The Boulanger Shadow
If the east of Europe was in chaos due to the Bulgarian crisis, the west was facing its own troubles.
The main culprit of this dispute was France, or more precisely, the man known as Boulanger.
The problematic figure, Boulanger, first appeared on the public stage in January 1886 at the beginning of this year.
General Georges Boulanger, who took office as Minister of War in January 1886, immediately began to reveal his true colors.
Born in 1837, Boulanger had experienced the humiliation of the Franco-Prussian War and the suppression of the Paris Commune, deeply embedding his hatred for Germany as a typical hardline anti-German.
Seeing this as his opportunity to seize military power, Boulanger viewed it as the perfect chance to avenge the humiliation of the Franco-Prussian War.
Of course, Boulanger also knew that with the current French army, he could not match the German army.
“So, it’s reform.”
Boulanger demanded a major reform of the French army.
“Increasing the conscription period indefinitely won’t create a good army. The key is to boost the morale of the soldiers. Before demanding loyalty from the soldiers, they must first receive treatment commensurate with it.”
Boulanger began by shortening the soldiers’ service period from five years to three years, and ordered that straw mattresses be replaced with spring mattresses.
Modernization of equipment was also promoted.
Boulanger believed that the outdated weapons system adopted by the conservative military could not confront Prussia, so he threw himself into introducing new weapons and equipment.
Additionally, anti-espionage measures were drafted, and a defensive posture against German spies was established.
At the same time, elements opposing the republic within the military were eliminated.
“Those Legitimists and such don’t deserve to wear military uniforms. What are we to believe if we arm those who do not swear loyalty to the French Republic?”
Boulanger expelled Legitimist officers from the army or sent them to sinecure positions.
Through these efforts, Boulanger sharpened the French republican army.
This policy of Boulanger received enthusiastic support from the hardline anti-German elements who dreamed of revenge against Germany.
“As expected, it’s General Boulanger. We believed in him.”
Boulanger, in response, delivered a hardline speech in Reims.
“We can now abandon the unfortunate defensive policy towards Germany. France must increasingly follow an offensive policy.”
This speech implied a hardline stance towards Germany, shocking not only the French but also the Germans.
Boulanger’s claims in his speeches grew increasingly harsh over time.
In public speeches, Boulanger openly advocated revenge against Germany, hinting at his intention to seek retribution.
“First, we must definitely recover Alsace-Lorraine.”
“Second, France must have a stronger army than Germany.”
“Third, national unity is the foundation of military power.”
“Fourth, we must not remain in defense only; if necessary, we must prepare offensive strategies.”
Boulanger’s revanchism was not limited to simple slogans.
He actually worked hard to reform the army and build a military capable of fighting Germany.
The public, seeing this, called him the “General of Revenge” and supported him as a symbol of the hardline anti-German faction.
Boulanger’s revanchism had now become a political current that the French government could no longer ignore.
Germany also responded by increasing military spending.
Russia was watching this delicate situation closely.
Having realized the lack of a proper alliance due to the previous Bulgarian crisis, the Russians were looking for a reliable friend.
France was one of the candidates.
Of course, there were voices of concern that if they allied with France, they might be swept into the war between France and Germany, but the Foreign Ministry believed that such a thing would not happen.
“French people only spout harsh rhetoric; they have no intention of actually going to war.”
If France did not rashly engage in war with Germany, Paris could become a good friend in Saint Petersburg.
They were a country with the national power to counter Germany and the vast financial capital that Russia needed.
Russia approached France cautiously.
As diplomatic relations showed signs of improvement, Boulanger became more assertive.
Not only did he significantly expand military facilities along the German border, but he also began stockpiling large quantities of military supplies.
To Germany, this appeared to be war preparation.
Even more serious was the formation of a hardline faction centered around Boulanger.
In the future, the tiger who would bring Germany to its knees in World War I, Georges Clemenceau, the leader of the Patriot League Paul Déroulède, the radical politician Henri Rochefort, and the republican prime minister Charles de Freycinet joined the flag of Boulanger’s revanchism, known as Boulangerism.
Their scale far exceeded that of the original.
Of course, Waldemar was not surprised by this fact.
The anti-German sentiment in France had become much more intense than before due to Waldemar’s butterfly effect.
Waldemar read through Boulanger’s speeches and claims one by one, placing them on his desk and carefully reading the contents.
Setting aside prejudices, looking only at the content,
“Boulanger speaks strongly, but he doesn’t mean to go to war right now.”
Boulanger was willing to wait until France had the strength.
The supporters of Boulanger also claimed similar things.
At least in this regard, the hardliners in France were realistic.
That’s why they were dangerous.
Waldemar thought he could not allow Boulanger and his supporters to continue growing.
Of course, even if he left Boulanger alone, he would have to be dismissed due to his anti-German stance, but it was his supporters who were the problem.
“Even in the long term, it’s no good to leave these people alone. Before they gather more power, let’s finish Boulanger.”
Waldemar decided on a preemptive attack on the Boulanger faction.
