The heritage of the Ministry of Defence, spearheading defence culture
Dozens of sites belonging to the Ministry of the Armed Forces opened their doors this weekend for the European Heritage Days. Throughout the year, the MinArm is the French government's second-largest cultural player, even outside our borders, with its stone, human and intangible heritage. Here's a closer look.
General Hervé de Courrèges: "Developing a spirit of defence, raising awareness of international issues".
Students attending the 4th national session of the IHEDN and the session in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region start their new academic year this week. The Institute's new director, Lieutenant General Hervé de Courrèges, takes this opportunity to reflect on his experience and develop his vision for the IHEDN. Interview.
Liberate the country, re-establish the State, reunite France
Between the first landings in June and the announcement of the government in September, General de Gaulle and his entourage succeeded in playing a major role in the liberation of France by the Allies and in restoring the country's legitimate institutions and political cohesion. This is the final episode in our "Esprit 44" series in partnership with the Charles-de-Gaulle Foundation.
Élisabeth de Miribel, actress and witness to Free France
As part of our "Esprit 44" series in partnership with the Charles-de-Gaulle Foundation, we take a look back in pictures at the saga of a woman of character who found herself at the heart of some of the most pivotal moments in history: the 18 June Appeal, the Italian campaign, the liberation of Paris...
Anne Muxel: "The military is becoming a benchmark for young people".
The sociologist and political scientist has carried out an in-depth study into the perception of war and the armed forces by the younger generation in France. Image, usefulness, expectations, willingness to get involved: her findings shatter many preconceived ideas. Interview.
General de Monsabert, the forgotten figure of the Liberation
The fifth episode in our "Esprit 44" series, in partnership with the Charles-de-Gaulle Foundation: overshadowed by the likes of Leclerc, De Lattre and Juin, Joseph de Monsabert was nevertheless one of the most eminent leaders of the battles that led to victory in 1945.
Athéna's August reading list
This summer, we're turning our strategic intelligence into reading advice! Pictorial representations of the First World War, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, French leaders' fascination with Russia, Marshal Saxe... Here are Athéna's literary recommendations for August. Read with your feet in the water!
The Olympic Games, a mirror of geopolitics
Since their origins, the Olympic Games have reflected the upheavals of their times: invented in ancient times as a truce between warring Greek cities, they are now sometimes used to denounce the policies of other states, or even the internal laws of the athletes' own nations.
The sinews of war: Free France at the Bretton Woods Conference
The fourth episode in our "Esprit 44" series, in partnership with the Charles-de-Gaulle Foundation, looks at the question of how to finance the return of French sovereignty and reconstruction in an initially poor Free France. The key issue was the conference organised in July 1944 in the United States.
Marshal Foch, apostle of "unity of effort
After this exceptional parade on 14 July on the Parisian avenue that bears his name, we take a look back at the figure of the Generalissimo of the Great War, who was able to unite the armies of eight countries until victory in 1918.
