Popular national gathering

See also: popular national Gathering (homonymy), RNP

The popular national Gathering ( RNP ) (1941-1944) was a party Collaborationniste French founded by Marcel Déat (old directing SFIO) in February 1941. Saying socialist and European inspiration, it was intended for “ to protect the race ”, and to collaborate with Germany main road-Socialist. The RNP was one of the three principal parties collaborationnists with the French Popular party (PF) of Jacques Doriot and the Francisme of Marcel Bucard.

Phase RNP-MSR (February-October 1941)

The RNP is founded by Marcel Déat (former deputy SFIO, founder in 1933 of the Socialist party of France-Union Jean Jaurès (Néo-Socialist), Minister for the Air in 1936, and ultra-pacifist in 1939). Moved away from Vichy after having proposed without success a sole party during the summer 1940, and even briefly stopped by the police force of Vichy on December 13rd, 1940, creates the RNP at the beginning of 1941.

Upon the departure, the Germans impose a fusion against-nature of the RNP of Marcel Déat, who recruits rather on the left, and of the revolutionary Social movement (MSR) of Eugene Deloncle, movement of extreme-right-hand side which continues the action of the Hood.

The first management committee of the RNP-MSR includes/understands 5 men (2 RNP, 3 MSR):

Marcel Déat.
Jean Fontenoy (with the Communist party then with PF)
Jean Van Ormelingen (known as Jean Vanor) (in fact of German nationality) (MSR, LVF)
Eugene Deloncle (French Action, chief of the Hood then MSR)
Jean Goy (industrial, preserving deputy, former president of the National union of the combatants (UNC), main association of war veterans of right-hand side. After 1940: with the RNP but excluded in 1942).

Fusion RNP-MSR does not take. The MSR preserves de facto its autonomy within the RNP and its principal role is to form the security service of the RNP. Mistrust reigns between the two chiefs, the more so as the team of Deloncle is specialist in the plots and the knacks. After the attack of Paul Colette against Pierre Laval and Marcel Déat on August 27th, 1941, Déat shows the MSR to have tried to eliminate it. The MSR is thus excluded from the RNP in October 1941, not without some last bloody crooked blows. The RNP reorganizes (by the exclusion of the elements suspected of being close to the MSR) until the first months of 1942.

The RNP without MSR (after October 1941)

On the ideological level, the RNP is favorable to a mode socialist Fasciste and Totalitaire. It pours in a Antisémitisme a little less violent than the PF. He does not disavow however all his laic heritage republican, and pacifist, which radically differentiates it from its large rival, the PF of Doriot. Thus, the RNP defends the principle of the Vote for all, the public school, a line anticlerical or the maintenance of the busts of Marianne in the town halls. These ideas involve a constant opposition between the RNP and the elements Réaction naires of the beginning of the Régime of Vichy, high at the school of the French Action.

On the tactical level, the RNP supports Pierre Laval (whose Déat believes the successor and with which it shares republican and pacifist networks of nature close relations) and does not cease criticizing the “reactionaries of Vichy” and the PF. While Déat courts the representative of Germany in France, Otto Abetz, Doriot turns for its part to the S.
Very disappointed not to reach the Vichy government in the wake it return to the capacity of Pierre Laval in April 1942 or the occupation of the southern zone in November 1942, Marcel Déat devotes the year 1943 to try to carry out a sole party of the collaboration which enables him to be essential. Following the meeting in November 1942 between the chiefs of the RNP (Déat, Albertini) and of MSR (Georges Soulès), which had known each other all with SFIO, the RNP created the national revolutionary Front ( FRN ) which manages to gather the principal parties collaborationists hormi the PF of Doriot: Social RNP-face of work, MSR, Left francist, Group Collaboration and Jeunes of new Europe, Committee of antibolchevic action. The PF refuses the operation, but Déat succeeds in discharging one of its leaders, Jean Fossati (secretary of the PF), and names with the head of the FRN the only chief of the RNP resulting from the PF: Henri Bored. The FRN does not lead however to nothing.