“The method of attack would be the press, I suppose.”
Waldemar asked John Connor to find the French yellow press that would report anything if it was interesting.
Finding such a press in France, where the cheap mass newspaper market was most developed in the world at the time, was not particularly difficult.
After searching, John Connor found two newspapers: Le Petit Journal and Le Petit Parisien.
“How do you plan to use these newspapers?”
“By the way, we have to fill them with words that the French public likes to hear.”
From that day on, Waldemar began transmitting Boulanger’s words to these yellow press.
The yellow press published these statements without verifying them.
Summarizing the fabricated statements by Waldemar,
“Now, all preparations are complete. The Republican Army will rush to the Rhine and, after sixteen years, bring back the water of their beloved homeland to Paris!”
“Wow!”
Bringing water from the Rhine.
The public cheered.
“The time of long humiliation is over. The defeat in the War of the French Revolution is a failure of military and political strategy, not a lack of national power. We will return the fifty billion francs of tears shed in this war several times over.”
“Wow! War reparations!”
They will smash Germany and get back fifty billion francs in tears.
People felt their shoulders lift just imagining it.
“The great enemy of the past, Bismarck, is old. His outdated French isolation system has long since collapsed. French people, do not be afraid. This stage is prepared for us to win!”
Boulanger’s encouragement raised the confidence of the French people to new heights.
The entire Paris was boiling with expectations for Boulanger’s imminent revenge.
“What does that mean? That we are going to war with Germany?”
The Paris cabinet members could not hide their bewilderment.
Even Clemenceau, who represented the hardline anti-German faction, could not hide his confusion.
They themselves were not advocating war, yet everyone knew they were preparing for war, which was quite shocking.
“Those cheap third-rate newspapers just rambled on their own. Let’s just ignore it and move on. If we start explaining and such, and if we mention Germany, we’ll be in big trouble.”
The cabinet decided not to respond to this issue for the time being.
But the situation did not resolve as smoothly as the French thought.
Separately from the French cabinet’s silence, Germany was in an uproar.
“Look. You openly shouted that you would go to war in the newspapers. Is this the sincere attitude of the visiting government that promised peace and friendship?”
“Ah, no. This is just an exaggeration by those third-rate newspapers. Our government’s official position is definitely not that.”
The French ambassador to Germany, Jules Gabriel Herbette, was sweating profusely as he tried to reassure the Germans.
“Then, what about the speech General Boulanger is making? What about his provocative actions?”
The Germans pounded their desks in anger.
“Now we can’t believe a word you say. Unless Berlin takes credible measures, we will issue a mobilization order for the reserves within the next week.”
The ambassador hurriedly asked for conditions in response to Berlin’s threat.
“What measures are necessary to reassure Berlin?”
The Germans answered without thinking.
“Have Boulanger resign.”
Germany intended to eliminate the thorn in their side, Boulanger, this time.
“But.”
The Germans showed no intention of listening further.
A few days later, the news that Germany was really preparing a mobilization order was published in the newspapers.
“Is this really going to lead to war?”
While everyone was tense with the war crisis, Waldemar returned to the government bond futures market.
“Since we spent some money hiring the yellow press, let’s at least recover the labor costs or something.”
Waldemar’s group bought a lot of government bonds while roaming Berlin, Paris, and London.
This time, they bought an amount equivalent to 100 million marks.
Waldemar again believed that France would not be able to withstand it.
The reason was simple.
Boulanger had not gone through the Schnaebele Affair, so his position was not as strong as before. The Schnaebele Affair refers to the 1887 incident where German secret police arrested French border guard Schnaebele on charges of espionage amid German-French friction. In this process, Schnaebele’s release was portrayed as due to Boulanger’s hardline response including mobilization, which greatly increased his national support.
As the smell of gunpowder began to thicken again in Europe, France took a step back.
“I will dismiss Boulanger.”
This was an unbearable humiliation and disgrace to the French citizens.
For Waldemar, it was a victory worth 30 million marks.
Thousands of Paris citizens lay on the tracks to prevent Boulanger from leaving.
“We cannot send our general! General Boulanger, please stay in Paris and lead us! Dissolve the parliament and seize power! Take revenge on the Germans for us!”
In response to the people’s shouts, Boulanger replied,
“Fellow citizens, soldiers must obey orders. I am going to fulfill my duty to the army, so please open the way.”
Boulanger outwardly accepted retirement, but it was as a soldier.
Boulanger intended to make a comeback as a politician.
However, Waldemar had no intention of giving him that opportunity.
“I am leaving for Elba Island, but the world will soon realize my innocence. I am confident that I will return to the side of my beloved citizens in the near future.”
Elba Island.
Waldemar had overlaid Napoleon’s image onto Boulanger through the yellow press.
This image was fatal to the politicians who already feared Boulanger’s political influence.
“Well, if he endures this and makes a comeback, I’ll acknowledge it.”
After delivering his final blow to Boulanger, Waldemar washed his hands of France.