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{{Short description|French writer (1906–1958)}}
'''Pierre-Antoine Cousteau''' (18 March 1906 – 17 December 1958) was a [[French people|French]] [[polemicist|polemic]] and journalist. He was the brother of the famous [[explorer]] [[Jacques-Yves Cousteau]].
'''Pierre-Antoine Cousteau''' (18 March 1906 – 17 December 1958) was a French [[polemicist]] and journalist. He was the brother of the [[explorer]] [[Jacques-Yves Cousteau]].


==Leftist activism==
==Leftist activism==
He was born in [[Saint-André-de-Cubzac]], [[Gironde]], and educated in the [[United States]] as well as the [[Lycée Louis-le-Grand]]. Cousteau served in the military before working as a [[translator]] and a [[meteorologist]] and for [[New York City|New York]]'s Credit Alliance Corporation.<ref name="Rees p72" /> He then became a journalist for [[left-wing]] papers such as ''Regards'' or ''Monde'' and was associated with [[pacifism]] and the [[Anti-Stalinist left]].<ref name="Rees p72" />
He was born in [[Saint-André-de-Cubzac]], [[Gironde]], and educated in the United States as well as the [[Lycée Louis-le-Grand]]. Cousteau served in the military before working as a [[translator]] and a [[meteorologist]] and for New York City's Credit Alliance Corporation.<ref name="Rees p72" /> He became a journalist for [[left-wing]] papers such as ''Regards'' or ''Monde'' and was associated with [[pacifism]] and the [[Anti-Stalinist left]].<ref name="Rees p72" />


==Move to Fascism==
==Move to Fascism==
Cousteau abandoned his [[communism]] in the early 1930s, and was drawn to [[anti-Semitism]] and anti-democracy, writing for ''Coup de Patte'' and then ''[[Je suis partout]]'', a journal of which he became editor in 1932.<ref name="Rees p72" /> In this role he was close to [[Pierre Gaxotte]], who converted him to fascism.
Cousteau abandoned his [[communism]] in the early 1930s, and was drawn to [[antisemitism]] and authoritarian view, writing for ''Coup de Patte'' and then ''[[Je suis partout]]'', becoming editor of the journal in 1932.<ref name="Rees p72" /> In this role, he was close to [[Pierre Gaxotte]], who converted him to fascism.


He went to [[Nazi Germany]] in 1936 with [[Robert Brasillach]] and [[Georges Blond]] and then [[Spain]] in 1938 with Brasillach and [[Maurice Bardèche]]. While the trips helped to develop his fascism, his attendance at the [[Nuremberg Rally]] of 1937 left him of the opinion that [[Nazism]] was impressive but not without its flaws.<ref name="Rees p72" />
He visited [[Nazi Germany]] in 1936 with [[Robert Brasillach]] and [[Georges Blond]] and then [[Spain]] in 1938 with Brasillach and [[Maurice Bardèche]]. While the trips developed his fascist sympathies, his attendance at the [[Nuremberg Rally]] of 1937 left him with the opinion that [[Nazism]] was impressive but not without its flaws.<ref name="Rees p72" />


==Collaboration==
==Collaboration==
Cousteau was recalled up to the army in 1939 and captured in 1940, although Brasillach secured his release and he returned to ''Je suis partout'', eventually succeeding Brasillach as political director in 1943.<ref name="Rees p72" /> A strong believer in [[collaboration]], he sought [[internment]] for the [[Jews]] and justified his stance by stating in 1943 that "We are not opportunists. We remain just plain fascists".<ref name="Rees p72" /> His other wartime roles included a spell as editor of ''[[Paris-Soir]]'' in 1941, service on the general secretariat of [[Milice]] from 1942 and a series of written works for a variety of journals, including ''Combats'', the militant journal of [[Henry Charbonneau]].<ref name="Rees p72" /> He was particularly noted for both his [[anti-Semitism]] and his [[anti-Americanism]] and in 1942 he produced his most notorious work ''L'Amérique juive'', in which he sought to demonstrate that the [[United States]] was controlled by [[Jews]] and that these Jews were bent on controlling the world.<ref>Seth D. Armus, ''French Anti-Americanism (1930-1948): Critical Moments in a Complex History'', Lexington Books, 2007, p. 10</ref>
Cousteau was recalled up to the army in 1939 and captured in 1940, although Brasillach secured his release and he returned to ''Je suis partout'', eventually succeeding Brasillach as political director in 1943.<ref name="Rees p72" /> A strong believer in [[Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy|collaboration]], he sought [[internment]] for the [[Jews]] and justified his stance by stating in 1943 that "We are not opportunists. We remain just plain fascists".<ref name="Rees p72" /> His other wartime roles included a spell as editor of ''[[Paris-Soir]]'' in 1941, service on the general secretariat of [[Milice]] from 1942 and a series of written works for journals such as ''Combats'', the militant journal of [[Henry Charbonneau]].<ref name="Rees p72" /> He was particularly known for both his [[antisemitism]] and his [[anti-Americanism]]. In 1942, he produced the work ''L'Amérique juive'' in which he sought to demonstrate the [[United States]] was controlled by [[Jews]] who were bent on controlling the world.<ref>Seth D. Armus, ''French Anti-Americanism (1930–1948): Critical Moments in a Complex History'', Lexington Books, 2007, p. 10</ref>


