Contenu du sommaire : Devoir de mémoire et repères stratégiques

A duty to remember is not a fixation on the past, but needs to form part of a dynamic intergenerational process supported by a historical approach, particularly if ideological traps are to be avoided. The entire nation has a duty of remembrance and should acknowledge that responsibility.

The Centenary of the Great War was the occasion to rediscover what the war was really about. Many events took place, on both local and international scales. The Department of the Somme, which was affected in considerable measure during the war, serves as a fine illustration of the various approaches to the memorial events.

The 1914-1918 war mobilised public opinion on every side. The availability of information developed into a major issue and governments on all sides made efforts with varying degrees of success to control its flow. Propaganda became a necessary activity to strengthen national cohesion.

The United States' approach to the First World War was significantly different from that to the Second. When the conflict started in 1914 American society had a strong Germanophile minority which eventually sided with the allies to defend common democratic principles.

The Gurkhas originate from Nepal and have a particular place within the British Army. For more than 200 years they have been supplying elite soldiers and have seen their social status improve, especially when they leave their active service. London has made great effort to support their special status.

The history of the Second World War remains rather ambiguous about the STO (service du travail obligatoire—compulsory work service). The French who worked in Germany did not know quite where they stood, being neither from the resistance nor among those deported. Recognition of certain rights came late and then was only partial. Remembrance of the STO is very soon likely to disappear.

During and just after the First World War the role of the French Navy was greatly underestimated. Despite the Navy's essential strategic contribution, the absence of naval battles somewhat obscured the need for a top-class naval service. The lesson was learned after the war in the reconstitution of a modern navy.

The Great War saw the arrival in vast numbers of submarines as warships. Technological progress was rapid—for the Germans in particular—even if, in the end, the tactical effect was disappointing. Since then the submarine has become an essential weapon and its scope of activity continues to increase.

In 1918, the German army used long-range artillery in order to strike Paris somewhat blindly. Whilst the action had tactical effect, the strategic effect was a failure since the bombardment did no harm whatsoever to the determination of the French authorities to pursue the war and to achieve defeat of Germany.

The Académie des Sciences d'Outre-mer was established in the wake of the Great War. A the time it was felt necessary to highlight the importance of knowledge of the then French empire by bringing together a number of illustrious figures who had contributed to the exploration and administration of distant lands in the republican spirit.

Militaria is highly popular in public auction sales. Quite apart from the intrinsic value of the objects sold, their memorial worth needs to be taken into account: these days there is a risk that such worth will be lost, in particular with regard to items relating to Nazism. In this respect, French law is quite rigorous, and yet it could be made stricter.

The practice of offering industrial and financial compensation for arms contracts has become standard. Offsets are necessary, but need to be controlled with vigilance so that they are coherent with the relevant programme and that they convert the constraint into an opportunity.

By its nature, defence demands a somewhat ad hoc budget. It is interesting to study the perception of this approach to gauge what support exists among public opinion. The study presented here is based on an enquiry conducted among a representative population of students that showed them broadly in favour of defence and its budgetary needs.

The Taliban remains a lethal threat to Afghanistan, with a considerable capability to inflict damage albeit not enough to topple the current regime. Despite the latter's many faults it is achieving improvements in Afghan daily life.

Russia remains ambivalent towards the EU, on one hand perceived as an adversary too close to NATO and the United States, and on the other as a necessary partner. Moscow in any case has a major interest in European questions since Russia is also part of Europe.