The March to the Marne

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The book explores the complex relationship between the French army and the Third Republic, highlighting the challenges of integrating a historically conservative military into a democratic framework. It argues that the officer corps' social origins and political attitudes hindered cooperation, leading to significant consequences during World War I. Through a detailed analysis of the Dreyfus affair and its effects on military strategy and armament debates, the author provides fresh insights into the army's role in French politics from 1871 to 1914, including the development of the colonial army.