In August 1944 he moved to [[Bad Mergentheim]], where he helped run a French newspaper and radio station, before ultimately fleeing to [[Switzerland]]. Arrested at [[Innsbruck]], he was condemned to death in November 1946, before the sentence was commuted to life with [[hard labour]].<ref name="Rees p72" /> Cousteau would later justify his collaboration by stating that "I wanted a German victory because it represented the last chance of the white man, while the democracies represented the end of the white man".<ref name="Malle">Hugo Frey, ''Louis Malle'', Manchester University Press, 2004, p. 76</ref>
In August 1944, he moved to [[Bad Mergentheim]], where he helped run a French newspaper and radio station, before ultimately fleeing to [[Switzerland]]. Arrested at [[Innsbruck]], he was condemned to death in November 1946, before the sentence was commuted to life with [[hard labour]].<ref name="Rees p72" /> Cousteau would later justify his collaboration by stating: "I wanted a German victory because it represented the last chance of the white man, while the democracies represented the end of the white man".<ref name="Malle">Hugo Frey, ''Louis Malle'', Manchester University Press, 2004, p. 76</ref>


==Post-war activity==
==Post-war activity==
Released under an [[amnesty]] in 1953, he went on to edit the extreme [[nationalist]] journal ''[[Rivarol (magazine)|Rivarol]]'', as well as contributing to [[Henry Coston]]'s ''Lectures Françaises'', ''Jeune Nation'', ''Charivari'', ''Dimanche-Matin'' and others. He was also associated with the minor ''Union des Intellectuels Indépendants'' movement.<ref name="Rees p72" /> His brother Jacques, whose fame was growing at the time, had begged Pierre-Antoine to retire from public life following his release from prison, but he refused, insisting that it was a matter of honor that he continue to agitate.<ref>Sophie Coignard, Marie-Thérèse Guichard, ''French Connections: Networks of Influence'', Algora Publishing, 2000, p. 244</ref> His most well-known post-war work was ''Les lois de l'hospitalité'' in which he justified collaboration, arguing "we [the collaborators] did not commit an error of judgement. There were just too many tanks and too many planes against us".<ref>Philippe Carrard, ''The French Who Fought for Hitler: Memories from the Outcasts'', Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 193</ref>
Released under an [[amnesty]] in 1953, he became editor of the extreme [[nationalist]] journal ''[[Rivarol (magazine)|Rivarol]]'', as well as contributing to [[Henry Coston]]'s ''Lectures Françaises'', ''Jeune Nation'', ''Charivari'', ''Dimanche-Matin'' and others. He was also associated with the minor ''Union des Intellectuels Indépendants'' movement.<ref name="Rees p72" /> His brother Jacques, whose international profile was growing at the time, had begged Pierre-Antoine to retire from public life following his release from prison, but he refused, insisting that it was a matter of honor that he continue to agitate.<ref>Sophie Coignard, Marie-Thérèse Guichard, ''French Connections: Networks of Influence'', Algora Publishing, 2000, p. 244</ref> In his post-war work ''Les lois de l'hospitalité'' he argued in favor of collaboration: "we [the collaborators] did not commit an error of judgement. There were just too many tanks and too many planes against us".<ref>Philippe Carrard, ''The French Who Fought for Hitler: Memories from the Outcasts'', Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 193</ref>


He fell seriously ill in the late 1950s and had to withdraw from politics, requiring regular blood transfusions to survive.<ref name="Malle"/> He died age 52 in [[Paris]].
He fell seriously ill in the late 1950s and had to withdraw from politics, requiring regular blood transfusions to survive.<ref name="Malle"/> He died age 52 in [[Paris]].
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[[Category:1958 deaths]]
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[[Category:People from Gironde]]
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[[Category:20th-century French writers]]
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[[Category:French communists]]
[[Category:French fascists]]
[[Category:French fascists]]
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[[Category:French collaborators with Nazi Germany]]
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[[Category:Antisemitism in France]]
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[[Category:Polemicists]]

