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| {{Infobox newspaper | {{Infobox newspaper | ||
| | name = L'Ouest-Éclair | | name = L'Ouest-Éclair | ||
| | image = Ouest-Eclair_2_août_1899.jpg | |||
| | logo = | | logo = | ||
| | caption = Front page of the first issue of ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' (2 August 1899). | | caption = Front page of the first issue of ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' (2 August 1899). | ||
| Line 9: | Line 10: | ||
| | foundation = 2 August 1899 | | foundation = 2 August 1899 | ||
| | ceased publication = 1 August 1944 | | ceased publication = 1 August 1944 | ||
| | political alignment = Christian democracy | | political alignment = ] | ||
| | headquarters = Rennes, France | | headquarters = ], France | ||
| | language = French | | language = French | ||
| | website = | | website = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''''L'Ouest-Éclair''''' was a regional daily newspaper published in France from 2 August 1899 to 1 August 1944, based in Rennes. It served a broad audience in western France, covering regions such as Brittany, Normandy, Anjou, Maine, and Poitou. | '''''L'Ouest-Éclair''''' was a regional daily newspaper published in France from 2 August 1899 to 1 August 1944, based in ]. It served a broad audience in western France, covering regions such as Brittany, Normandy, Anjou, Maine, and Poitou. | ||
| The newspaper was established by two Bretons, Abbé Félix Trochu, a priest from Ille-et-Vilaine, and Emmanuel Desgrées du Loû, a lawyer from Vannes living in Brest. They were inspired by a strong Christian faith and a commitment to republican and social ideals. | The newspaper was established by two Bretons, Abbé ], a priest from ], and ], a lawyer from ] living in ]. They were inspired by a strong Christian faith and a commitment to republican and social ideals. | ||
| After the Liberation of France, ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' was replaced by ''Ouest-France''. | After the ], ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' was replaced by '']''. | ||
| ⚫ | == 1899: Democracy and social justice == | ||
| == History == | |||
| ⚫ | The first issue of ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' was published on 2 August 1899 in Rennes, shortly before the ]. Its initial circulation was 1,800 copies, but under the administration of Abbé Trochu, the circulation rose to 12,000 by December 1901 and continued to grow.<ref>{{Harvsp|Lagrée|Harismendy|Denis|2000|p=59}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | Trochu and Desgrées du Loû sought to rally the people of western France to support the Republic and engage politically to ensure sustained social action. At a time when the Catholic Church's ] was still recent, the newspaper faced opposition from conservative Catholic and ] circles and in 1901 this led to the creation of the more conservative Catholic rival ]. L'Ouest-Éclair's ] stance set it apart in a predominantly traditionalist rural Brittany.<ref name="Ruralia2004">{{cite journal |last=Bensoussan |first=David |title=Les droites en Bretagne dans l'Entre-deux-guerres. Tensions et déchirements dans un monde catholique et rural |journal=Ruralia |date=2004 |volume=14 |url=http://journals.openedition.org/ruralia/975 |access-date=January 6, 2025}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The first issue of ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' was published on 2 August 1899, shortly before the |
||
| ⚫ | Trochu and Desgrées du Loû sought to rally the people of western France to support the Republic and engage politically to ensure sustained social action. At a time when the Catholic Church's |
||
| From its inception, ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' emphasized principles of democracy and social justice, positioning itself as a journal of ideas where information was paramount and profit secondary. | From its inception, ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' emphasized principles of democracy and social justice, positioning itself as a journal of ideas where information was paramount and profit secondary. | ||
| == The First World War and the interwar period == | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| Line 40: | Line 39: | ||
| By 1932, ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' had become the leading regional daily in France, achieving a circulation of 250,000 copies. However, tensions within the editorial team arose, leading to the departure of Trochu in 1930 over political disagreements. | By 1932, ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' had become the leading regional daily in France, achieving a circulation of 250,000 copies. However, tensions within the editorial team arose, leading to the departure of Trochu in 1930 over political disagreements. | ||
| == World War II == | |||
| The outbreak of the ] brought severe challenges. In 1940, after the ], the newspaper faced the dilemma of continuing publication under German military censorship. Despite internal resistance, the decision was made to continue, partly to safeguard the livelihoods of its 800 employees. However, some, including Paul Hutin-Desgrées and François Desgrées du Loû, resigned in protest against compromises with the occupiers. | The outbreak of the ] brought severe challenges. In 1940, after the ], the newspaper faced the dilemma of continuing publication under German military censorship. Despite internal resistance, the decision was made to continue, partly to safeguard the livelihoods of its 800 employees. However, some, including ] and ], resigned in protest against compromises with the occupiers. | ||
