Response Page
The following responses were posted on the H-France discussion list in response to Julie Kalman’s review of George R. Whyte, The Dreyfus Affair: A Chronological History. H-France Review Vol. 7 (March 2007), No. 27 The original review may be found here.
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Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 11:54 AM
David H. Slavin
dhslavi@emory.edu
Dear Professor Kalman and other colleagues:
Having just delivered a paper at a conference last weekend on "Settler Anti-Semitic Violence in Algeria and the Dreyfus Affair" I am curious to know if Whyte's book covers the Algerian aspects of the Affair. And if anyone knows of other ongoing research on Algeria and Dreyfus that would be of interest as well.
I have argued that the role of Algerian settlers was crucial to precipitating the anti-semitic movement (in fact Drumont himself said as much in his book and in later newspaper articles), in intensifying its violence, and in the wave of electoral victories of anti-Semites in 1898 (Drumont was elected to the Chamber of Deputies from Algiers Department, overwhelming his opposition and polling more votes than all other candidates including the incumbent.
In addition, settler opposition to the Cremieux Decree played a large role in rallying anti-Semites in Algeria. Is there anything in Whyte's chronicle or other sources on the reactions to the Decree either in Algeria or France? Vichy did revoke Algerian Jews' citizenship in October 1940, among the regime's first legislative acts.
David H. Slavin
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