Antisemitic propaganda leaflet, issued by one of the most significant and dangerous intellectual-political movements of the far-right in France on the eve of World War II. An extremely inflammatory text published under the auspices of the French far-right movement Action Française on April 3, 1937, during the period of the Popular Front government led by Léon Blum—the first Jew to serve as Prime Minister of France.
A propaganda leaflet that vividly reflects the political atmosphere of the time, the hatred toward Jews, and the prevailing notion that they were “responsible” for all of the nation’s ills. On the front: “Lettre aux combattants sur la domination juive” – “A Letter to the Fighters Against Jewish Control”, by Georges Gaudy, president of the Action Française veterans’ association. In his call to action, Gaudy describes the catastrophe of France having “fallen into the hands of the Jews”: “A year has passed since France came under the yoke of a foreign nation.” He claims that Jews occupy all key positions in the country, media, medicine, the judiciary, parliament, government, and more.
“Here is the government of France handed over to a band of enemies. And this band, under our own flag, carries out the policies of Israel—binding us, humiliating us, shaming us before a stunned world, and to the delight of the entire Jewish nation. This domination is founded upon the incomprehensible silence of the victims, with the endless complicity of ignorance, fear, and betrayal.” He characterizes the administration of Léon Blum as “the Jewish face of France”, in contrast with former French rulers: “Where the world once beheld the face of Louis XIV or Napoleon, now the fool sees the face of Léon Blum.” He accuses the Jews of being responsible for France’s cultural, military, and spiritual decline, and continues with violent, militant, and deeply offensive incitement: “If the President of the Council were Japanese, if the ministries and sub-secretariats were staffed by Japanese claiming to enforce Japanese law in France, placing this beautiful nation at the service of their empire, no peasant from Touraine, no winemaker from Gironde would fail to be shocked and outraged by such a passing scene… Yet the French masses remain blind to the Jewish identity of the plunderers, seeing only a religious quarrel, when in fact it is the conquest of our land and our souls by an Eastern race…”. He concludes with a call for a national, openly antisemitic and violent struggle.
On the reverse of the leaflet, under the headline “L’Empire Juif” – “The Jewish Empire” – appear defamatory and inciting statements against Jews. It includes a list of members of Léon Blum’s government, organized by ministry, with a note identifying each one said to be of Jewish origin. The text issues a call to recognize the “Jewish danger” and to expel Jewish influence, along with a recommendation to read the official publication of the Action Française movement.
Action Française: A French nationalist, monarchist, and antisemitic movement founded in the late 19th century. The movement supported the restoration of the monarchy in France. Under the leadership of Charles Maurras, it promoted antisemitism and fervent Catholic nationalism, portraying Jewish Prime Minister Léon Blum as a symbol of a domineering Jewish race. Action Française was one of the primary forces spreading intellectual antisemitism in France between the world wars. It gained significant strength in the 1930s with the rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe. During World War II and the Nazi occupation of France, the movement supported the collaborationist Vichy regime.
28 × 21 cm. Very good condition.
