- Gustave Hervé
Gustave Hervé (Brest,
January 2 ,1871 -Paris 1944) was a Frenchpolitician . At first he was a fervent socialist and pacifist, but later turned to equally zealousultranationalism .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 whenMussolini took power inItaly in theMarch 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 byVichy 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.Further reading
*cite journal|author=Michael B. Loughlin|title=Gustave Hervé's Transition from Socialism to National Socialism: Another Example of French Fascism?|year=2001|journal=Journal of Contemporary History|volume=36|issue=1|pages=5–39
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