Political Belief in France, 1927-1945: Gender, Empire, and Fascism in the Croix de Feu and Parti Social Francais

310 Pages·2015·5.736 MB·English

by  Caroline Campbell

POLITICAL BELIEF IN FRANCE, 1927–1945
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POLITICAL BELIEF
IN FRANCE, 1927–1945
GENDER, EMPIRE, AND FASCISM IN THE
CROIX DE FEU AND PARTI SOCIAL FRANÇAIS
CARoline CAmpbell
Louisiana State University Press
Baton Rouge
Published by Louisiana State University Press
Copyright © 2015 by Louisiana State University Press
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
First printing
Portions of chapter 2 first appeared in “Building a Movement, Dismantling the Republic: Women
and Political Extremism in the Croix de Feu/Parti Social Français, 1927–1940.” French Historical
Studies 35, no. 4 (Fall 2012): 691–26.
Portions of chapter 4 first appeared in “‘Our Body Doesn’t Have to be Ugly’: Physical Culture, Gen-
der, and Racial Rejuvenation in the Croix de Feu/Parti Social Français.” In The French Right between
the Wars: Political and Intellectual Movements from Conservatism to Fascism, edited by S. Kalman
and S. Kennedy. 163–79. New York: Berghahn Books, 2014.
Designer: Barbara Neely Bourgoyne
Typeface: Sina Nova
Printer and binder: Maple Press (digital)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Campbell, Caroline, 1977–
Political belief in France, 1927–1945 : gender, empire, and fascism in the Croix de feu and Parti
social français / Caroline Campbell.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8071-6097-8 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8071-6099-2 (pdf) —
ISBN 978-0-8071-6100-5 (epub) — ISBN 978-0-8071-6101-2 (mobi)
1. Croix de feu (Organization : France) 2. Parti social français. 3. Fascism—France—History—
20th century. 4. Right-wing extremists—France—History—20th century. 5. Women—Political
activity—France—History—20th century. 6. Political culture—France—History—20th century.
7. France—Politics and government—1914–1940. 8. France—Politics and government—1940–1945.
I. Title.
DC389.C27 2015
324.244′02—dc23
2015019891
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee
on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.
For My Parents
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments | ix
Abbreviations | xiii
Introduction: Republicanism, Imperialism, and Political and Social
Action in Metropolitan France and the Empire | 1
1 Th e Culture of War and the Masculine World of the Early Croix de Feu,
1927–1934 | 27
2 B uilding a Social Action Movement: Women, Catholicism, and the
Croix de Feu/PSF’s Social First! Strategy, 1934–1939 | 49
3 C hallenges to Women’s Autonomy and Authority: Health, Financing,
and Civic Action, 1934–1939 | 86
4 T ransforming French Physical Culture: Social Darwinism, Bodily Fitness,
and Gender, 1934–1939 | 106
5 W omen, Race, and Culture in the Croix de Feu/PSF: Entertainment,
Enlightenment Values, and the Civilizing Mission, 1934–1939 | 123
6 S ocial and Political Action in North Africa: The Fascism of the Croix
de Feu/PSF in the French Maghreb, 1927–1940 | 147
7 “ The Army of the Good”: Vichy and the Feminization of the Croix de Feu/
PSF, 1939–1945 | 178
vii
viii Contents
Conclusion: Gender, Race, and Empire in the Sociocultural Action of the
Croix de Feu/PSF | 203
Notes | 207
Bibliography | 247
Index | 273
Illustrations appear after page 122
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am incredibly fortunate to have met many people inside and outside of academe
who believe in “the life of the mind” and the richness that such a life offers.
Writing this book has been a long process and could not have happened with-
out various forms of support. Funding that allowed me to finish it was provided
by the National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend; the American
Philosophical Society’s Franklin Award; the University of North Dakota’s Arts,
Social Sciences, and Humanities Award; the University of Iowa College of Lib-
eral Arts and Science’s Marcus Bach Fellowship for research related to religion
and ethics; and the University of Iowa History Department’s William Aydelotte
Fellowship. In France, the staffs at the Archives nationales, Archives d’histoire
contemporaine de la Fondation Nationale des Sciences politiques, Archives de
la préfecture de police, Archives nationales d’outre mer, Centre des Archives
contemporaines, and Centre des Archives diplomatiques de Nantes all helped
me to navigate each archive. I am grateful to Hugues de La Rocque, who gave me
access to his grandfather’s archives and granted me permission to see everything
I requested at the AN and Sciences Po. Finally, I would like to thank Alisa Plant at
LSU Press for supporting this project, being highly responsive to all of my queries,
and guiding me through a smooth publishing process.
The History Department at Iowa was an encouraging and intellectually in-
vigorating place to enter into the historical profession, learn about women’s and
gender history, and develop a feminist consciousness. Most importantly, Jen
Sessions offered wonderfully incisive feedback and guided me through the often
mystifying process of finding sources of funding. Jen is incredibly generous with
her time and energy. Lisa Heineman provided highly intelligent and invaluable
guidance on how to think deeply about complex issues. Sarah Hanley offered
warm encouragement. Linda K. Kerber pushed me to consider the intersections
between women’s history and moral and ethical behavior. At the University of
ix
x Acknowledgments
Colorado, Martha Hanna showed me that kind people could flourish in academia.
Her unending patience with my writing and astute guidance through major his-
toriographical debates was extremely valuable.
In addition to wonderful mentors, I was fortunate to enter the profession with
a cohort that was dedicated to learning the craft of becoming a historian. The
group made my years at Iowa enjoyable and fulfilling. Specifically, I want to thank
Margie Cook Andersen, Christy Clark-Pujara, Justus Hartzok, Karissa Haugeberg,
Anglea Keysor, Sharon Lake, Sharon Romeo, Sue Stanfield, Kate Stewart, and
Charissa Threat for engaging in numerous discussions about history, reading
and commenting on my writing and ideas, challenging me to reconsider aspects
of my thinking that needed to be more refined and providing insights and new
ways for me to think about women’s history.
Life as a junior faculty member has been an interesting and enlightening
experience. The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Dakota
has provided research funding that has allowed me to go to Europe on multiple
occasions. One of the best parts about being at UND was the ease with which I
met colleagues in other departments when I first arrived, which made interdis-
ciplinary discussions fun and invigorating. In particular, Melissa Birkhofer and
Paul Worley broadened my perspectives on indigenous studies, Jeff Langstraat
helped me understand better the relationship between sociology and history, and
Robin Runge was unfailing in analyzing the law through a feminist lens. Several
of my colleagues from UND’s History Department provided useful comments on
my project, including Cindy Prescott, Bill Caraher, Hans Broedel, Kim Porter, and
Nikki Berg-Burin. My colleagues in French history have been equally generous,
even when we disagree over points of interpretation, which demonstrates the
vibrancy of the field of the French Right. I had the good fortune to meet Chris Mil-
lington when we were researching topics on French history that were quite similar.
Over the years we have had many opportunities for wonderful conversation and
good meals. Sam Kalman and Sean Kennedy have been especially welcoming
of a junior faculty member entering the profession. Moreover, I am grateful for
helpful comments on my work and tips about archives provided by Margie Cook
Andersen, Geoff Read, Cheryl Koos, Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Scales, and Rachel
Chrastil. Kevin Passmore, in particular, has used his deep knowledge of French
history and historiography to provide profoundly insightful feedback that pushed
me to think well beyond the limits of how I originally envisioned my book.
I do not know where to begin to thank my family for their confidence in me,