Historically Speaking Podcast

The Dreyfus Affair

Rebecca Robbins & Kim Kimmel Season 2 Episode 49

It was a political scandal that rocked France to its core and proved to be a watershed event for European antisemitism. A French officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was accused of passing military secrets to the Germans. He was found guilty by a military tribunal and sent to Devil’s Island, one of the most notorious penal colonies in the world. What happened next will shock and appall you as it did not only France but the entire world. Here in Episode 49, we explore just how far the French military went to cover up their colossal mistake in what would become known as The Dreyfus Affair.

Books:

Film:

  • I Accuse (1958) with José Ferrer as Captain Alfred Dreyfus
  • Papillon (1973) with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman