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The horrific World War of 1914-18 ravaged Europe. Several million people were killed or maimed for life, and hundreds of thousands more died in the 1920s in the aftermath of the war. An entire generation was decimated, the humanist and pacifist hopes borne by the artistic and intellectual elites in each of the European nations were dashed – recall the despicable assassination of Jean Jaurès in Paris on the eve of the declaration of war, an assassination that went unpunished, the murderer being acquitted a few years later. 

Centre français

L’effroyable guerre mondiale de 1914-1918 a ravagé l’Europe. Plusieurs millions de tués, de mutilés à vie, des centaines de milliers d’autres meurent dans les années 20 des suites de la guerre. Une génération entière est décapitée, les espérances humanistes et pacifistes portées par des élites artistiques et intellectuelles dans chacune des nations européennes sont naufragées – on se souvient de l’odieux assassinat de Jean Jaurès, à Paris, à la veille de la déclaration de guerre, assassinat qui demeurera impuni, le meurtrier étant acquitté quelques années plus tard.

Centro Francés

La terrible Guerra Mundial de 1914-1918 devastó Europa. Provocó millones de muertos y mutilados de por vida, y cientos de miles más murieron en la década de 1920 como resultado de la guerra. Una generación entera quedó decapitada, yéndose a la deriva las esperanzas humanistas y pacifistas lideradas por las élites artísticas e intelectuales de todas las naciones europeas.

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Selection from the French Centre

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1 French Centre administrative folder, 1961

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2 French Centre’s first newsletter

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3 Mutilation de la culture bulletin

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4 Henri Membré at the 13th Congress

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5 Writers at Risk report

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6 French Centre AGM in 1983

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7 Fundraising brochure

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8 Commemorative Congress first day cover

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9 Pierre Emmanuel’s declaration as president

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10 Report on AGM in 1985

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11 Charlie Hebdo no. 1118

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