New French memorial being built to honour Alfred Dreyfus
A new memorial is being built in France to honour a Jewish French officer wrongly accused and convicted of treason, in what became known as the Dreyfus Affair.
A sculpture of Alfred Dreyfus is taking shape in Mulhouse, Alsace, and will be ready by October, more than 110 years after he was completely exonerated following one of Europe’s most recognisably anti-Semitic incidents.
Dreyfus was accused by colleagues of passing military secrets to the Germans, convicted in closed court, publicly humiliated in front of a baying crowd and imprisoned on Devil’s Island in French Guinea, before the truth came out.
Now, a 2.5-metre granite statue weighing ten tonnes is being constructed in the village where he was born by 40-year old sculptress Sylvie Koechlin, who is Dreyfus’ great great grand-daughter.
It will be unveiled on 9 October – Dreyfus’ birthday – by Bertrand Louvel, the first president of the country’s Supreme Court.
“It will provide a testimony for future generations of the victory of truth over false-hood,” said a spokesman for the Dreyfus Monument Association, which is funding the project.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
