Travail, famille, patrie
Encyclopedia
Travail, famille, patrie (tʁavaj famij patʁi; Work, family, fatherland) was the motto of the French State (usually known as Vichy France
) during World War II
. It replaced the republican motto, Liberté, égalité, fraternité
of the Third French Republic.
full powers to draw up a constitution before being submitted to the Nation and guaranteeing “the rights of Work, of the Family and of the Homeland (la Patrie)”. That constitution was never promulgated.
In the Deux Mondes (Two Worlds) Magazine of 15 September 1940, Marshal Pétain wrote this repudiation of the motto of the French Republic. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité : When our young people […] approach adult life, we shall say to them […] that real liberty cannot be exercised except under the shelter of a guiding authority, which they must respect, which they must obey […]. We shall then tell them that equality [should] set itself within the framework of a hierarchy, founded on the diversity of office and merits. […] Finally, we shall tell them that there is no way of having true brotherhood except within those natural groups, the family, the town, the homeland. .
The motto Travail, Famille, Patrie was originally that of the Croix-de-Feu
, then of the Parti social français
(PSF or French Social Party) founded by Colonel de La Rocque
..
It has often been written that these three words express the Révolution nationale
(RN), the National Revolution undertaken by the Vichy regime.
The regime won over some trades unionists for the drawing up of a Work Charter. In it they declared themselves against both capitalism
and socialism
- the pétainist regime advocated the finding of a third way.
It is often told than in 1941 the Vichy Government set up a retirement system; the allowance for old, waged workers, but actually it renewed the old contribution-based retirement system which was devalued by inflation and extraordinary expenses
government, which continued through the Pétain years; into the Fourth Republic
.
of Pétain, who saw himself as maintaining the tradition of the victorious nationalism of 1918, did not stop his collaborating with the Nazi regime. To the day he died, he kept a certain degree of germanophobia of the sort expressed by Charles Maurras
. He had no pro-German or anti-British record from before the war. Several times, he restated that he regarded himself as the ally and friend of Great Britain
. In his broadcast of 23 June 1940, he reproached Winston Churchill
for the speech made by Churchill on 22 June 1940, following the signature of the armistice on that day..
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
) during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It replaced the republican motto, Liberté, égalité, fraternité
Liberté, égalité, fraternité
Liberté, égalité, fraternité, French for "Liberty, equality, fraternity ", is the national motto of France, and is a typical example of a tripartite motto. Although it finds its origins in the French Revolution, it was then only one motto among others and was not institutionalized until the Third...
of the Third French Republic.
Institution
The Law of 10 July 1940 gave Marshal PétainPhilippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
full powers to draw up a constitution before being submitted to the Nation and guaranteeing “the rights of Work, of the Family and of the Homeland (la Patrie)”. That constitution was never promulgated.
In the Deux Mondes (Two Worlds) Magazine of 15 September 1940, Marshal Pétain wrote this repudiation of the motto of the French Republic. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité : When our young people […] approach adult life, we shall say to them […] that real liberty cannot be exercised except under the shelter of a guiding authority, which they must respect, which they must obey […]. We shall then tell them that equality [should] set itself within the framework of a hierarchy, founded on the diversity of office and merits. […] Finally, we shall tell them that there is no way of having true brotherhood except within those natural groups, the family, the town, the homeland. .
The motto Travail, Famille, Patrie was originally that of the Croix-de-Feu
Croix-de-Feu
Croix-de-Feu was a French far right league of the Interwar period, led by Colonel François de la Rocque . After it was dissolved, as were all other far right leagues during the Popular Front period , de la Rocque replaced it with the Parti social français .- Beginnings :The Croix-de-Feu were...
, then of the Parti social français
French Social Party
The French Social Party was a French nationalist political party founded in 1936 by François de La Rocque, following the dissolution of his Croix-de-Feu league by the Popular Front government...
(PSF or French Social Party) founded by Colonel de La Rocque
François de la Rocque
François de La Rocque was leader of the French right-wing league named the Croix de Feu from 1930–1936, before forming the more moderate Parti Social Français , seen as a precursor of Gaullism.- Early life :François de La Rocque was born on 6 October 1885 in Lorient, Brittany, the third son to a...
..
It has often been written that these three words express the Révolution nationale
Révolution nationale
The Révolution nationale was the official ideological name under which the Vichy regime established by Marshal Philippe Pétain in July 1940 presented its program...
(RN), the National Revolution undertaken by the Vichy regime.
Travail (Work)
On the 24th April 1941 Marshal Pétain officially inaugurated the 1st of May as the fête du Travail et de la Concorde sociale, the day on which work and mutual understanding were celebrated.The regime won over some trades unionists for the drawing up of a Work Charter. In it they declared themselves against both capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
- the pétainist regime advocated the finding of a third way.
It is often told than in 1941 the Vichy Government set up a retirement system; the allowance for old, waged workers, but actually it renewed the old contribution-based retirement system which was devalued by inflation and extraordinary expenses
Famille (Family)
The regime wrote Mothers’ Day into the calendar. With regard to the family, there had been continuity rather than a break with the family policy of the period of the DaladierÉdouard Daladier
Édouard Daladier was a French Radical politician and the Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War.-Career:Daladier was born in Carpentras, Vaucluse. Later, he would become known to many as "the bull of Vaucluse" because of his thick neck and large shoulders and determined...
government, which continued through the Pétain years; into the Fourth Republic
French Fourth Republic
The French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems...
.
Patrie (homeland)
The nationalismNationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
of Pétain, who saw himself as maintaining the tradition of the victorious nationalism of 1918, did not stop his collaborating with the Nazi regime. To the day he died, he kept a certain degree of germanophobia of the sort expressed by Charles Maurras
Charles Maurras
Charles-Marie-Photius Maurras was a French author, poet, and critic. He was a leader and principal thinker of Action Française, a political movement that was monarchist, anti-parliamentarist, and counter-revolutionary. Maurras' ideas greatly influenced National Catholicism and "nationalisme...
. He had no pro-German or anti-British record from before the war. Several times, he restated that he regarded himself as the ally and friend of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. In his broadcast of 23 June 1940, he reproached Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
for the speech made by Churchill on 22 June 1940, following the signature of the armistice on that day..
External links
- Study Centre Edmond MicheletEdmond MicheletEdmond Michelet was a French politician.On 17 June 1940, he distributed tracts calling to continue the war in all Brive-la-Gaillarde's mailboxes...
, Vichy family policy on the centremichelet.org site (fr). - Rennes Academy, Vichy Propaganda and Collaboration, on the ac-rennes.fr site (fr).