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Hitler's Gift to France: The Return of the Remains of Napoleon II
In the dead of the winter of 1940, Hitler decided to return from its burial place in Vienna the ashes of Napoleon II, known as the “Aiglon,” the only son of the emperor Napoleon. The gesture was intended to win the support of the French people, but only managed to precipitate a political crisis at Vichy, where Marshal Pétain ordered the pro-German Deputy Prime Minister Pierre Laval arrested. Based on new research and previously unknown documents, the author, historian Georges Poisson, at last sheds light on an incident most historians—including Robert O. Paxton—have been at a loss to explain.
250 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 25, 2024
I want to preface my review by saying that although this book is listed four times on Goodreads (twice for the English translation and twice under the original French title 'Le retour des Cendres de l'Aiglon' yet it has previously attracted only one English language review. A brief investigation of Mr Poisson's other works revealed an equal lack of reviews. I find this disconcerting and, though I hate to question an author's veracity, I can't help wondering where he gets the information that Admiral Platon was executed in 1944 by being dismembered by two cars?
Having said that I rather enjoyed this little book. It is a powerful and totally disillusioning (that is if you had any illusions) look at Petain, Laval and the Vichy regime. Perhaps Mr. Poisson concentrates too much on the French angle of the return of 'l'Aiglon' because he remains mystified by Hitler's motivation. For me that is obvious - Hitler loathed the Habsburgs with a passionate intensity and delighted in acts of persecution against any members he had access to (most memorably the two Hohenberg sons of Franz Ferdinand who weren't even Habsburgs). It tells how the return of the body of Napoleon's son from Vienna to Paris was at the centre of a web of conspiracy, deceit and disinformation. Even 108 years after his death the King of Rome/Prince of Parma/Duke of Reichstadt (how many names the poor boy had) remained not a person but a symbol to be used.
I found it all fascinating because the story of Napoleon II, the two week emperor of France in succession to his father, is fascinating. By the age of seven he had been the heir to the French empire as Prince Imperial and King of Rome; then heir to the Duchy of Parma as Prince of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla and finally Duke of Reichstadt. He had also by that stage lost his name (never Napoleon, not even Francis but Franz), language (like his father and first cousin who became Napoleon III French was not his first language and he certainly didn't sound French), nationality and mother (he didn't really lose his mother, she abandoned him). His final title Duke of Reichstadt was possibly both an elaborate joke and insult. The last Duke of Reichstadt was Gian Gaston, the sad last Medici Grand Duke of Florence. He was always trapped by his position even though he had no real power, he could not even choose his successor, he was a symbol, nothing more though he had far more fun than his successor ever had (see footnote *1 below). For a boy who had held such glorious titles by the age of seven the title Duke of Reichstadt was a distinct come down.
Napoleon II, the little eaglet (l'Aiglon) is a footnote in post Napoleonic Europe and the transfer of his remains is barely a footnote to a footnote. He has had biographies, though not in English for over seventy years. The tawdry tale of deceitful political machinations behind the return of his remains was the final indignity forced on an innocent who was never seen as anything except a symbol.
This short little book tells the tale well but only the dead Napoleon II emerge innocent but not untainted.
*1 although off the subject of this review I cannot recommend highly enough Harold Acton's marvellous 'The Last Medici'.
Having said that I rather enjoyed this little book. It is a powerful and totally disillusioning (that is if you had any illusions) look at Petain, Laval and the Vichy regime. Perhaps Mr. Poisson concentrates too much on the French angle of the return of 'l'Aiglon' because he remains mystified by Hitler's motivation. For me that is obvious - Hitler loathed the Habsburgs with a passionate intensity and delighted in acts of persecution against any members he had access to (most memorably the two Hohenberg sons of Franz Ferdinand who weren't even Habsburgs). It tells how the return of the body of Napoleon's son from Vienna to Paris was at the centre of a web of conspiracy, deceit and disinformation. Even 108 years after his death the King of Rome/Prince of Parma/Duke of Reichstadt (how many names the poor boy had) remained not a person but a symbol to be used.
I found it all fascinating because the story of Napoleon II, the two week emperor of France in succession to his father, is fascinating. By the age of seven he had been the heir to the French empire as Prince Imperial and King of Rome; then heir to the Duchy of Parma as Prince of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla and finally Duke of Reichstadt. He had also by that stage lost his name (never Napoleon, not even Francis but Franz), language (like his father and first cousin who became Napoleon III French was not his first language and he certainly didn't sound French), nationality and mother (he didn't really lose his mother, she abandoned him). His final title Duke of Reichstadt was possibly both an elaborate joke and insult. The last Duke of Reichstadt was Gian Gaston, the sad last Medici Grand Duke of Florence. He was always trapped by his position even though he had no real power, he could not even choose his successor, he was a symbol, nothing more though he had far more fun than his successor ever had (see footnote *1 below). For a boy who had held such glorious titles by the age of seven the title Duke of Reichstadt was a distinct come down.
Napoleon II, the little eaglet (l'Aiglon) is a footnote in post Napoleonic Europe and the transfer of his remains is barely a footnote to a footnote. He has had biographies, though not in English for over seventy years. The tawdry tale of deceitful political machinations behind the return of his remains was the final indignity forced on an innocent who was never seen as anything except a symbol.
This short little book tells the tale well but only the dead Napoleon II emerge innocent but not untainted.
*1 although off the subject of this review I cannot recommend highly enough Harold Acton's marvellous 'The Last Medici'.
April 23, 2016
Excellent book about a little known napoleonic episode of World War II.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews