The Dreyfus Affair: A Successful Man
The Dreyfus Affair
Alfred Dreyfus was meant to be a successful man. He had what it took to get ahead - intelligence, spirit, competence. When he joined the General Staff as an officer of artillery in 1892, there was no reason to believe it wasn't the beginning of a promising military career for the young Jewish man from Mulhouse. Unfortunately, his success was threatening to some of his fellow officers, particularly those who wanted to keep Jews out of the military. He was assured by a General Dionne that Jewish officers were "valued as highly as any others". Nonetheless he was troubled by anti-semites on the job. This wasn't terribly surprising at a time when anti-semitism was a socially acceptable and in fact a somewhat popular
Alfred Dreyfus was meant to be a successful man. He had what it took to get ahead - intelligence, spirit, competence. When he joined the General Staff as an officer of artillery in 1892, there was no reason to believe it wasn't the beginning of a promising military career for the young Jewish man from Mulhouse. Unfortunately, his success was threatening to some of his fellow officers, particularly those who wanted to keep Jews out of the military. He was assured by a General Dionne that Jewish officers were "valued as highly as any others". Nonetheless he was troubled by anti-semites on the job. This wasn't terribly surprising at a time when anti-semitism was a socially acceptable and in fact a somewhat popular