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Clemenceau’s dark days

Georges Clemenceau, Prime Minister of France, inspecting French troops during the ‘dark days’ of war in 1918, the year before the assassination attempt. It’s interesting to see among the troops, soldiers from France’s colonies in Africa.

Year:After 19 February 1919

LocationFrance

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Clemenceau’s dark days

Georges Clemenceau, Prime Minister of France, inspecting French troops during the ‘dark days’ of war in 1918, the year before the assassination attempt. It’s interesting to see among the troops, soldiers from France’s colonies in Africa.


Year: After 19 February 1919

Length: 00:56

Production Company: Australasian Gazette

Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

Catalogue Reference: NFSA title:1553902


People: Georges Clemenceau

Location: France

Tags: Prime Ministers, France, assassination

Subject: Prime Ministers, assassination, France


Georges Clemenceau was the Prime Minister of France during the First World War. He was nicknamed ‘Père la Victoire’ (Father Victory) and ‘Le Tigre’ (The Tiger).

The opening intertitle from this Australasian Gazette newsreel story refers to an assassination attempt by anarchist Émile Cottin on 19 February 1919. Cottin fired on the French prime minister several times as he was leaving his house in Paris to attend a meeting. One bullet hit Clemenceau between the ribs. Too dangerous to remove, the bullet remained with him for the rest of his life. Cottin was attacked by the crowd and nearly killed.