The Mode of hardening Vichy, its points of view approach those of the Collaborationnistes. In March 1944, Déat is named Minister for Labor and national solidarity of the mode of Vichy and takes in its cabinet the leaders of the RNP (Georges Albertini, Georges Dumoulin, Ludovic Zoretti, Gabriel Lafaye, etc). The activity of the party is consequently forsaken.

August 17th, 1944, in front of the allied projection, Marcel Déat leaves to take refuge in Germany. He is almost alone there (“single party” scoffs his/her colleague Abel Bonnard in reference to the old obsession at the sole party). The members of the RNP, contrary to those of the other parties collaborationnists, prefer as a whole to remain in France. Do they preserve until the end the illusion that one would know liking to have safeguarded to them some republican emblems even during worst collaboration?

Organization and profile of the RNP (after October 1941)

Profile of the RNP

Marcel Déat copies the RNP on SFIO of pre-war period in order to allure his electorate, popular and especially of middle-classes. The RNP plays thus with the symbols:

the name “national Gathering popular” is a reference to the “Popular assembly”, the initial name of the Popular front.
the RNP wants to be the “French Section of international European” or SFIE, by analogy with the SFIO,
the uniforms of the RNP are copied on that of the Young socialist guards (blue shirt, red tie).

It is the same with regard to the leaders of the RNP:

at the central level: on the 15 principal leaders of the party in February 1943, 6 come from the SFIO, 6 of the Néo-socialism, 1 passed by the Communist party then the PF, 2 come from right-hand side (lower list).
in the framing: “The antecedent néo-Socialist, radical or SFIO seem to have played a part similar to the level of the local sections” ( Pascal Ory, the collaborators ).

The members of the RNP come from the urban middle-classes (3/4 of the leaders): employees, civils servant, teachers, and also craftsmen, tradesmen, liberal professions. The party counts few workmen (11%, in particular of the railwaymen). On the whole, the RNP is older and more intellectual, and thus less activist, that PF and the Francisme.

In quantitative terms, the RNP is, like all the parties of collaboration, a failure, not managing to allure the masses. One him agreement in general, to the maximum, between 20 000 members (of which 12 000 in province) and 30 000. He knows his apogee in 1942. Other estimates grant only 2.640 really active members to him, including only 13% of workmen of industry.

the weekly magazine militant is the Popular National (June 1942).
the RNP is supported by Work , the daily newspaper of Marcel Déat.

The popular national Youths ( JNP )

The JNP are directed by Roland Silly. Among the 9 other leaders appears Roland Goguillot (known as Roland Gaucher, member of the Federation of the revolutionary students and the PSOP. In 1972: cofounder of the National front of Jean-Marie Le Pen).
Concerning the members, “those which formed large troops of the JNP, and of which some were old red Falcons or resulted families with strong tradition trade unionist, followed the example of their chiefs and posted ideas main road-Socialists”.
There too, the RNP cultivates its image “of left”: the song of the JNP is thus a walk of the German Communist party.
The JNP would have counted 2.500 members for all France.

Principal members of the RNP (after October 1941)

Direction of the RNP: 15 members of the CP

The RNP is directed by a standing committee of 15 members (list of the members in February 1943 published by Lambert and Marec and Handourtzel and Buffet):

