Breton National Party

The Breton National Party (PNB; in Breton: Strollad Broadel Breizh) was a nationalist political party in Brittany from 1931 to 1944.

 From creation in 1931 to ban in 1939 

 Foundation 
The party started when the Breton Autonomist Party (PAB) split after a meeting in Guingamp in August 1931. The nationalists made a new party. They made newspapers like La nation bretonne and War Zao. They restarted Breiz Atao from November 1931 to August 1939. The first meeting was in Landerneau on 27 December 1931 with 25 members.Nicolas, 1982, p. 82.

 Ideology 
Some from the PAB who wanted separation, like Olier Mordrel, Yann Sohier, and François Debeauvais, joined the PNB. The first meeting was in Landerneau on 27 December 1931. Breiz Atao started again. It followed the Irish revolution and was nationalist.

 Actions 
The party was small and had little power. It grew with attacks by the armed group Gwenn ha Du in Rennes in 1932. The PNB made a "Grand Council" to control the party, Gwenn ha Du, and Bleun-Brug. This was to control Célestin Lainé.Nicolas, 1982, p. 83. The actions gave publicity, but most newspapers said no, except L'Humanité.

 Move to far-right 
From 1934, the party joined far-right ideas in France. A group around Olier Mordrel took Nazi ideas and started the magazine Stur.Déniel, 1976, p. 198. Mordrel wanted a program like the Nazi Party, but the party did not fully follow.Nicolas, 1982, p. 84.

In February 1937, tuberculosis made Debeauvais let Raymond Delaporte help. This stopped Mordrel from taking power. At the meeting in Carhaix. In May 1938, walls had writings like "Brittany to the Bretons", "Breiz Atao will win".Cadiou, 2001.

 Ban 
A law by Édouard Daladier on 24 May 1938 went against separatists. It let courts punish those who hurt France's land.Ory, 1974, p. 182.Hamon, 2001, p. 30.Stora, 2000.

Near war, the PNB liked Germany and said no to war. At the meeting in Guingamp on 28 August 1938, they said Bretons give more soldiers than workers and no Breton blood for foreign causes. Posters said "No war for the Czechs". They had a small armed group, Kadervenn. Mordrel went to Germany many times.

On 14 December 1938, Mordrel and Debeauvais got one year prison with no time for hurting national unity. On 15 February 1939, the court said yes. On 29 July 1939, a law said nationalist talk was like spying and treason. In August 1939, after guns landed in Plestin, leaders hid. Debeauvais and Mordrel lost touch with members. The last Breiz Atao was on 27 August 1939. Louis Maubré was arrested on 31 August.

Debeauvais and Mordrel went to Belgium then Germany in late August 1939. Others joined the army. The party ended under Daladier on 20 October 1939Nicolas, 1982, p. 85. for being too friendly with Nazi Germany.Istor Ha Breiz . Goods were taken, papers destroyed. Debeauvais and Mordrel got death sentence on 7 May 1940. Searches happened at members' homes, some arrests (Yann Bricler, Kongar-Kervella, Marcel Guieysse, Édouard Gueguen, André Lajat, sister of Ange Péresse, abbé Perrot). In late October, Célestin Lainé was arrested on the north front.

 Time with Germans 

 Berlin 
Debeauvais went to Berlin (with Moyse, then Mordrel) to try for Breton freedom if France lost. In January 1940, they sent a "war letter" saying no true Breton dies for France. Enemies are French. In March 1940, they made Ouest-Information secretly.

 Breton Government 
Olier Mordrel said the Breton Government in Berlin in May 1940, a Breton government away from home.Bougeard, 2011.

Nazis wanted to grow the Reich to German speakers and break big countries by language. Hitler liked a Breton state. Talks in May-June 1940 between Otto Abetz and Mordrel/Debeauvais on making the state. Special camps for Breton prisoners in Germany, visits to Luckenwalde, Sagan.

In the 1940 defeat, some PNB helped German troops, like clearing mines near Hennebont or showing machine guns near Plougastel bridge.

 Back in Brittany and CNB 

 Back with Germans 
On 20 June 1940, first Breton prisoners came back with Fred Moyse (Germans in Rennes on 18 June). PNB got 400-500 free by September 1940. People thought PNB could free prisoners if they joined. On 22 June, Debeauvais came back, day of armistice.

 Germany changes 
Nazis wanted peace with Vichy, so no Breton state. On 11 July 1940, Abwehr said no more help for separatists. Work with Bretons only for spies against England and Ireland. No fights against French government. Bad for Breton leaders. Von Stauffenberg and Kurt Haller said no big meeting for free Brittany. Meeting ok in private, no words like "Breton state" or "independence". But it happened in Pontivy castle.

 Pontivy meeting: CNB 

On 3 July 1940 in Pontivy, Debeauvais and Mordrel made the Breton National Committee, with 18-point plan. They started L'Heure bretonne. 201 issues from July 1940 to June 1944.

On 12 July 1940, nationalists were banned from church by Bishop DUPARC of Quimper.

On 29 July 1940, people attacked Pontivy castle, home of Célestin Lainé's special service. They left on 9 August for Kerriou manor in Gouézec.

