[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] for [Music] it is on April 24th 1856 during the Second Empire in Koshi luran NIS that Philipe pan was born into an old family of farmers he is 17 months old when his mother dies after the birth of her fifth child his father remarries Philipe grew up under the more attentive guidance of his paternal grandmother and a maternal great uncle Philipe lefave a former military man who became an Abbot the sensitivity of this grandmother a witness to the hardships of the Revolutionary and Imperial Wars combined with the dazzled memories of the campaigns carried out with Napoleon by this original great uncle shaped the character of the future officer at the same time he pursued good studies and received a solid religious education from his maternal uncle abrand at 14 years old he along with all those of his generation witnessed the defeat of 1870 and felt the wound inflicted on national pride by the loss of territory and the humiliation of the Proclamation of the grand Reich in Versa [Music] [Applause] [Music] itself his choic is made he will Embrace a military career the [Music] the [Music] at 20 years old Philipe payan was admitted to St seir after a first assignment in vranch surir where he learned his trade as an officer by working closely with the troops he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1883 and requested to serve in the Third Battalion of infantry Hunters stationed in bezanson graduating from the higher War School in 1890 he alternated between various field assignments and taught a remarkable tactics course known for its conciseness realism and precise awareness of what future Wars would entail which he presented with authority and earned him the nickname the precise one at the same time he displayed an independence that displeased the general staff and the politicians of the time in addition to his military considerations that opposed official theories he refused to submit to unjust orders thus in response to the order given to him at the war school to denounce the officers who go to mass he who does not attend replied being in the front row I cannot identify them to you similarly they refused to shake hands with ls Andre the minister of war from this violently anti-catholic government which comes from the majority that wants the separation of church and state orders inventories meaning the legal undering of churches breaks relations with the Vatican expels religious figures or forces them to adopt secular attire these expelled religious figures will find France and their freedom with the French state in 1940 finally because it came from the secretary of the same Minister he refused a promotion to Colonel in 1904 and would wait until 1909 to achieve this rank which he was blocked from attaining until 1914 at the declaration of war he was then 58 years [Music] old from the first months of the war which were deadly and revealed serious shortcomings and areas of his government he proved to be an exceptional leader promoted to Brigadier General and entrusted with increasingly important responsibilities he rose through the ranks became the commander of an army Corp was cited in the Army orders and was made an officer of the Legion of Honor this was on October 12th 1914 Less Than 3 months after the start of the conflict the course of the war will confirm the qualities and value of general payan who from being a retrievable colonel in 1914 will finish the war as commander-in-chief of the French Army a position to which he was appointed on May 15th 1917 the realism of the peasant the clarity of the tactics Professor from the war School combined with an understanding of people and the troops make him an effective leader on the battlefield and well-liked by his soldiers here is what one of his contemporaries General Edmund bua who died in 1923 wrote in his Daily Journal in mid-may 1915 General pan is one of those those officers whom peace left trailing far behind the career politicians in red or black trousers one of those officers whom all military personnel on the other hand appreciated their true value and whom the war has finally placed in his rightful position starting the campaign as a colonel acting commander of a brigade he became a brigadier general division General Army Corps commander officer and then commander of the Legion of Honor all of which he earned one could say at the tip of his sword he is the one who took kency ablin and Newville he will be the one to have sua he manages all of this with his usual calm and his indepth knowledge of the three branches of the military with the absolute certainty that the current war is fought much more with Canon fire than with the loss of men on February 26th 1916 upon learning of his appointment to Verdon General pan arrived on site and took charge of the situation I expect that with the troops arriving in addition to the 20th core he will restore order over there the successor to the commander-in-chief is simple General payan General payan because he succeeded in all that he had announced will naturally be seen as the one who restored the situation at Verdon which had been compromised by others [Music] on August 23rd 1918 Philip payan received the military medal a decoration intended for soldiers and non-commissioned officers the most prestigious award for generals who have served as commanderin-chief the citation specifies that he has always demonstrated and all the commands held during the war the finest moral and Technical qualities he is just earned imperishable titles of national recognition for having broken the German advance and successfully pushed it back it is the only decoration that he will usually wear and take with him to his grave the one who also receives the Marshall's Batton starting November 19th [Music] 1918 fore [Music] [Music] [Music] the fall [Music] it was in 1916 that Philipe pan called to lead the Army on February 25th and assigned to the Verdun sector gained the immense popularity that would make him the savior of France for the soldiers of this first world war and the nation as a whole Whoever has not fought at Verdon has