Gustave Hervé
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Gustave Hervé (Brest, January 2, 1871 - Paris 1944) was a French politician. At first he was a fervent socialist and pacifist, but later turned to equally zealous ultranationalism.
Failing to unite the more extreme factions of international socialism, Hervé in 1919 created the Parti socialiste national (PSN), which promoted "class co-operation" and solidarity. This "national socialism" of Hervé was soon transformed into a form of "French fascism," and when Mussolini took power in Italy in the March on Rome, Hervé heralded him as "my courageous Italian comrade."
The PSN would never attract many supporters, so Hervé attempted to resurrect the party in 1925, as the Parti de la République autoritaire. In 1927, the name reverted back to the Parti socialiste national. When Marcel Bucard became involved with the magazine La Victoire, it was renamed once again to La Milice socialiste 1932.
Later in 1936, Hervé would rally behind French war hero Marshal Pétain, but distanced himself from him in 1940. He died in 1944, and was actually harassed during the war years by Vichy France officials for his criticism published in La Victoire.
Interestingly, the Italian-born soprano (and protégée of Arturo Toscanini) Herva Nelli (1909-1994) was named after Gustave Hervé.
[edit] Further reading
- Michael B. Loughlin (2001). "Gustave Hervé's Transition from Socialism to National Socialism: Another Example of French Fascism?". Journal of Contemporary History 36 (1): 5–39.
