Union nationale des combattants

The Union nationale des combattants (UNC) is a French veterans' association founded in the aftermath of World War I. It was initiated by Père Daniel Brottier, a military chaplain, who asked General Léon Durand to become its first president in 1918. The founding assembly was convened in early 1919, and local sections were created throughout France and overseas. The UNC became known to the press in January 1919 and was recognized as being of public utility on 20 May 1920. Its motto, "Unis comme au front" (United as at the front), was proposed by Père Brottier. The association's purpose is twofold: to secure recognition of veterans' right to reparation and the nation's gratitude, and to keep the duty of remembrance alive through commemorations and testimonies, particularly in schools and universities. It defends the moral, social and material interests of its members and has obtained measures such as the carte du combattant, the retraite mutualiste, the titre de reconnaissance de la nation, and the decrystallization of veterans' pensions for former soldiers from countries that became independent. In the interwar period, the UNC was one of the two major French veterans' federations, alongside the Union fédérale (UF). The UF was positioned centre-left, while the UNC was centre-right and, for some of its leaders and members, right-wing. Both promoted a "combatant spirit" based on pacifist patriotism and civic action rather than political action. From November 1935, UNC leaders contributed to the founding of the Comité France-Allemagne, and in July 1936 Jean Goy and other leaders launched the "Rassemblement français", an anti-communist grouping that failed. After World War II, the UNC was revived and held a general assembly in November 1945. It commemorated its 50th anniversary in 1969, then grouping three generations of combatants: veterans of 1914-1918, of 1939-1945, and those of external theatres and North Africa. In 1984, an extraordinary general assembly at Vittel accepted the merger with the Union nationale des combattants d'Afrique du Nord (UNC-AFN). Although not politically engaged and claiming partisan independence, the UNC is sometimes categorized as close to right-wing ideas, unlike the FNACA. The UNC today continues its missions of assistance to the wounded, support for professional reconversion, and remembrance. It publishes La Voix du Combattant, a monthly national magazine with 19 regional editions, distributed by subscription to 120,000 copies. The magazine, created in 1919 at the same time as the association, serves as a link between members and covers general, legal and social information of interest to the combatant world across generations.