not fought in the War the pooo asserted it was during this battle The Echoes of which resonated around the world and made him a recognized celebrity visited and consulted that Philipe payan forged his reputation as the most Humane of leaders indeed at Verdun from his headquarters established in sui where from February to December 1916 more than 3ar of the French army passed through concerned about the fate of the soldiers facing the greatest artillery bombardment that his hisory had known up to that point he boosted the morale of the troops who thanks to the measures taken to soften and humanize their daily lives would fight suffer and die until victory at DMO during an official visit on September 21st 1929 General persing the commander-in-chief of the American Army declared only those who know the concern of your heart can measure the burden of the anxieties it has borne none of your soldiers fell without their leader feeling a wound and the impassive mask that hides your feelings has covered a constant and unrelenting sorrow these words inevitably bring to mind Jon of Arc who in the fervor of her Mission declared I have never seen French blood flow without my hair standing on end it is under the walls of the martyred City that the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor is awarded To the victor of [Music] done in 2016 for the Centenary of the battle alongside a sacriligious demonstration organized in the middle of the damont cemetery the authorities sought to completely erase the name of Marshall pan from Verdun contesting his crucial role by opposing him to generals Nel and Mangan who succeeded him at Verdun starting in April 1916 it is forgotten that that if pan left the theater of operations on that date it was to take command of the central army which the second Army at Verdun depended on where the generals who succeeded him obeyed his orders applied his tactical options while perpetuating the famous noria of the Sacred way all conditions that allowed for victory after these 11 months of War it is especially forgotten that it was the Poo themselves and the entire country that awarded him the title of the victor of Verdon and savior of France not only for his then Undisputed action at Verdun but also considering the entire war and particularly the terrible year of 197 when Nel reverting to the strategy of excessive offensives that was so deadly at the chund de Dames provoked mutinies it is in this crisis situation which affects more than half of the French regiments and seriously jeopardizes the outcome of a war that has lasted for 3 years that payan recently promoted to Chief General is entrusted with the task of managing it his humanity and sense of Honor managed to restore the morale of the troops which would lead to the final Victory finally let us clarify the political as well as military foresight of the commander-in-chief at the end of this Dreadful War of 1914 to 1918 in August 1918 Philipe pan advocated for a major offensive in Lorraine that would push the German Army back back onto its own soil where it would suffer a defeat justifying the end of the conflict and the indisputable terms of the restored peace the immediate cessation of hostilities is preferred solely by the will of politicians and the weariness of the general staffs thus providing all the arguments for an unfinished War due to the Betrayal of their Elites to a subdued Germany that would challenge all of Europe and the Victorious allies barely 20 years later foreseeing these d consequences the Marshall a man reputed to be impassive wept before General isimo fos who would later testify regretting his mistake of not having listened to him if the dirt AER as the unanimity of the French wanted this war of 14 to 18 to be was just a slogan for some it was a reality for payan [Music] Philip payan is aware of his career it is recognition glory and Military and civil consecration already commanderin-chief of the army he was appointed Inspector General on February 18th 1922 a dangerous Rebellion movement in Morocco prompted the minister of War to ask the Marshall to take control of the situation promoted to commander and chief in Morocco in July 1925 pan then 70 years old secured the French victory in the Riff where the leader Abdul Crim submitted on May 29th 1926 on September 18th 1927 ke presided over the inauguration of the damont uary which he was made and remained to this day the honorary president on January 22nd 1931 he was received at the French academy by Paul Valerie during this interwar period marked by governmental instability and despite the numerous scandals of this third Republic payan agreed to participate in the government of hmer ab broad National Union following the Riots of February 6th 1934 he was appointed minister of War his wish was to be minister of public instruction but this government also falls and the Marshall noting the political impotence driven by their only partisan passion refuses to be part of another government on April 6th 1935 during the presentation of the Legion of Honor at the war College he delivered an important speech emphasizing the significance of Aviation and armored vehicles in a future conflict he understands well that the upcoming war will not resemble the previous one but he also knows that governments are unwilling to make the necessary budgetary efforts with the Advent of the popular front in 1936 which supports the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War France becomes divided and passions Run High to the Victorious nationalist government of General Franco recognized on February 27th 1939 France sent Marshall payan as ambassador I on Blum laments in the newspaper laul that they are sending as he says to codit what we have of the best it is at this post that he finds the declaration of war in September [Music] 1939 clo in undeniable glory and the object of recognition from the entire nation it is only natural that he becomes the recourse of a government in distress and the relief for the 40 million pists who turn out to be the French people of disaster in 1940 at the moment when France suffered the greatest defeat in