The Evolution of Memories: Jacques Chirac's Speech on French State Responsibility

Extract

[...] He denounces the behavior of the French State at a time when France is the 'homeland of human rights'. However, Jacques Chirac also recalls that it is this conception of France that allows him to fully recognize 'the mistakes of the past' today. Jacques Chirac also denounces the racist ideologies of 'certain groups, certain publications, certain teachings, certain political parties'. This is a warning against these ideologies at a time when Jacques Chirac recognizes the role of the French State in the deportation of Jews. France must no longer know 'dark hours that forever sully its history'. [...]

[...] The speech delivered by Jacques Chirac is the result of a long but slow evolution of consciousness in which historians have played a primary role (II). I. The slow evolution of memories of World War II The recognition of the responsibilities of the French State during World War II is the result of a long evolution of consciousness. It therefore took Jacques Chirac's speech in 1995 for the responsibility of the French State in the deportation of Jews to be recognized. [...]

[...] This identity, whether it is the homeland of human rights, faithful to traditions or still embodying the values of freedom, justice, relies on the work of historians." Indeed, the identity of France has been built as events have unfolded, which historians' work retraces. Thus, historians' work memorializes the events of French history. In light of this, the French State could no longer continue to reject its responsibility in the deportation of Jews during World War II. In conclusion, the work of historians, materialized by the memories of the Second World War, demonstrates their contribution to the understanding of past events and tends to assume their legacy. [...]

[...] The Predominant Role of Historians in the Evolution of Memories Historians have played an important role in the evolution of memories of World War II and Jacques Chirac's speech makes this clear. Jacques Chirac states that 'the criminal madness of the occupier was, as everyone knows, seconded by the French State'. This sentence summarizes all the work of historians on the responsibility of the French State during World War II. It took a long time, nearly 50 years, for the French State to assume its responsibilities. Finally, Jacques Chirac's speech allows us to measure the time it took for historians to reconstruct the truth about this period in history. [...]