thesis dyes Antisémitisme and of Xénophobie. The Jews are shown to want the war to reverse the mode Nazi (that Gringoire does not approve explicitly but takes care not to criticize) and, at the same time, to diffuse the red revolution of Moscow. The Jews would be also the best agents of Communism in France, and would support immigration - honnie by Gringoire -, generator of disorders. November 10th, 1938, Gringoire title: “Drive out the wogs”.

The French Popular front and the Spanish Popular front are vituperated by the weekly magazine. It takes party for the Franquistes during Spanish Civil war. After the publication, by the French Action of an article showing Roger Salengro to have deserted during the First World War, Gringoire lance a true smear campaign against the Minister of Interior Department ( the French Action does not make any more but take again the charges of Gringoire , from now on with the point). When Salengro commits suicide, Gringoire does not express any regret. André Tardieu is leader-writer of 1936 to 1939. After the brain attack of this one, Philippe Henriot and Roland Dorgelès join the drafting.

In the Years 1930, Gringoire is very appreciated - just as Candide , the French Action and I am everywhere - in the mediums of the right-hand side and extreme Rumanian line. Its numbers are sold very well with Bucharest.

The weekly magazine approves the Accords of Munich, which causes a conflict between Tardieu (opposite with the agreements) and Béraud (which is favorable there). In spring 1939, critical Gringoire the invasion of the Czechoslovakia by Germany, and, of July 1939 in May 1940, is joined the national defense policy. The tone changes as of the defeat. Gringoire , folded up with Vichy, approves the armistice fully, then the national Revolution of Philippe Pétain. However, if the majority of the journalists practice an ideological collaboration, Horace de Carbuccia chooses rather, according to Pascal Ory, a collaboration “of calculation”. It stops the publication of the newspaper on May 25th, 1944.

Among the collaborators of the newspaper, appears Irene Némirovsky, Russian writer of origin , Juive converted with the Catholicisme, which is stopped by the gendarmerie French and delivered to the Nazis. Later Pierre Drieu La Rochelle tries to make release Robert Desnos, but no colleague seems to be intervened in the case of Irene Nemirovsky.

Independent sources

Jacques Julliard and Michel Winock (to dir.), Dictionary of the French intellectuals , ED. threshold, 2002
Pascal Ory, the Collaborators , ED. threshold, “Points” - history, 1980
Eugen Weber, the French Action , ED. Beech, 1985 and Hachette, “Plural” coll, 1990

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