‘Salvaging is a matter of ethics for me.’ ibid.
Clermond-Ferrand: 134,000 residents in the Puys-de-Dome region … the capital of France from 1940 to 1944: ‘But the two emotions I experienced the most were the sorrow and the pity.’ The Sorrow and the Pity, 1969
Chronicle of a French city under occupation. ibid.
Lasting peace is what we need. There’s nothing dumber than fighting. ibid. farmer
These are the black brothers of the French. ibid. German newsreel of prisoners
Then they began to see that we just wanted to help. ibid. German invader
Suddenly, treason was everywhere. There was a will to surrender. ibid. Frenchman
My heart is heavy as I tell you today that we must stop fighting. ibid. Marshall Petain’s radio broadcast
Marshall Petain guaranteed a new order, renewed honour etc. ibid. French Nazi
For some time Petain was extremely popular. ibid. Frenchman
There were 1,600 sailors killed by the British Navy. ibid. French Nazi
‘Give me your watch, I’ll give you the time.’ ibid. slogan
The races started up again and continued until 1944. ibid. Frenchman
There were 15,000 French sailors in Liverpool … The desire to get out [of the war] was almost spiteful. ibid.
Anti-Semitism had also begun to rear its ugly head. ibid.
In 1940 Vichy came out with the Jewish decrees. ibid.
Some women dated Germans. But they paid for that later, after liberation. ibid.
German-French cooperation is the solution, they would say. ibid.
The people who helped me most were the railwaymen, and though it’s hard to admit now, the communists. French workers were wonderful people. ibid. undercover agent in France
The resistance was a permanent guerrilla war. ibid. Frenchman
They didn’t know how welcomed they would be in England. ibid.
Soldiers felt they were the guardians of the right-wing. ibid.
We, the fans of collaboration, the bloodthirsty. ibid. French fascist
Louis XIV, the Sun King, the longest reigning monarch in European history and the French King who built this fabulous palace here at Versailles. But what actually went on inside? What is the truth about the King’s tangled love life, his extravagant love life and extraordinary vanity. The Private Lives of the Monarchs s1e3: Louis XIV, Sky 2017
12 illegitimate children and that was in addition to the six borne him by his wife Maria Theresa of Austria. ibid.
‘His entire life was one Truman Burbank public show.’ ibid. historian
Bathing was considered a health hazard. ibid.
‘This weird melange of perfume and excrement hanging all over the palace.’ ibid. historian
Centuries ago Europe was a battleground fought over by kings and queens. For hundreds of years power-hungry families fought for the right to rule. And Europe transformed. These rivalries shifted borders, destroyed cities and brought the population to its knees. The fate of millions depended on their feuds and passions, their obsessions and betrayals. Dan Jones, Britain’s War of Thrones: The Hundred Years War I, History 2018
For 300 years the Capetian dynasty reigns in France, one of the most powerful kingdoms in Europe. ibid.
This bloody struggle was the longest war in European history: it became known as the Hundred Years War. ibid.
Edward III was now the undisputed master of England. ibid.
Edward was coming for Philip’s throne. ibid.
It’s difficult to imagine the scale of the disaster that took place at Cressy: more than 1,500 French lords and knights were killed and 10,000 soldiers were massacred by English arrows. The English only lost 2 knights and 80 men. ibid.
In early 1348 a plague known as the Black Death swept across France killing one-third of the population. In August it jumped across the Channel. ibid.
1392: At the height of the Middle Ages the once great King of France was on his knees and struggling for life. A King went mad. A Queen betrayed her people. A rampaging enemy went roaring across the land. The only hope was a peasant girl who said she was touched by God. The hundred years’ war was tearing France apart. Dan Jones, Britain’s War of Thrones: The Hundred Years War II
Henry (V) advanced towards Paris with no more than 8,000 troops. ibid.
John the Fearless had to stop Henry’s progress. ibid.
Charles trusted Joan and gave her a mission to fulfil. (Europe & Great Britain & England & France & Middle Ages) ibid.
Charles II was determined to bring the English out of France once and for all. ibid.
In the 15th century Europe was a vipers’ nest of factions and intrigue. England was torn apart by the Wars of the Roses. On the continent, alliances constantly shifted as ambitious rulers plotted and backstabbed one another. Dan Jones, Britain’s War of Thrones: The Hundred Years’ War III
More than 2,000 on each side had lost their lives … Louis XI returned to Paris but his enemies refused to give up … With the death of Henry, King Louis had lost a key ally, and more tragedy was to strike France. Once again, the Black Death returned. ibid.
The lands of the Duchy of Burgundy combined with those of the Holy Roman Empire were now richer and more powerful than ever before. And now they were a direct threat to the kingdom of France. ibid.
Charles’ empire stretched from the North Sea to north Africa … not bad for a 17 year old, but still this wasn’t enough. Dan Jones, Britain’s War of Thrones: The Hundred Years War IV
Charles was unanimously elected Holy Roman emperor. ibid.
For three weeks Henry [VIII] and Francis [I] were inseparable … The Field of the Cloth of Gold was ultimately a waste of time. ibid.
Francis had lost Italy, and to make matter worse, the heir to the throne and his brother were still held hostage in Spain. ibid.
Both men [Charles & Francis] swore a ten-year truce … Europe was at peace for now. ibid.
In 2017 national elections are held in France. The National Front, a far-right party, is defeated. Shortly after the official results announcement, its leader, Marine le Pen, is spotted on the dance floor. She received 33.9% of the vote, continuing her party’s rise in French politics. Field of Vision: Dancing with Le Pen, captions, Nora Mandray, short 22:20 2018
1972: Marine le Pen’s father – Jean-Marie le Pen – co-founds the National Front, a new far-right party. In his first presidential run, he receives 0.75% of the vote. Le Pen fails to get the necessary signatures to run for president. ibid.
Jean-Marie le Pen declares ‘the gas chambers are a mere detail of history.’ ibid.
‘20 years from now France will be an Islamic state … ’ He receives 14% of the vote. ibid. Le Pen on TV with chart alleging proliferation of Mosques
2017 three days before the vote: ‘Ending immigration, and sending immigrants back to their countries.’ ibid.
Jean-Marie le Pen assaults a left-wing opponent. He is banned from politics for one year. His daughter acts as his defence-attorney. ibid.
2002: For the first time Jean-Marie le Pen qualifies for a second round of voting. ibid.
Massive protests prevent his election. ibid.
‘Three national front members faced trial.’ ibid. channel 2 news
Jean-Marie le Pen reiterates his statement on gas chambers. His daughter expels him from the national front. ibid. caption
In 2002 more than one million people demonstrate against the national front. In 2017, only 280,000 people show up. ibid.
From 1998 to 2010 Jean-Marie le Pen appears on TV 2,000 times. ibid.
1993: Marine le Pen starts her career in politics. ibid.
‘On top of that, they start to remove the wallpaper.’ ibid. Marine on talk show