Latest revision as of 13:17, 2 May 2024

Pierre-Antoine Cousteau (18 March 1906 – 17 December 1958) was a French polemicist and journalist. He was the brother of the explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Leftist activism[edit]

He was born in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, Gironde, and educated in the United States as well as the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Cousteau served in the military before working as a translator and a meteorologist and for New York City's Credit Alliance Corporation.[1] He became a journalist for left-wing papers such as Regards or Monde and was associated with pacifism and the Anti-Stalinist left.[1]

Move to Fascism[edit]

Cousteau abandoned his communism in the early 1930s, and was drawn to antisemitism and authoritarian view, writing for Coup de Patte and then Je suis partout, becoming editor of the journal in 1932.[1] In this role, he was close to Pierre Gaxotte, who converted him to fascism.

He visited Nazi Germany in 1936 with Robert Brasillach and Georges Blond and then Spain in 1938 with Brasillach and Maurice Bardèche. While the trips developed his fascist sympathies, his attendance at the Nuremberg Rally of 1937 left him with the opinion that Nazism was impressive but not without its flaws.[1]

Collaboration[edit]

Cousteau was recalled up to the army in 1939 and captured in 1940, although Brasillach secured his release and he returned to Je suis partout, eventually succeeding Brasillach as political director in 1943.[1] A strong believer in collaboration, he sought internment for the Jews and justified his stance by stating in 1943 that "We are not opportunists. We remain just plain fascists".[1] His other wartime roles included a spell as editor of Paris-Soir in 1941, service on the general secretariat of Milice from 1942 and a series of written works for journals such as Combats, the militant journal of Henry Charbonneau.[1] He was particularly known for both his antisemitism and his anti-Americanism. In 1942, he produced the work L'Amérique juive in which he sought to demonstrate the United States was controlled by Jews who were bent on controlling the world.[2]

In August 1944, he moved to Bad Mergentheim, where he helped run a French newspaper and radio station, before ultimately fleeing to Switzerland. Arrested at Innsbruck, he was condemned to death in November 1946, before the sentence was commuted to life with hard labour.[1] Cousteau would later justify his collaboration by stating: "I wanted a German victory because it represented the last chance of the white man, while the democracies represented the end of the white man".[3]

Post-war activity[edit]

Released under an amnesty in 1953, he became editor of the extreme nationalist journal Rivarol, as well as contributing to Henry Coston's Lectures Françaises, Jeune Nation, Charivari, Dimanche-Matin and others. He was also associated with the minor Union des Intellectuels Indépendants movement.[1] His brother Jacques, whose international profile was growing at the time, had begged Pierre-Antoine to retire from public life following his release from prison, but he refused, insisting that it was a matter of honor that he continue to agitate.[4] In his post-war work Les lois de l'hospitalité he argued in favor of collaboration: "we [the collaborators] did not commit an error of judgement. There were just too many tanks and too many planes against us".[5]

He fell seriously ill in the late 1950s and had to withdraw from politics, requiring regular blood transfusions to survive.[3] He died age 52 in Paris.

Publications[edit]

  • L'Amérique juive. Les Éditions de France. 1942.
  • Hugothérapie ou comment l'esprit vient aux mal-pensants. Bourg: Éditions E.T.L. 1954.
  • Après le déluge, pamphlets. La Librairie Francaise. 1957.
  • Les lois de l'hospitalité. La Librairie Francaise. 1957.
  • En ce temps-là. La Librairie Francaise. 1959.
  • (written Clairvaux Prison, January–December 1950). Text prepared by Robert Belot. (with the collaboration of Lucien Rebatet). (1999). Dialogue de vaincus. Paris: Berg International.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

Bibliography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Philip Rees. Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890. p. 72.
  2. ^ Seth D. Armus, French Anti-Americanism (1930–1948): Critical Moments in a Complex History, Lexington Books, 2007, p. 10
  3. ^ a b Hugo Frey, Louis Malle, Manchester University Press, 2004, p. 76
  4. ^ Sophie Coignard, Marie-Thérèse Guichard, French Connections: Networks of Influence, Algora Publishing, 2000, p. 244
  5. ^ Philippe Carrard, The French Who Fought for Hitler: Memories from the Outcasts, Cambridge University Press, 2010, p. 193

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pierre-Antoine_Cousteau&oldid=1221865689"