 Restart of PNB 

 Restart in October 1940 by Olier Mordrel 
In August 1940, some selling L'Heure Bretonne arrested in Quimper (Alexandre Angeli, Finistère prefect banned the paper; René Bousquet banned printing of Dihunamb). Daily papers supported Pétain and provinces.

On 20 October 1940, Mordrel led the party. L'Heure Bretonne fought Vichy. Prefects hated regionalists and nationalists. Mordrel gave general secretary to Delaporte. He set leaders per area: Paul Gaignet (Ille-et-Vilaine), Marcel Guieysse (Morbihan), Yann Ar Beg (Finistère), Yves Favreul-Ronarc'h (Loire-Atlantique), Albert Guillou (Paris). His ideas upset Vichy and Berlin, led to change in December 1940.

 Change in leaders in December 1940 
Links between Mordrel and Lainé got worse. Debeauvais wanted talk with Vichy, not Mordrel. Mordrel quit on 2 December 1940. Germans helped rivals remove him.

On 8 December 1940, Delaporte took over until war end. Job Jaffré led L'Heure Bretonne. Germans sent Mordrel to Germany under watch. Delaporte tried no side between Germans and Pétain.

On 18 January 1941, meeting in Nantes for workers in future Breton state. Germain Breton led Loire-Atlantique. In 1941, party had Lainé train militia Bagadoù stourm under Yann Goulet. Delaporte wanted good with Vichy and church. His brother Yves helped. Food scandals hurt ties with Vichy. Attacks on Vichy grew in 1941. Delaportes grew subscribers to L'Heure Bretonne times 3, members times 5.

Party had offices: secretary, admin, money, promo, check, youth, paper making, L'Heure Bretonne, Ar Studier Vrezon for students, Le Triskell for members, books.

In May 1941, Germans let Mordrel back. He came to Rennes on 16 September. On 7 September 1941, leaders met in Rennes.

On 13 December 1941, party made Breton Workers' Charter.

The 17 points used corporatism and federalism, changed Pétain's work rules.

In 1942, at top, PNB had 70 groups, 3,000 members (from 1,500 by Kristian Hamon to 5,000-6,000 by Jaffré, 4,400 by policeHamon, 2001, p. 115.). L'heure bretonne printed 100,000 first free, then 8,000 from May 1941.

 Actions in war 
PNB took over other Breton groups, hurt their name. Some moderates joined Breton Advisory Committee with Yann Fouéré and Joseph Martray.

Party had youth group Bagadoù stourm like other youth groups. Paper printed 30,000.

Vichy sometimes ok, sometimes not. Some say 40 members hurt by Nazis, like Yann Goulet hunger strike. But Kristian Hamon says Goulet arrested by French on 11 August 1943 for hitting gendarme, freed by Germans on 13 August. Arrested again on 9 September 1943, freed by Germans on 30 October 1943.Hamon, 2005, p. 44.

Jean-Jacques Monnier says of 1,500-3,000 members, tens joined Resistance and FFL, some in groups.

But leaders like Morvan Lebesque, Alan Heusaff collaborated with Nazis. Some links to Abwehr from 1920s.

Ties worse with hard wing. Double membership in Bagadoù stourm and Lainé's service banned. In 1943-1944, pro-German leaders kicked out for neutral line.

 Split by Célestin Lainé in late 1943 
After abbé Perrot killed, Lainé made Bezen Perrot with hard ones (Alan Heusaff). In May 1944, he made new PNB for full German side. Symbolic, did nothing.

He made second PNB, restarted Breiz Atao in May 1944.

 Nationalist Bretons in Resistance 
Jean-Jacques Monnier says six friends and nine young from party joined Liberté group of Saint-Nazaire, where liking England helped.Monnier, 2002, p. 110.

Liberté or "Timoléon" did spy and send to London, fought in Saint-Nazaire pocket in May 1945, as Monnier showed.Monnier, 2007. Some nationalists deported to Germany and died: Paul Le Maguer, Jean Chauvel, Pierre Ropert. Doctor Georges Leclair, in "Centurie" network and PNB leader, shot by Nazis on 6 July 1944 in Brest. Some from "Bleiz Mor" group killed on 28 July 1944 in Saint-Gilles-du-Mené.

Monnier says of 250 cultural, regionalist, nationalist Bretons in Resistance and Breton groups, about 50 from PNB. Half in marked groups, rest in normal networks.

 At Liberation 

Party ended on 18 August 1944.Boterf, 2000.

Most leaders punished for collaboration. Nine from Bezen Perrot, Guy Vissault group, or Selbstschutzpolizei shot in Rennes: Guy Vissault de Coëtlogon, Pierre Bernier, Hervé Botros, Fernand-André Geoffroy, Claude Geslin, Léon Jasson, Corentin Kergoat, Joseph Le Ruyet, Commandant Thomas; André Geoffroy's death changed. Ten death by absent: Michel Chevillotte, Louis Feutren, Gilbert Foix, Yann Goulet, Hervé Le Helloco, Edmond Joly, Auguste Ménard, Olier Mordrel, Ange Péresse.

