Symbolism in Franco-German Relations

Mathias Delori (1)

1 CED - Centre Émile Durkheim

On September 4th, 2013, French President François Hollande and German President Joachim Gauck visited Oradour-sur-Glane, a French martyr village of the Second World War whose population was massacred by an SS division during the Liberation. During the ceremony, the two heads of state stood together in silent commemoration, holding each other’s hand. By so doing, they reproduced a symbolic gesture which had resonated strongly in 1984, that of President François Mitterrand and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl holding hands in front the memorial to the battle of Verdun. These elements illustrate a more general fact: over the last couple of decades, FrancoGerman relations have been maintained within an idealistic atmosphere which celebrates “reconciliation” and “friendship” between the two countries. These celebrations take the form of grandiloquent speeches, spectacular political gestures, and commemoration rituals which are intended to give a particular meaning to FrancoGerman cooperation. This article analyzes the historical importance, current status, and possible future developments of this reconciliation symbolism.

Mots clés: Symbolism; Franco-german relations

Domaines: Science politique

Mathias Delori. Symbolism in Franco-German Relations. Academic Foresights, 2015, 14, pp.[en ligne]. ⟨halshs-01254636⟩