Almost 150 years ago, on March 18, 1871, the Parisians took up arms to revolt against the government of Adolphe Thiers.
“A spontaneous insurrection, recalls the historian Jean-Louis Robert.
While France has just capitulated to Prussia, the state sends the army to take over the guns located on the Butte Montmartre.
But the Parisians are opposed to it.
And while the general orders his troops to fire on the people, the soldiers refuse to fire.
Barricades have been set up in the capital.
The government fled to Versailles.
The Commune is proclaimed.
"
An uprising that still resonates today.
Because "from the Commune and the elections of March 28 is born a small State which will act to create, locally at least, a democratic and social Republic", continues Jean-Louis Robert.
Above all, the causes defended by its members remain disturbingly topical.
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A figure of the Paris Commune comes out of oblivion thanks to a history buff
However, this part of the capital's history is often overlooked.
The City of Paris intends to remedy this by organizing, from Thursday March 18, a little more than 70 days of “festivities”, that is to say as much time as the Municipality will have lived, before being crushed by force.
The program has just been unveiled.
In the end, “around fifty events, between happening, exhibitions, plays, conferences… Enough to allow the public to apprehend this period in a light but also serious way.
All of this, of course, in compliance with sanitary rules, especially with outdoor meetings, ”emphasizes Laurence Patrice.
"Ideas that still have meaning today"
The deputy mayor of Paris in charge of memory does not hide the political significance of this anniversary.
“To put forward the Municipality, it is to put forward ideas which still have meaning today.
This political experience carried with it the seeds of modern society.
"
Jean-Louis Robert can only agree.
“The Municipality was a laboratory of ideas taken over by the Republic.
Free and compulsory schooling, the separation of Church and State, equality between men and women, labor law, requisitioning of vacant housing for the most deprived… ”, lists the author of “Paris de la Commune”, published in 2015. However, not all of them succeeded, such as the place of foreigners in democracy.
The Municipality is therefore today evocative of promises for some, of concerns for others.
This is where it is still debated.
"
More than 30,000 executions at the time
The fact remains that this period of history, as bubbling as it was intellectually, remains marred in its form by bloody oppositions.
“It is impossible to seriously conclude on the number of deaths caused by the clashes, let alone the outcome, known as Bloody Week.
Estimates range from 5,000 to over 30,000 summary executions, ”underlines Jean-Louis Robert, who qualifies the operations carried out by the Versaillais as“ mass crime ”.
"There is obviously no question of glorifying the atrocities committed", specifies Laurence Patrice.
Jean-Louis Robert, who has just released a comic book on the subject, called “Rouges estampes”, is delighted by the light put on this era.
Not just in Paris, for that matter.
"We are called upon all over the world to talk about the Municipality," smiles the historian.
Its scope was indeed national, but also international, because with London, Paris was at the time the most influential city.
At the same time, a universal movement of workers was born.
It was moreover on the evening of the defeat that Eugène Pottier created
the International.
"
MEETINGS NOT TO BE MISSED
Among the fifty events announced in the coming weeks, here is our small selection of the most original activities.
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Play the Communards.
Creating a link between the Parisians of the Commune and those of today, this is the objective of the first meeting scheduled during these festivities.
At work, Régis Léger, alias Dugudus.
This graphic designer, illustrator and street artist has produced 50 silhouettes of Communards.
Louise Michel, Arthur Rimbaud, Eugène Pottier ...
Thursday March 18 (from 8:30 am, rue du Cardinal-Dubois, at the stairs), they will therefore be presented during a happening organized on the Butte Montmartre, thanks to participants who will make them move.
"I want to compare the past with the present, surprise and teach the inhabitants of my city what others had experienced, here even, entrenched but combative and full of hope", underlines Dugudus.
The launch will last until around 10 a.m., with speeches and songs in particular.
Then a photo studio will allow everyone to take a portrait of themselves.
"These silhouettes will then circulate through the city", specifies Laurence Patrice, the assistant in charge of memory.
From April 1 to April 18, on the gates of the Town Hall, from April 10 to May 9 in front of the Gare de l'Est… They will be accompanied by a scenography linking texts and historical anecdotes.
"Placed at human height, drawn at real size, they will allow everyone to take a picture of themselves," resumes Laurence Patrice.
The idea is to create a link over time, so that each Parisian can identify with himself.
"
Educational walks.
As spring approaches, these are proposals that should find their audience.
The “Le Paris communard” project can be summed up in fun and original visits, starting at the top of the Butte-aux-Cailles.
He will evoke the heroic defense of the federates of the 13th district commanded by the Polish general Wroblewski.
Among these elected officials of the Municipality was the Hungarian immigrant worker Léo Fränkel, who served as Minister of Labor.
To discover on May 15 and 22.
But the Municipality is above all Montmartre and Père-Lachaise.
The festivities pay homage to these places where it all began and where it all ended, on the occasion of commented outings where we will learn what was played there, and where we will discover the major characters who are there. are related.
Until March 28.
Songs and stories.
The Municipality is obviously “the International”.
But many other songs come from this very special period in Parisian history.
It will be possible to discover it with the show "La Commune en chantant".
All the songs before, during and after the Commune will be presented, commented and interpreted by two performers and a guitarist.
Meet on May 2 at the kiosk in Square Auguste-Blanqui (13th century).
The verbal games exchanged between each of the camps during the trial of Louise Michel, teacher and revolutionary fighter arrested at the end of the Commune, will also be appreciated during a reconstruction of the event.
But more than a faithful transcription, it will be necessary to hear more the arguments of each one there to plunge back into the context of the time.
April 2, in the village hall of the Hôtel-de-Ville, if sanitary conditions allow.
A podcast will finally be available in April, on YouTube, Deezer and Spotify.
“
Les echos de la Commune
is an immersive sound tour to follow in the streets of Montmartre or from your living room,” explains the City of Paris.
It traces the history of the Municipality in the 18th arrondissement around the tangible and intangible heritage linked to this revolt, by mixing stories and urban music.
"