Some escaped to Ireland with fake papers by Yann Fouéré.Fouéré, The House of Connemara. Few worried, only 15-16% to court, rare for friends. Epuration not big, not mass repression.Fondation de la Résistance .

But 52 killed per Mordrel,Mordrel, Breiz Atao, history and news of Breton movement. 36 no trial, of 2,000-3,000 (2-3%). Not counting arrests. Like abbé Lec'hvien shot by FTP for culture work.

Mordrel, Delaporte to Germany then Ireland. Mordrel said he made deal with Doriot's PPF on 16 February 1945 for Breton freedom in Swiss federation.

Yann Goulet, Hervé Le Helloco, Olier Mordrel death by absent.Fouéré, 1962, p. 194.Monnier, 2007, p. 326.Fouéré, 2011.

Others got national shame, banned from Brittany, to Paris or exile like Alan Heusaff.

Commandant Thomas, PNB leader, hurt by German on 3 August 1944 in Broons,Hamon, 2005, p. 24. wanted. Death not Resistance. Buried in Broons military square (no Died for France).

Pierre Ropert, old leader, dying in German camp, wanted. In Pat O'Leary network,Site municipal de Pontivy . died between Neuengamme and Bergen-Belsen on 28 March 1945.List of political deportees born or arrested in Morbihan, J.O. 161-14/07/1998.

Young Michel Plessis got life hard work on 4 May 1945 for giving Gestapo list of students (19 arrested 10 December 1943, 3 shot at Mont-Valérien, 5 died deported).Ouest-France, "Georges Fischer the student killed by mistake", 11 December 2012.

Books on Morbihan epuration: Annik Le Guen,Le Guen, 1992, p. 92. collective,Collectif, 2006, pp. 181, 247, 248. Charles Floquet.Floquet, 2003, p. 94.

 PNB books 
 History of Brittany - general. PNB Editions - Rennes, Central Print. 1941. The Militant's Notebooks.
 Union of Health Insurance in Brittany. PNB no 2: our fight for Brittany. PNB Editions - Rennes 1941
 History of Brittany by Jeanne Coroller-Danio, drawings by Xavier Haas. 1942. PNB Editions - Rennes
 History of Brittany for all by Jeanne Coroller-Danio, PNB Editions - Rennes, Central Print Rennes. 1942  
 Our fight for Brittany. PNB Editions - Rennes. 1942.
 The road to far goal.
 Thoughts of a Breton nationalist.
 War raok! Road songs by Xavier Haas. PNB Editions - Rennes. 1942.

 References 

 Further reading 
 Cadiou, Georges (2001). L'Hermine et la Croix gammée. Mango Document.
 Boterf, Hervé Le (2000). La Bretagne dans la guerre.
 Bougeard, Christian (2011). "Bretagne et identités régionales pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale". Centre de Recherche Bretonne et Celtique.
 Carney, Sébastien (2015). Breiz Atao ! Mordrel, Delaporte, Lainé, Fouéré: une mystique nationale (1901–1948). Presses Universitaires de Rennes.
 Collectif (2006). 1939-1945 en Centre-Bretagne, Tome 4: Des lendemains qui chantent. Liv'Éditions.
 Déniel, Alain (1976). Le mouvement breton de 1919-1945. Éditions Maspero.
 Floquet, Charles (2003). Pontivy, la liberté retrouvée. Keltia Graphic.
 Fouéré, Yann (1962). La Bretagne Écartelée: Essai pour servir à l'histoire de dix ans, 1938-1948. Nouvelles Éditions Latines.
 Fouéré, Yann (2011). Histoire d'un Breton (1): La patrie interdite: Autobiographie. FeniXX réédition numérique.
 Fouéré, Yann. La Maison du Connemara.
 Hamon, Kristian (2001). Les nationalistes bretons sous l'occupation. An Here.
 Hamon, Kristian (2005). Le Bezen Perrot: 1944, des nationalistes bretons sous l'uniforme allemand. Yoran Embanner.
 Hamon, Kristian (2009). "Agents de l'Abwehr en Bretagne (PNB)". Histomag 44, special issue, Normandy Landing.
 Le Guen, Annik (1992). L'épuration dans le Morbihan. A. Le Guen.
 Maignen, Étienne (2010). "De 1940 à 1941, Réapparition d'une Bretagne provisoirement incomplète, un provisoire destiné à durer". Bulletin et mémoires de la société archéologique d'Ille-et-Vilaine, volume CXIV, pp. 237–258.
 Monnier, Jean-Jacques (2002). "Des militants bretons dans la Résistance". Bretagne et identités régionales pendant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale. Centre de Recherche Bretonne et Celtique.
 Monnier, Jean-Jacques (2007). Résistance et conscience bretonne, 1940-1945, l'hermine contre la croix gammée. Yoran Embanner.
 Mordrel, Olier. Breiz Atao, histoire et actualité du mouvement breton.
 Ory, Pascal (1974). Les collaborateurs, 1940-1945.
 Stora, Benjamin (2000). Messali Hadj.