its history on May 16th Paul Rod the head of government asked Marshall payan to take the vice presidency he declares on the radio the victor of Verdon the one thanks to whom the attackers of 1916 did not pass the one thanks to Boom the morale of the French army in 1917 was restored for victory Marshall pan returned this morning from Madrid where he rendered so much service to France he is now by my side as minister of State vice president of the council putting all his wisdom and strength at the service of the country the situation is worsening Day by Day on June 10th the government deserted the capital Renault resigned and the president of the Republic called upon payan although 84 years old and now concerned about the fate of every French citizen the Marshall agrees to become the leader of a defeated humiliated and occupied State he offers himself to France French at the call of Mister as president of the Republic I assume the leadership of the government of France starting today confident in the affection of our admirable Army which fights with a heroism worthy of its long military Traditions against an enemy Superior in numbers in arms surely through its magnificent resistance it has fulfilled our duties towards our allies confident in the support of the veterans whom I had the pride to command confident in the trust of the entire people I offer myself to France to alleviate its [Music] suffering it is under these terrible condition I conditions that he will take all necessary measures to soften the living conditions of the French while preserving the honor and Independence of the country and working to restore France as the great power it should be freed from the subjugations that led it to this defeat he signs the Armistice that spares so many lives the pains and sufferings associated with the war that he knows well bolstered by popular unanimity and the approval of the national representation through the vote of July 10th 1940 he breaks with a harmful policy whose painful consequences are felt throughout the entire country he established the government in vichi residing himself at the Park Hotel he founded the French State he replaced the false principles of Liberty equality fraternity with his motto work family Homeland its organization outlined in the principles of the community constitutes the program of national Revolution advocated to regain greatness and prosperity despite the conditions of a rigorous occupation the clarity and pragmatism of the old leader are such that he manages to get the country back on track today nearly a hundred of the achievements of the French State still exist [Music] [Music] h [Music] me [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] wo [Music] music in the background serves as a stark contrast to the intense emotions and ideological conflicts that characterize this historical period the admiration and respect from the French people were unwavering as evidenced by the meticulously preserved documents from that era these documents provide a vivid and detailed picture of the high regard in which he was held by the French populace on the other hand the intense hatred from anti- France was rooted in a fundamental ideological conflict which is clearly Illustrated in the rich and detailed documents of the time this complex and multifaceted Dynamic is a key aspect of understanding the historical context of the period his contempt and Defiance towards leaders and orders which created division among the French have not been forgotten in 1945 the liberators became the masters of politics again through the maneuvering of political parties they condemn Philipe pan Marshall of France and head of state to death a sentence commuted to life imprisonment which he will endure for six long years under Infamous conditions at portalet Fort and then at the island of God no humiliation will be spared for the man an 89-year-old the Marshal of France from the arrest to the trial where he remains silent throughout the proceedings simply stating at the conclusion during this trial I deliberately remained silent after having explained to the French people the reasons for my attitude my thought my only thought was to stay with him on the soil of France according to my PR promise to try to protect him and alleviate his suffering whatever happens he will not forget it he knows that I defended him as I defended verun Gentlemen of the judges my life and my freedom are in your hands but my honor I entrust to the Homeland dispose of me according to your consciences mine reproaches me nothing for during a long life and having reached the threshold of death by my age I affirm that I have had no other ambition than to serve France Philipe payan is imprisoned harassment and Petty annoyances are now his daily life prohibited visits prohibition on seeing the sea strict necessary materials finally the oldest prisoner in the world he dies on July 23rd 1951 at the age of 95 [Music] you from [Music] St be so [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh you fren FR oh I be and K [Music] you [Music] [Music] people gather behind Five Bishops General vegan and numerous officers to attend the funeral of a death row inmate the entire France is moved by this event in Paris the spontaneous popular fervor mobilizes thousands of people a floral cross several dozen meters long is laid out at the Arc de Triumph the bell of nadam rings out this only happened at the death of the kings of France his last wishes were to be buried at damont among his poo this will be denied to him it has always been denied to him to this day Mr Marshall you have saved France twice you saved it and restored it spiritually and morally helping it to regain its strong traditions of Faith work and love for family and Homeland as long as there are French hearts in our country we make this vow you will go to damont according to your last wishes you will be fully rehabilitated you will receive the title of father of the Homeland Marshall Here We Are Marshall always [Music] here [Music] [Music] fore [Music] spee [Music] [Music] fore child no [Music] [Music] visit foree [Applause] [Music] in the the