One hundred years later, 14 to 18, the Franco-German friendship ", an example for the world"

By Hervé ASQUIN | AFP -

A century after the beginning of the First World War, the Franco-German reconciliation and friendship with François Hollande week "example to the world", especially in the Middle East, calling it "more than ever" to a ceasefire in Gaza.

One hundred years to the day after the declaration of war from Germany to France, French head of state and his German counterpart Joachim Gauck Hartmannswillerkopf recalls in Alsace, the sacrifice of the soldiers in the war of 14 -18.

Then furry mountain area as a "man-eater" Vieil Armand, were about 30,000 of them killed in a fierce battle for control of a ledge over 956 feet above the plain of Alsace.

Since this is a year before the Oradour-sur-Glane, Limousin martyred people, a large part of the population of the slaughter of the SS in June 1944 appeared the two presidents to meet and during the ceremony have given.

- Long and warm hug -

In the crypt of the National Monument, built in 1932 Hartmannswillerkopf, also gave a long, warm hug she took a few moments before the big bronze shield, in which about 12,000 unidentified French and rely German soldiers to their deaths mingled.

"The history of France and Germany confirmed that the will, always on the fate and the people who are called hereditary enemies, may be brought in a few years in line to win," said the head of state of France, "message", the despair the peace process in the Middle East.

"What a beautiful message that we can offer you today?" I said.

"It should make every effort to determine to end more than ever, a cease-fire in Gaza and the suffering of the civilian population," said Francois Hollande said.

Friendship between France and Germany, the "reconciliation impudence" had, "is an example of a global, friendly power who are injured peace, human rights, in which cheated the principles of international law threatened," he said, still out to charge the Ukraine, the Christians in Iraq and women in Nigeria.

When Joachim Gauck, Hollande comes with strong praise for the "extraordinary adventure" building Europe "was able to defeat the war" and "on the continent, the values of democracy."

But he complained that Europe "appeared crisis without power" and "Bring not the expected benefits," he said only a "clear and is not ideal." Back to this ideal François Hollande has returned to Europe to "open the prospect of growth, employment and solidarity, but also for culture, education and knowledge." And to do that, he had gathered "Much will depend on the friendship between France and Germany"

"It is true that Europe is a challenging project," the president of Germany repeated as the moral authority of the country has seen. However, "the European Community and in Europe in the hands of the vagaries of history, institutional memory is a history lesson, insurance errors and passions" nationalist and populist.

- Historical -

In Hartmannswillerkopf, François Hollande and Joachim Gauck fixed ritual symbol: a military ceremony, a wreath, a minute of silence, hundreds of young French and German by the youth welfare office gathered the German-French collected ...

But they are also the first "story" Stone German-French reconciliation is also very symbolic, because the Son Created by a team of historians, first.

This "unique, (...), a symbol of friendship between France and Germany", be "reconciled with his memory symbol" the museum, it said in a joint statement.

On a lighter note, the two presidents after lunch on the farm movie Francois Truffaut hard Molkenrain inn "Jules and Jim".

But not yet determined, probably, the anniversary of the invasion of the Kingdom of Belgium on Monday troops Empire, August 4, 1914.