The Fédération nationale des étudiants d'Action française (National Federation of Action Française Students) was an organization uniting student activists of the

Action Française ''Action Française'' (, AF; ) is a French far-right monarchist and nationalist political movement. The name was also given to a journal associated with the movement, '' L'Action Française'', sold by its own youth organization, the Camelot ...

movement. The first Action Française Students' Association was created on December 8, 1905, in Paris by

Lucien Moreau Lucien Moreau (January 16, 1875 – April 6, 1932) was a French journalist, monarchist and member of the Action Française. Family Lucien Moreau was born in 1875, son of Émile Moreau (1841–1919). He was the grand-nephew of Augustin Boyer, bro ...

, and was strengthened in 1913 with the formation of the national federation. The group was officially dissolved on February 13, 1936, following Action Française's involvement in the assault on

Léon Blum André Léon Blum (; 9 April 1872 – 30 March 1950) was a French socialist politician and three-time Prime Minister of France. As a Jew, he was heavily influenced by the Dreyfus affair of the late 19th century. He was a disciple of socialist l ...

History

Foundation

According to

Charles Maurras Charles-Marie-Photius Maurras (; ; 20 April 1868 – 16 November 1952) was a French author, politician, poet and critic. He was an organiser and principal philosopher of ''Action Française'', a political movement that was monarchist, corporatis ...

, youth were at the forefront of "the confrontation against the Republic and its outdated elites." The organization aimed to create significant agitation to provoke a coup and to cultivate an elite. On December 8, 1905, Lucien Moreau founded the first Action Française Students group in Île-de-France. Other groups followed, such as those in Angers (January 20, 1909) and Lille (May 12, 1910). The goal was to study and propagate the Action Française doctrine: "The group aims to study and promote nationalism within academic circles, fostering camaraderie and friendship among all students aligned with the principles of

integral nationalism Integral nationalism () is a type of nationalism that originated in 19th-century France, was theorized by Charles Maurras and mainly expressed in the ultra-royalist circles of the '' Action Française''. The doctrine is also called '' Maur ...

." The organization was closely tied to the

Institut d'Action française An institute is an organizational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body. In some countries, institutes ca ...

, founded in 1906 as an "institution of higher education against revolution." Both institutions shared premises at 33 rue Saint-André des Arts in the

6th arrondissement of Paris The 6th arrondissement of Paris (''VIe arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, it is referred to as ''le sixième''. The arrondissement, called Luxembourg in ...

. The headquarters featured a library, reading room, fencing hall, and facilities for literary, artistic, and athletic meetings. By 1913, the growing number of members led

Maurice Pujo Maurice Pujo (; 26 January 1872 – 6 September 1955) was a French journalist and co-founder of the nationalist and monarchist Action Française movement. He became the leader of the Camelots du Roi, the youth organization of the Action Français ...

to establish a national federation, with

Henri Lagrange Henri Lagrange (born 21 November 1893 in Paris; died 30 October 1915 in Montereau-Fault-Yonne) was a journalist and monarchist activist in France. Biography Henri Eugène Georges Lagrange was born in Paris on 21 November 1893. He published ...

serving as its first general secretary.

World War I

The outbreak of World War I interrupted the federation's activities, but some chapters remained active by including high school and middle school students. The war inflicted heavy losses on the group, with 10 of its 12 secretaries general and deputies killed.

Postwar Period

After the war, the federation quickly reorganized. In 1920, it launched the journal '' L'Étudiant français'', which was widely read in Paris, with a circulation of 2,300 copies by 1921.

Dissolution

On February 13, 1936, following an attack on

, the federation was dissolved under the Law of January 10, 1936, on combat groups and private militias.

Activities

Members participated in selling the ''

L'Action Française ''L'Action française'', organ of Integral nationalism, was a royalist French newspaper founded in Paris on 21 March 1908. It was banned during the Liberation of France in August 1944. The newspaper succeeded the '' Revue d'Action française' ...

'' and '' L'Étudiant français'' newspapers and provided security at events. They were also involved in demonstrations, often in university settings such as the

Latin Quarter The Latin Quarter of Paris (, ) is an urban university campus in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne. Known for its student life, lively atmosphere, and bistros, t ...

References

Bibliography

* {{Cite book, author=Anne-Catherine Schmidt-Trimborn, title=La ligue d’action française: Mode d’organisation et pratiques culturelles, sociales et politiques (1905–1936), publisher=Université de Lorraine, year=2017, url=https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/tel-01760400/document Action Française Student wings of political parties in France