The Dreyfus Affaire

In 1894, French Intelligence began to be suspicious that someone on the General Staff was spying for Germany. Colonel Max von Schwartzkoppen was the German attaché in Paris, and he had been getting information from someone. Military maps, the new 122-mm gun performance figures and even the mobilization plans to cooperate with Russia had been filched by Schwartzkoppen. Such information only came about when the French intercepted messages from Schwartzkoppen to an Italian diplomat. One of the notes started with "Enclosed are twelve detail maps of Nice that the scoundrel D_______ left with me for you. "

French counterintelligence then focused on a man by the name of Dubois, but ruled him out. Dubois was not on the General staff. The real spy had to be an artillery man and on the General staff. As counter-intelligence went over the list the name Dreyfus, Alfred came up. Not only was Dreyfus the only one who fit all the parts, he was a Jew. Since Jews had no country then, they were often considered a parasite people. And why wouldn�t a parasite sell out his host if he could profit by doing so?

Next they compared Dreyfus� handwriting with that of the notes. It was very similar. A team of experts were brought in and the general consensus was that Dreyfus� writing fit that of the notes. Dreyfus was arrested and put in prison. This was a field day for the Press and for the anti-Republican forces. Here again, the Republic was disgraced by incompetence. French counterintelligence and especially a Major Henry began feeding information on Dreyfus to the press. Henry told them Dreyfus had already made a full confession. Dreyfus was clearly convicted even before the trial.

Finally, in December, Dreyfus was put on trial in a court-martial. The handwriting experts at the trial did not all agree that Dreyfus wrote the note. Dreyfus himself said he didn�t know anything about the 122-mm gun at the time of the note. The official observer for the War Ministry, a Major Georges Picquart, said after the first day that the charges would have to be dropped due to a lack of evidence. However, Major Henry was not going to let the traitor get away. Henry had received a tip of a traitor before they caught Dreyfus and he swore at the trial that an "unimpeachable gentlemen" had called Dreyfus the traitor. Since Henry swore on his word as an officer, the accusation was accepted as evidence even though the "gentleman" was never named. Still, this was not enough. So, the intelligence service sent a sealed letter containing evidence to the judges on condition it be returned without letting the defense see the evidence. The evidence was damning and it secured the conviction unanimously.

Dreyfus was publicly degraded in front of troops and a screaming mob at the Ecole Militaire. As Dreyfus was degraded many in the crowd yelled, "Death to the Jew!" What made it worse was Dreyfus screaming, "I am innocent! I love my country!" It was seen as unmanly to behave in such a way. A real Frenchman would have behaved with more dignity. Dreyfus was then hustled off to Devil�s Island off South America�a true armpit of a place to live and worse to be a prisoner.

A few months later, Picquart was named head of counterintelligence and was asked to find out what could have motivated Dreyfus to spy. It was necessary to find out why so that it could be prevented in the future. It was a routine assignment. Picquart disliked Jews and really didn�t like Dreyfus, but it was necessary to find the motivation. But as Picquart looked into the evidence against Dreyfus, he was horrified: There was no "secret" evidence. Only the handwritten note. As he tried to find out more, he was stonewalled and blocked as to the real secret evidence. However, as head of Counterintelligence, what could possibly be too sensitive for him to see? Soon, it became clear that there was no more evidence. Incredibly, a possibly innocent man had been convicted. Worse, the real spy was still out there.

A year after Dreyfus�s conviction the French intercepted another letter from the German attaché in Paris to a Major Esterhazy on the French General Staff. Picquart looked into Esterhazy�s background: Gambler, spendthrift, cheated on his wife, involved in shady financial deals. Picquart had found another spy. But, on a whim, Picquart compared the handwriting in the Esterhazy note with the Dreyfus note. Dreyfus was stunned: The same handwriting. The experts were brought in and they all agreed it was the same handwriting.

Picquart told his superiors his news. He hoped the Dreyfus Affair could now end. Many prominent Republicans had been calling for a new trial, and the whole affaire could now be put to rest. With this information the innocent man could be released and the spy put in jail. It all worked out. But his superior asked him why he cared about the Jew, Dreyfus. Picquart replied, "He is innocent." Picquart was ordered to keep quiet, but he said he would not carry this news to his grave.

