Philippe Husser

Modeste teacher, Philippe Husser (1862 - 1951) held between 1914 and his death a newspaper offering a lighting on Alsatian mentality . Less cultivated than Charles Spindler and not having its relations, consequently less better informed, it delivers to us with sincerity the reactions and the states of heart of the man of the people.

When the war bursts and that Philippe Husser decides to hold his newspaper, he is a teacher of fifty-two years, liking his trade and credit in the Schulzeitung , body of the Protestant and liberal teachers. He feels patriotic German without fanaticism since he knows French and the sign on the occasion. Its wishes go for the Germany which, in its spirit, is not responsible for the hostilities but is victim of the animosity of its neighbors. This is why it is afflicted to see the mistrust of the Germans towards its compatriots and the first measurements brutal which start to assemble the population against Germany. “ By twice , writes it the August 31st 1914, the French arrived in Mulhouse and the surroundings. They are feared than our own troops ”.

Throughout the war, even if he acknowledges his lassitude, its German patriotism is not contradicted and at any time he does not think that Germany can lose and is obliged to return the Alsace-Lorraine. It is the August 25th 1918, more than two weeks after the “day of mourning of the German army” which was on August 8th, that he writes: “ the defeatism and the moroseness appear again, at the moment when one withdraws our troops of the most exposed places Western face. They are besides the soldiers who believe less and less in the victory ”. It is only on October 4th that its eyes open: “ Which will it occur of Alsace-Lorraine? ”

After the entry of the French it tries to behave honestly with its new fatherland, but it is revolted by measurements of Francization. Around him one revokes some of his colleagues to replace them by French of the interior. Itself expects to lose its place from one moment to another and he sees his son-in-law, Fritz Bronner, to emigrate in Germany not to become French.

The situation becomes complicated owing to the fact that his/her two other daughters marry Saintongeais, two brothers. Taken between the irredentism of his German son-in-law and the concern of preserving good relationships with his French sons-in-law, Philippe Husser disgusts himself of the policy. He keeps his sympathies to Germany but cannot recognize itself in the clerical autonomism of the Haegy abbot.

This newspaper mentions the major problem of Alsace where, for a long time, the denominational membership was the true identity of each one, passing before the national or linguistic membership.

Reference

Husser (Philippe), an Alsatian Teacher. Between France and Germany, newspaper 1914-1951 , published by Franck Tenot presented and annotated by Alfred Wahl, translation of the German passages by L Leininger Paris Hatchet (the blue Cloud) /Les Alsace Breaking news 1989 428 p.

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