President: Marcel Déat
General secretary: Georges Albertini (former secretary of the socialist Youths, Member of the permanent administrative Commission of SFIO, CVIA).
Vice-president (as from January 1943): Maurice Levillain (garage hand, city council man SFIO of Paris and general adviser of the Seine, Néo-Socialist).
Vice-president (as from January 1943): Michel Shines (lawyer, deputy of the Sum in 1936 of the democratic Alliance, the great party of center-right of the Third Republic).
Henri Bored (member of the political office of the Communist party as from 1927, one of the four leaders in 1929-1930, excluded from PCF in 1934, general secretary of the PF of 1936 to 1939).
Rene Benedetti (néo-Socialist)
Francis Desphilippon (founder of an association of old pacifist combatants, then member of SFIO, then responsible for the service of order of the Communist party, then passes to the SFIO where it is responsible for the circles of companies and the Amicales Socialists).
Georges Dumoulin (working, secretary of the CGT, SFIO, freemason, exert responsibilities with the International office for work).
Emile Favier (Néo-Socialist)
Jacques Guionnet (SFIO)
Gabriel Lafaye (appointed SFIO then Néo-Socialist of the Gironde since 1928, under-secretary of State to work in the Government Camille Chautemps in 1938. After 1940: with the RNP, the newspaper the Workshop directs, collaborates in socialist France, created the CIOS or " Lafaye" committee;).
Barthelemy Montagnon (appointed SFIO then Néo-Socialist of Paris, freemason. After 1940: in the RNP, in Work collaborates and the Nouveaux time.)
Georges Rivollet (general secretary of the national confederation of the war veterans, Minister for the war veterans in right governments 1934-1935).
Roland Silly (member of SFIO tendency Paul-fauriste, secretary of the Federation CGT of the technicians).
Ludovic Zoretti (university, person in charge of SFIO of the Apple-brandy, founder of the trade union of the teachers of 2nd and 3rd degrees (current Snes), general secretary of the general Federation of teaching (current FEN) of the CGT).

Excluded personalities because too “moderate”

Jean Goy (preserving) and Charles Spinasse (minister SFIO of the Economy of the Popular front) excluded in 1942,
Rene Castle (Radical socialist) excluded in 1943.

Other personalities of the RNP

Pierre Célor (member of the office of the Communist party as from 1928, delegated near the Comintern, one of the four leaders of PCF in 1929-1931. Excluded from the PC in 1932. After 1940: adhere in 1941 to the RNP, then member of the political office of PF).
Andre Grisoni (radical deputy and mayor of Courbevoie, vice-president of the Left radical socialist, freemason).
Fernand Hamard (directing Communist youths and collaborator with Humanity. After 1940: to the FST of the RNP and gives articles to the Workshop and socialist France).
Henri Jacob (member of the central committee of the Communist party, delegated to the executive committee of the International Communist. After 1940: to the RNP in 1941, then passes to PF in 1943, writer with the Cry of the People).
Paul Perrin (engineer, appointed SFIO then Néo-Socialist of the Seine in 1932-1936, president or secretary of the International office for the respect of the right of asylum).

“Infiltrations” within the RNP

The infiltration trotskist with the RNP

According to the strategy Trotskiste of “the infiltration” an small group of Trotskistes resulting from the Communist party internationalist (NCV) entered with the RNP, of which Henri Molinier (member of the direction of the NCV, brother of Raymond), Roger Foirier (NCV, youth of PSOP), Maurice Déglise (member of the central committee of the Communist youths then trotskist. After 1940: with the RNP by infiltration but remains there), André Gailledrat (known as Morgat) (member of the central committee of the NCV, editor association of the review the Truth (newspaper 1929), then member of PSOP. After 1940: with the RNP by infiltration, with Henri Molinier), Jean Desnots (see FST further).

See also: French Trotskistes during the Second world war

The infiltration of the Algerian nationalists with the RNP

Certain nationalists North-African anticolonialists play the chart of collaboration with the Nazi Germany which lets to them hope for the independence of Algeria in order to weaken France. Accordingly, several Algerian nationalist leaders of the Parti the Algerian people (PPP) created in 1937 by Messali Hadj (especially the team which privileged the action in France and not in Algeria) enter the organizations of the RNP, hoping that it serf of cover to their action.

North-African Committee of the RNP (May 1941 at the beginning of 1944). General secretary: Mohamed el Maadi (or Mahadi) (French officer, member of the North-African Star, tried by the Algerian Popular party, then adheres to the Hood. After 1940: with the revolutionary Social movement (MSR) then with the RNP. Then expelled of the RNP in 1943 because plays too the German chart. It creates the North-African Légion, unit military pro-allemande). Other chiefs: Graied, Belkacem Radjef (former treasurer and number 3 of the PPP) (Lambert and Marec).
the Union of the North-African workers ( UTNA ) gathers the North-Africans of the Social front of work, the trade union of the RNP (to read low). The UTNA would have recruited 3000 members, in particular among the 18.000 unskilled workers engaged for the construction of the Atlantic Wall. Chiefs: Mohamed Laroubi (condemned in November 1939 for “breach of security of the State”. After 1940: chair UTNA), Amar Khider (working, former chief of the PPP), If Djilani (founding member of North-African Star then former member of the political office of the PPP, director of the newspaper el-Oumma).