| The last issue was published on 1 August 1944, shortly before the ] on 4 August. ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' was subsequently banned for collaboration with the ]. Key figures, including its director Pierre Artur, faced charges of aiding the enemy.<ref>.</ref> | The last issue was published on 1 August 1944, shortly before the ] on 4 August. ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' was subsequently banned for collaboration with the ]. Key figures, including its director ], faced charges of aiding the enemy.<ref>.</ref> | ||
| == Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
| ''Ouest-France'' succeeded ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' in August 1944, under a new editorial team led by Paul Hutin-Desgrées and François Desgrées du Loû. | '']'' succeeded ''L'Ouest-Éclair'' in August 1944, under a new editorial team led by Paul Hutin-Desgrées and François Desgrées du Loû. | ||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| ==Sources== | |||
| * {{cite book|first1=Michel | last1 = Lagrée|first2=Patrick | last2 = Harismendy|first3=Michel | last3 = Denis|title=L'Ouest-Éclair - naissance et essor d'un grand quotidien régional|location=Rennes|publisher=Presses universitaires de Rennes|year=2000|isbn=978-2-86847-460-5|oclc=43803512|language = fr}} | |||
| == Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||
| * {{ |
* {{cite book|author=Paul Delourme |date=1936 |title=Trente-cinq années de politique religieuse}}<!-- auto-translated from French by Module:CS1 translator --> | ||
| * {{ |
* {{cite book|author=Henri Fréville |date=1979 |title=La Presse bretonne dans la tourmente (1940-1946)}}<!-- auto-translated from French by Module:CS1 translator --> | ||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
| Line 60: | Line 63: | ||
| {{Portal|France|World War II|Brittany}} | {{Portal|France|World War II|Brittany}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 13:26, 8 January 2025
 Front page of the first issue of L'Ouest-Éclair (2 August 1899). | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Abbé Félix Trochu, Emmanuel Desgrées du Loû |
| Founded | 2 August 1899 |
| Language | French |
| Ceased publication | 1 August 1944 |
| Headquarters | Rennes, France |
L'Ouest-Éclair was a regional daily newspaper published in France from 2 August 1899 to 1 August 1944, based in Rennes. It served a broad audience in western France, covering regions such as Brittany, Normandy, Anjou, Maine, and Poitou.
The newspaper was established by two Bretons, Abbé Félix Trochu, a priest from Ille-et-Vilaine, and Emmanuel Desgrées du Loû, a lawyer from Vannes living in Brest. They were inspired by a strong Christian faith and a commitment to republican and social ideals.
After the Liberation of France, L'Ouest-Éclair was replaced by Ouest-France.
1899: Democracy and social justice
The first issue of L'Ouest-Éclair was published on 2 August 1899 in Rennes, shortly before the retrial of Alfred Dreyfus. Its initial circulation was 1,800 copies, but under the administration of Abbé Trochu, the circulation rose to 12,000 by December 1901 and continued to grow.
Trochu and Desgrées du Loû sought to rally the people of western France to support the Republic and engage politically to ensure sustained social action. At a time when the Catholic Church's ralliement to the Republic was still recent, the newspaper faced opposition from conservative Catholic and monarchist circles and in 1901 this led to the creation of the more conservative Catholic rival Le Nouvelliste de Bretagne. L'Ouest-Éclair's democratic-Christian stance set it apart in a predominantly traditionalist rural Brittany.
From its inception, L'Ouest-Éclair emphasized principles of democracy and social justice, positioning itself as a journal of ideas where information was paramount and profit secondary.
The First World War and the interwar period
Launched during the Dreyfus Affair, L'Ouest-Éclair navigated decades of challenges. Initially underfunded, dividends were only paid to shareholders—many of whom were clergy—in 1911. Despite organizational challenges during the First World War, the newspaper saw an increase in circulation.
In the 1920s, the newspaper described the emerging fascism in Italy with a degree of approval, seeing it as a counterbalance to communism.
By 1932, L'Ouest-Éclair had become the leading regional daily in France, achieving a circulation of 250,000 copies. However, tensions within the editorial team arose, leading to the departure of Trochu in 1930 over political disagreements.
World War II
The outbreak of the Second World War brought severe challenges. In 1940, after the Fall of France, the newspaper faced the dilemma of continuing publication under German military censorship. Despite internal resistance, the decision was made to continue, partly to safeguard the livelihoods of its 800 employees. However, some, including Paul Hutin-Desgrées and François Desgrées du Loû, resigned in protest against compromises with the occupiers.
The last issue was published on 1 August 1944, shortly before the Liberation of Rennes on 4 August. L'Ouest-Éclair was subsequently banned for collaboration with the Vichy regime. Key figures, including its director Pierre Artur, faced charges of aiding the enemy.
Legacy
Ouest-France succeeded L'Ouest-Éclair in August 1944, under a new editorial team led by Paul Hutin-Desgrées and François Desgrées du Loû.
References
- Lagrée, Harismendy & Denis 2000, p. 59
- Bensoussan, David (2004). "Les droites en Bretagne dans l'Entre-deux-guerres. Tensions et déchirements dans un monde catholique et rural". Ruralia. 14. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- "1920: la presse découvre un nouveau mouvement : le « fascisme » italien". RetroNews - Le site de presse de la BnF. 2019-10-03.
- Le Monde, 14 February 1946.
Sources
- Lagrée, Michel; Harismendy, Patrick; Denis, Michel (2000). L'Ouest-Éclair - naissance et essor d'un grand quotidien régional (in French). Rennes: Presses universitaires de Rennes. ISBN 978-2-86847-460-5. OCLC 43803512.
Further reading
- Paul Delourme (1936). Trente-cinq années de politique religieuse.
- Henri Fréville (1979). La Presse bretonne dans la tourmente (1940-1946).
