The Journées 1914 - 1919

When the French Government declared a general mobilization on the 1 August 1914, no one who witnessed the scenes of great exuberant patriotism, could have envisaged the speed with which the mood of the nation would deteriorate. The war of attrition that the frontline troops found themselves embroiled in gradually eroded their optimism and engendered a feeling that they were "une génération sacrifiée". The Journées 1914-1919 explores a largely under-reported component of France's war effort but one which would prove critical in raising morale and establishing a bridge in understanding and empathy between soldiers and civilians. The 'Journée' campaigns were reliant on hundreds of thousands of volunteers drawn from different social strata, administered by a profusion of local committees often overseen, with government approval, by municipal authorities. This close relationship between voluntary organizations and the state established a national philanthropic unity that would last the duration of the war and beyond.This study builds on the acclaimed work of Roger de Bayle des Hermens who compiled a comprehensive reference catalogue of the insignias and medals that were produced for both the national and regional Journées. These miniature 'works of art' proved popular with the general public and contributed to the success of the fundraising campaigns. Fortunately many of the items were regarded, even during the war period, as collector's items and many have been preserved in museums and private collections.The book gives the reader an insight into the organization, planning, and strategizing that lay behind each individual national Journée. With the benefit of access to private papers, individual collections and employing research facilities not available to de Bayle des Hermens, the author has produced a detailed up-to-date study of these innovative fundraising campaigns.