Trade-union organizations of the RNP

The Center trade unionist of propaganda ( CSP ). Created in April 1941 by the team of the newspaper trade unionist of collaboration the Workshop which joined the RNP (Georges Dumoulin, Georges Albertini, Francis Delaisi) in waiting to create a trade-union national Gathering. While waiting, the CSP is a club of reflection and a lobby which claims a charter of work more favorable to the employees.
General secretaries of the Center trade unionist:

Georges Dumoulin (one of the chiefs of the RNP, lira higher),
then Aime Rey (delegate with the propaganda of CGT in the years 1920, died in 1943),
then Roger Bertrand,
then, in 1945: Kléber Legay (minor, secretary of the Federation CGT of North. After 1940: becomes a person in charge of the RNP and working Comité of immediate help).
then Rene Mesnard (members of the CGT, SFIO, then Néo-Socialist. After 1940: with the RNP, directs the newspaper the Workshop , Co-leader of the working Comité of immediate help. Killed by a plane combined in Germany in 1944).

The Social front of work (FST). Created in July 1942, he wants to be the true trade union of the RNP with cells in the companies. Acting general: Francis Desphilippon (one of the chiefs of the RNP, lira higher).

The Union of Teaching . Created in November 1942 to gather the teachers of the RNP. Secretary: Pierre Vaillandet (professor at the Teacher training school, appointed SFIO of Vaucluse in 1936). Also directed by Georges Albertini. It is a failure.

The country Center . Chiefs: Rene of Robert (agricultural, friendly engineer of Déat, member of the European Circle), Julien Dobert, Jean Desnots (member of the central committee of the Communist party, then passes to the Trotskisme in 1935. After 1940: with the RNP and writing with the Workshop ), Andre Gorse.

The League of the French thought . Created in 1942 by Rene Castle to gather the pacifist and laic intellectuals.

See too

Bibliogaphy

Monographs

Burrin, Philippe, “ fascistic drift, Doriot, Déat, Bergery ”, the Threshold, 1986.
Cointet Jean-Paul, " Marcel Déat: socialism with national-socialisme " , Paris, Perrin, 1998,418 pages.
Varennes, Claude, “ the destiny of Marcel Déat ”, Janmaray, 1948.

General works on collaboration

“ left in collaboration ”, re-examined Crapouillot n°110, September 1992.

Texts of Marcel Déat

Marcel Déat. political Memories , introd. and notes of Laurent Theis, epilog by Helene Déat, Paris, Denoël, 1989,990 pages.
Marcel Déat. Of false collaboration to the true revolution, December 1941 - January 1942 , Paris, popular national Gathering, 1942,47 pages (Collection of articles extracted from “Work”, December 30th, 1941 - January 13rd, 1942, and of a talk pronounced in Radio-Paris, on January 5th, 1942.)
Marcel Déat. Speech, articles and testimonys , Coulommiers, ED. Déterna, “Documents for the history”, 1999,149 pages.
Marcel Déat. the Sole party , Paris, For the Weapons of France, 1943, in-16, 183 pages, (Articles published in ″ Work ″, July 18th - September 4th, 1942)
Marcel Déat and Dominique Sordet, the Blow of December 13rd , Suivi It should be driven out by Marcel Déat, Paris, impr. of Guillemot and Lamothe, 1943. In-16 (190 X 140), 47 pages.

Sources

Pierre-Philippe Lambert and Marec, Organization Movements and units of the French State Vichy 1940-1944 , Paris: Grancher editions, 1992.
Pascal Ory, Collaborators 1940-1945 . Paris: The Threshold, 1976.
Rémy Handourtzel and Cyril Dresser. collaboration… on the left also ”. Paris: Perrin editions, 1989. ISBN 2262006318.
Reinhold Brender, Marcel Déat und das National Gathering Popular , ED. Oldenbourg.

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