Imprisoning the Enemies of France. A Historical Overview on French Internment Camps in the First Half of the Twentieth Century

This paper examines the concentration and internment camps installed in France during the First and Second World Wars. While both periods’ concentration system played a significant role in the historical and wartime events of the twentieth century, concentration camps are commonly associated with the German “Final Solution”, nonetheless, they already existed in France before that. The purpose of these camps was not extermination, but rather the imprisonment of civilians perceived as a threat during conflicts. The history of concentration camps dates back further than World War II or French authorities installing them during World War I up until the 19th century. Throughout the First World War, internment camps were used from the beginning of the war until 1920, while during World War II from 1938 to 1946, serving various functions. These camps held a diverse range of individuals, including Austro-Germans, Austro-Hungarians, Alsatian-Lorrains, Spanish, resistance fighters, Gypsies, Jews, Germans, Freemasons, Communists, etc. The camps in France varied in their populations, interning women, children, men, soldiers, elderly individuals. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the different types of concentration and internment camps established in France during this turbulent period. The article summarises these two periods relying on two fundamental researchers in this topic: Jean-Claude Farcy and Denis Peschanski.