Picquart was sent to inspect various installations around France and then to Africa, where he was nearly killed in battle with Tuaregs. But, before he left he told his lawyer the truth that could only be revealed in the event of Picquart�s death. But the news was so hot, that it quickly got out. Rioting and the constant threat of a coup d�etat or civil war resulted. For months this went on. The Dreyfusards wanted a new trial and said it was necessary even if the army was embarrassed. The anti-Drefusards said that the prestige of the Army was more important than the fate of one man. If the prestige of the Army was damaged, then how was France ever going to regain Alsace-Lorraine? Surely, the fate of one man was not worth that. His guilt or innocence was irrelevant. The survival of France was at stake.

Finally, Picquart got back to France�and was threatened with imprisonment for slandering Esterhazy. This infuriated the Dreyfusards. Georges Clemenceau published article after article in L�Aurore on the affaire. He demanded a trial for the "real traitor, Esterhazy." Finally, Dreyfus� brother, Mathieu publicly accused Esterhazy of being the author of the Dreyfus Note. A trial was finally held for Esterhazy. Picquart testified. After only minutes of deliberation, the court found Esterhazy innocent. Dreyfus was imprisoned for slandering a brother officer.

The next day, in L�Aurore, France�s most popular author, Emile Zola wrote an article. The article was written to the President of the Republic. It was called, "J�accuse!" Zola pretty well accused the entire army and named names too. He accused the army of framing Dreyfus and of ordering the acquittal of Esterhazy. He dared the army to do something. The army did, and Zola was convicted of libel and sentenced to a year in jail. Zola skipped out to England rather than live in jail. Three days later, Picquart was kicked out of the Army for conduct unbecoming an officer. Soon, a loyal Republican, Cavaignac, was the new war minister and he declared that there was irrefutable proof of Dreyfus� guilt. Major Henry had shown the "secret" evidence of notes with Dreyfus� handwriting.

Finally, it was all over. Dreyfus was guilty, Picquart was a private, though disgraced citizen and Zola was a coward who ran away. And on top of all this, it looked like France was about to go to war over some place in Africa called Fashoda.

Only three days later, Picquart wrote a letter to L�Aurore saying that Cavaignac had been lied to and that the "secret" information was a forgery. Cavaignac ordered Picquart arrested for divulging state secrets. The same day, the Army arrested Esterhazy for conduct unbecoming an officer. L�affaire was on again.

Cavaignac chose a "plodder" (Louis Cuignet) to investigate the accusation of forgery. The note was genuine, but pointy-headed questions were the last thing anyone needed. The "plodder" found that the really tough evidence against Dreyfus was, indeed, forged. And, as the "plodder" also discovered, the forged handwriting was that of Major Henry. Cuignet had Henry arrested and Henry admitted to forgery. Then he killed himself that night with a shaving razor. Esterhazy, no fool, jumped bail and cleared out of France to England.

Still, there was to be no new trial for Dreyfus. Clemenceau said, "Where is France? What has become of the French?" French ships arriving in the United States were always greeted with the same question: "Has Dreyfus been freed?"

Finally, the High Court of Appeals threw out the evidence against Dreyfus. This meant a new trial. France was beginning to tear apart. Monarchists were plotting to overthrow the Republic rather than let the Army be destroyed by another trial. Rioting broke out between Dreyfusards and anti-Dreyfusards. Friendships, marriages and party invitations were based on one�s view of Dreyfus� guilt.

Finally, the trial was held. It took a month to hear all the testimony. It was interrupted because Dreyfus�s chief lawyer was shot by a fanatic. But, finally the verdict of the court martial was 5-2 Guilty�with extenuating circumstances. Dreyfus�s sentence was reduced from life to 10 years. Republicans were furious and Monarchists were elated. Dreyfus was shattered. He knew if he went back to Devil�s Island he would die.

A deal was finally cut. If Dreyfus would accept a Pardon (and thereby admit guilt) this could all be put to rest. Dreyfus accepted. He would not die in Devil�s Island to prove that the Republicans were right all along. Picquart was completely disgusted. He�d never liked Dreyfus before and now the weasel was too afraid of prison to be honorable. He never forgave Dreyfus for accepting the pardon. So, in September of 1899 Dreyfus was finally a free man.

The Chamber rehabilitated Dreyfus to the rank of major and decorated him with the Legion of Honor. Picquart was promoted to Brigadier General and later made Minister of War. He never tried to "get even" with his brother officers for ruining him. He died right before the Great War.

So, who was the spy? The Schwartzkoppen Papers were later published. They said that Esterhazy was a two bit guy, but not the real one. The real spy was Dubois who was considered too much a reach to really be the spy because he wasn�t on the General Staff. He was just a good spy. He was never caught.