Historians: Far-right National Rally party had no place at Marc Bloch ceremony

A collective of historians has asserted that the far-right National Rally (RN) party had no legitimate reason to attend the ceremony honoring historian Marc Bloch at the Panthéon. The historians argue that the party's historical associations and current rhetoric disqualify it from participating in such a tribute.

According to the historians, the RN's historical links to the Vichy regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany, are a significant reason for their exclusion. Furthermore, they contend that the party has not sufficiently broken ties with individuals within France and Europe who have made neo-Nazi statements. This, they argue, stands in direct opposition to Bloch's life's work.

The collective highlighted Marc Bloch's dedication to historical truth. They accuse the RN of manipulating history, a practice they see as fundamentally at odds with Bloch's intellectual integrity. Bloch, a prominent historian and co-founder of the Annales School, was a member of the French Resistance and was executed by the Gestapo in 1944.

Bloch's posthumous enshrinement in the Panthéon is a high honor, recognizing his profound contributions to historical scholarship and his commitment to democratic values. The historians' statement suggests that inviting a party with the RN's background would undermine the significance of Bloch's legacy and the principles he represented.

“

he has historical links with Vichy, he has not broken with those who make neo-Nazi statements in France and Europe, he manipulates history while Marc Bloch had 'cherished the truth'.