The victim of "L'Affaire"

It is believed to know everything about the Dreyfus affair. So many books have been devoted to it, some excellent. But the real life of Captain Dreyfus had passed into the background. The little book of Laurent Greilsamer fills a gap, or rather repair a mistake, peddled by the finest minds (Clemenceau, Peguy ...) Dreyfus, accepting his grace was not living up to its "Case "!

The simple story of his life enough to restore it to its proper place, that of a martyr of military justice and anti-Semitism. Always dignified, firm on his principles, committed to the values ​​of the Republic, far from any media exploitation, involuntary hero of a time troubled by the demons that will eventually bring democracy.

No pathos in the story of the life that was to be that of a brilliant and patriotic soldier. But its origins and qualities will be retained paradoxically dependent, especially the fact that he speaks perfect German by his Alsatian origins and his schooling at Basel after the defeat of 1870.

Petri military values, it makes no vehemence in asserting his innocence, willing to ignore his Jewish origins, which scrambles with his mainstay, his friend Bernard Lazare. The intellectuals, whose case was the birth, have other objectives.

It takes a lot of lessons from the life of Alfred Dreyfus.

When arrested, the commander Du Paty's Clam simply asked him to commit suicide and submit a service revolver. The tone is set. The army prefers speedy justice.

The detention of Dreyfus to the island of the devil appears as assassination attempt meticulously organized. He is shackled, guarded day and night by guards 11 and 6 dogs. Supervisors complain, more than him, the conditions of his detention, climate, insects, fevers, which should overcome its resistance. Instructions are also sent to the preservation of his corpse. Its survival to the "dry guillotine," as it refers to the deportation to Guyana, is a miracle.

Between October 15, 1894, date of arrest and the end of the year 1898, in secret, he knows nothing about his record and the development of "business." If he accepts the grace afforded by the government September 19, 1898, urged by his brother Mathieu is to find his family, his children, his health is simply to return to life.

In the test of prison, it is the reading that saves him. He learns by heart Shakespeare, finds comfort in the wisdom of Montaigne, in Russian authors (Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky). He reads Fustel de Coulanges, Taine and Michelet. He collects quotes and maxims and also covers his notebooks of mathematical exercises.

The sinister comedy of military justice in this matter gives its full potential: slip, secret folder, persistent Rennes War Council in the assertion of guilt even as the betrayal of Estherazy was established. The Court of Cassation summarizes this chaotic journey in an unusual, abrupt and memorable formulation: Whereas, in the final analysis, that the charge against Dreyfus, nothing remains standing.

But nothing works. Much of opinion (The French action The free speech, The Gallic) resists the establishment of the truth. The publicist Pierre Gégori, which is part of this movement, trying dassassiner Dreyfus during the transfer of Zola's ashes to the Pantheon June 5, 1908. New achievement of justice -which is not militaire-: he is acquitted, as will be, ten years later, Raoul Villain, the assassin of Jaures!

Alfred Dreyfus was always patriotic and even nationalistic. In respect of Germany, the republican, secular, reformist, advocates firmness "to end these disputes that Germany constantly inspires us." Called up to 55 years, he has consistently join the front. In 1917 he was sent to the Chemin des Dames, during the Nivelle offensive. He fought at Verdun. He, however frail "saccommode well this wild scheme" as he wrote to his famille.En 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in reserve before returning to anonymity which he has always aspired.

As a sign of its destiny, it is a national holiday on 14 July 1935, he was buried in Montparnasse cemetery.