The Union nationale des combattants (UNC) was founded in the aftermath of World War I. Its creation was initiated by Père Daniel Brottier, a military chaplain who had the idea. In November 1918, he asked General Léon Durand, who had just left active service, to become the first president of the UNC. Durand accepted the presidency in 1918, convened the founding assembly in early 1919, and created local sections throughout France, including overseas. The UNC became known to the press in January 1919. Its patronage committee included Cardinal Léon Adolphe Amette, Pastor Couvé, Grand Rabbi Lévi, Maurice Barrès, Louis Barthou, Paul Beauregard, Léon Bourgeois, Charles Chenu, Alexandre Millerand, General Paul Pau and Abbé Émile Wetterlé. Georges Clemenceau gave the first treasurer of the UNC the sum of 100,000 gold francs, coming from the donation of a mother whose son had fallen in combat. Père Brottier proposed the motto "Unis comme au front", which became that of the UNC. He participated in the board of directors until 23 July 1923 before taking the direction of the Orphelins apprentis d'Auteuil. The UNC was recognized as being of public utility on 20 May 1920. Its purpose was twofold: to have the right to reparation of veterans recognized and, more generally, the nation's recognition towards them, and to keep the duty of remembrance alive by participating in commemorations and providing testimonies, particularly to the school and university world. Four months after the birth of the UNC, the law of 31 March 1919 proclaimed in its preamble: "the Republic, grateful to those who ensured the salvation of the fatherland, proclaims and determines the right to reparation". In this line, the UNC committed to defending the moral, social and material interests of its members and has obtained since its foundation the creation of the titre de reconnaissance de la nation, the retraite mutualiste, the carte du combattant, the decrystallization of the combatant's pension and military invalidity pensions of veterans of the French army who are nationals of countries that became independent. In the interwar period, the UNC was, along with the Union fédérale des associations françaises d'anciens combattants (UF), one of the two great veterans' federations. The UF was centre-left and the UNC centre-right, and right-wing for some of its leaders and members, notably those of the UNC of Paris, who participated in the demonstration of 6 February 1934. These two great federations valued the "combatant spirit", founded on pacifist patriotism and civic action, preferred to political action — politics being perceived negatively as a place of disunion and inaction, contrary to the mythified memory of the front (hence the slogan "unis comme au front"). From November 1935, the leaders of the UNC contributed, like those of the UF, to the founding of the Comité France-Allemagne and animated it. In July 1936, Jean Goy and the other leaders launched the "Rassemblement français", which aimed to regroup all anti-communist parties and associations. The initiative stagnated in 1936-37 and proved a failure. After the interlude of World War II, the UNC was reborn and held a general assembly in November 1945. It commemorated its 50th anniversary in 1969. It then grouped three generations of combatants: veterans of 1914-1918 and those of 1939-1945, as well as veterans of external theatres of operations and their cadets who maintained order in North Africa. After long negotiations and as veterans of the Algerian War became preponderant, the extraordinary general assembly of 2 June 1984 at Vittel decided to accept the merger with the Union nationale des combattants d'Afrique du Nord (UNC-AFN) of François Porteu de La Morandière. As a result, although not politically engaged and claiming partisan independence, the UNC is sometimes wrongly categorized as close to right-wing ideas, unlike the Fédération nationale des anciens combattants en Algérie, Maroc et Tunisie (FNACA), by signifying that the commemoration of the ceasefire of 19 March 1962 marking the end of the Algerian War, following the Évian Accords signed on 18 March 1962, had no reason to take place. The UNC has had several presidents. General Léon Durand was the "founding president"; this divisional general (1904) who played an important role in the Battle of the Grand-Couronné in 1914, was old (born in 1846 and died in 1925), and was honorary president from 1923 following his resignation for health reasons. Charles Bertrand was president from 1923 to 1925; a deputy since 1919, he had been secretary general of the UNC from 1919 to 1923 and founding president of the Fédération interalliée des anciens combattants (FIDAC). Humbert Isaac (1878-1975) was president from 1925 to 1926; son of businessman and deputy Auguste Isaac, he was one of the leaders of the family firm Dognin & Cie, president of the Rhône department group, and vice-president of the UNC since 1919; he later became honorary president and sat on the board in that capacity. Henry Rossignol (1889-1956) was president from 1926 to 1934; a law graduate and insurance consultant, secretary general of the Seine-et-Oise department group of the UNC, then president, vice-president of the UNC; mobilized in August 1914, he was wounded on 29 August 1914 and had part of his left arm amputated; holder of the military medal (1915) and the croix de guerre, he was a knight of the Legion of Honour in 1927, officer in 1932 and commander in 1940. Today, the UNC continues its missions. Its website highlights aid and follow-up for the wounded, a priority since its creation in 1918, and aid for professional reconversion for members and military personnel leaving the Defence institution. It publishes La Voix du Combattant, a monthly national magazine with 19 regional editions, distributed by subscription to 120,000 copies. The magazine, born in 1919 at the same time as the association, is a link between members and opens its columns widely to testimonies and historical articles. Beyond evocations of the past and the life of the association, it is also a news magazine that disseminates all general, legal and social information likely to interest the combatant world, across all generations.

• 1984

  Extraordinary general assembly on 2 June 1984 at Vittel accepts the merger with the Union nationale des combattants d'Afrique du Nord (UNC-AFN).

• 1969

  UNC commemorates its 50th anniversary, grouping three generations of combatants.

• 1945

  After World War II, the UNC is reborn and holds a general assembly in November 1945.

• 1936

  In July 1936, Jean Goy and other leaders launch the "Rassemblement français", which fails.

• 1935

  From November 1935, UNC leaders contribute to the founding of the Comité France-Allemagne.

• 1934

  Members of the UNC of Paris participate in the demonstration of 6 February 1934.

• 1926

  Henry Rossignol becomes president (1926-1934).

• 1925

  Humbert Isaac becomes president (1925-1926).

• 1923

  General Léon Durand resigns for health reasons and becomes honorary president; Charles Bertrand becomes president (1923-1925).

• 1920

  UNC recognized as being of public utility on 20 May 1920.

• 1919

  Founding assembly convened in early 1919; local sections created throughout France and overseas; UNC becomes known to the press in January 1919.

• 1919

  La Voix du Combattant is created at the same time as the association.

• 1918

  Père Daniel Brottier asks General Léon Durand to become the first president of the UNC; Durand accepts.

French veterans' association, recognized as being of public utility, non-partisan but historically centre-right, dedicated to remembrance and veterans' rights.

• La Voix du Combattant

  Monthly national magazine with 19 regional editions, distributed by subscription to 120,000 copies; created in 1919.

1. 1Union nationale des combattants - Accueilunc.fr
2. 2Union nationale des combattantswikidata.org
3. 3Union nationale des combattantsfr.wikipedia.org