Security Committee

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The security committee (French "Comité de sûreté générale" ) was between 1792 and 1795 an executive body of the National Convention in France. He was given police powers, monitored the internal security of the state and carried out terrorism during the reign of terror .

timeline

October 2, 1792 to September 14, 1793

On October 2, 1792, the National Convention decided to form the Security Committee as the successor to the Committee of Inquiry of the Constituent Assembly and the Supervisory Committee of the Legislature. The safety committee met for the first time on October 17, 1792 and initially had 30 members, half of whom were newly elected after two months.

The Montagne accused the security committee of negligence in dealing with opponents of the revolution and therefore applied for its complete renewal on January 21, 1793. The Montagnarden then quickly gained influence. They dominated the Security Committee and used its powers to the detriment of their domestic opponents.

With the detachment of the welfare committee from the security committee, the Montagne created another executive body on April 6, 1793. This led to the escalation of the power struggle between Montagnarden and Girondists. The Girondins were able to get the National Convention through that special commissions such as the “Commission of the Twelve” were formed with the aim of depriving the Security and Welfare Committees of important powers. The Gironde's rebellion remained ineffective, however, as their deputies were disempowered with the popular uprising from May 31 to June 2, 1793. The security committee was reorganized several times after the fall of the Girondins and the Jacobin rule was consolidated.

September 14, 1793 to July 27, 1794

Since September 14, 1793, the Security Committee has had the following twelve members, who were re-elected every month until the overthrow of Thermidor II (July 27, 1794):

These twelve members instrumentalized the security committee to steer the terror . They met every evening and discussed the political situation with the members of the welfare committee on a weekly basis .

The security committee was now responsible for police duties and jurisdiction. He was empowered to prosecute assignat forgers, monitor the security of the state and fight agents from abroad. In addition, the Security Committee monitored the implementation of the laws and organized or led all major trials against actual or supposed enemies of the revolution.

In accordance with the Suspects Act of September 17, 1793, the Security Committee charged the Revolutionary Committees with the listing of suspects, including all those "who, through their conduct or relationships, or through oral or written views, were partisans of the tyrants , federalism and as enemies of freedom ”. This also included all former nobles and their relatives "who did not permanently demonstrate their ties to the revolution", as well as all emigrants who had returned to France. Arrest warrants had to be signed by the majority of the security committee, and the release of a detainee also required the consent of at least six members.

In November 1793, the security committee divided into four regional departments (Paris, North and Northeast, Southeast, West and Center) with three members each. With the law of December 4, 1793, the National Convention entrusted the Security Committee with the management of the Revolutionary Committees, confirmed its police powers and the management of contact persons in Paris and the province.

After the Welfare Committee set up its own police department in April 1794 to prosecute abuse of office in the field of state administration, there were serious differences of opinion between the Welfare and Security Committee due to the overlapping of competencies. The conflict also intensified after André Amar and Marc Vadier, both staunch atheists and advocates of de-Christianization , attacked Robespierre by name and accused him of the “ cult of the highest being ”.

The 22nd Prairial II Act (June 10, 1794) increased terrorism and increased the number of executions of innocent victims. This blamed Robespierre personally on public opinion. Thereupon almost all members of the security committee, who in the meantime feared becoming victims of the guillotine themselves , openly turned over to Robespierre's enemies and prepared his overthrow on 9th Thermidor II .

July 27, 1794 to October 26, 1795

The Thermidorians decided on July 29, 1794 to change a quarter of the members of the welfare and safety committee every month. However, the powers of the security committee were retained. The security committee developed into the most important executive body of the Thermidorians. He directed the police work and transferred defendants, including former members of the security committee, to the newly formed Revolutionary Tribunal. On October 26, 1795, the work of the Security Committee ended simultaneously with the dissolution of the National Convention.

See also

literature

  • Bernd Jeschonnek: Revolution in France 1789–1799. A lexicon. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-05-000801-6 .

Web links

Commons : Security Committee  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files