Breton National Party
Encyclopedia
The Breton National Party (French
Parti National Breton, or PNB) was a nationalist party in Brittany
that existed from 1931 to 1944. The party was disbanded after the liberation of France in World War II, because of ties to the Nazi party.
The PNB was formed in the aftermath of split between federalist
s and nationalists within the Breton Autonomist Party
(PAB), following the Congress of Guingamp in August 1931. Following the collapse of the PAB, the federalists led by Morvan Marchal
formed the Breton Federalist League
; the nationalist faction, led by Olier Mordrel
, decided to found a new party with a clearly nationalist agenda, namely seeking Breton independence from France.
This revived the programme of the previous Breton Nationalist Party
, which had existed from 1911-1914. A congress was held in Landerneau
on December 27, 1931. The following year, activists led by Célestin Lainé
bombed a sculpture in Rennes
representing Breton unity with France. The creation of this sculpture had spurred the foundation of the earlier party in 1911.
The party was influenced by international Celticist
ideas, and modelled its aspirations on Irish independence movements. It was also closely associated with fascist ideology. Because of its connections with Nazi Germany
the party was banned in France on the outbreak of World War II
in 1939, but after the defeat of France it was revived, becoming closely associated with Breton collaborationism
. An explicitly Nazi faction broke away in 1941 under the name Breton Social-National Workers' Movement
.
During its existence, the PNB published a newspaper, L'Heure Bretonne
.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Parti National Breton, or PNB) was a nationalist party in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
that existed from 1931 to 1944. The party was disbanded after the liberation of France in World War II, because of ties to the Nazi party.
The PNB was formed in the aftermath of split between federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
s and nationalists within the Breton Autonomist Party
Breton Autonomist Party
The Breton Autonomist Party was a political party which existed in Brittany from 1927 to 1931-Origin:The party was created at the first congress of the nationalist journal Breiz Atao in Rosporden on September 1927. It followed from establishment of the Unvaniez Yaouankiz Vreiz...
(PAB), following the Congress of Guingamp in August 1931. Following the collapse of the PAB, the federalists led by Morvan Marchal
Morvan Marchal
Morvan Marchal , is the Breton name of Maurice Marchal, an architect and a militant Breton nationalist. He is best known for having designed the national flag of Brittany.-Biography:...
formed the Breton Federalist League
Breton Federalist League
The Breton Federalist League was a short lived Breton political party in the 1930s. A new organization with the same name was created in the 21st century.-Origin:...
; the nationalist faction, led by Olier Mordrel
Olier Mordrel
Olier Mordrel is the Breton language version of Olivier Mordrelle, a Breton nationalist and wartime collaborator with the Third Reich who founded the separatist Breton National Party. Before the war he worked as an architect. His architectural work was influenced by Art Deco and the International...
, decided to found a new party with a clearly nationalist agenda, namely seeking Breton independence from France.
This revived the programme of the previous Breton Nationalist Party
Breton Nationalist Party
The Breton Nationalist Party was a French political party that advocated independence for Brittany. It existed from 1911 to 1914.-Origins:...
, which had existed from 1911-1914. A congress was held in Landerneau
Landerneau
Landerneau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.It lies at the mouth of the Elorn River which divides the Breton provinces of Cornouaille and Léon, east of Brest...
on December 27, 1931. The following year, activists led by Célestin Lainé
Célestin Lainé
Célestin Lainé was a Breton nationalist and collaborator during the Second World War who led the SS affiliated Bezen Perrot militia. His Breton language name is Neven Hénaff. He was a chemical engineer by training. After the war he lived in Ireland.- Breton terrorism :He was born in 1908 in Nantes...
bombed a sculpture in Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
representing Breton unity with France. The creation of this sculpture had spurred the foundation of the earlier party in 1911.
The party was influenced by international Celticist
Celticism
Celticism may refer to:*a word or linguistic property adapted from a Celtic language **List of English words of Celtic origin**List of English words of Scottish Gaelic origin**Irish words used in the English language...
ideas, and modelled its aspirations on Irish independence movements. It was also closely associated with fascist ideology. Because of its connections with Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
the party was banned in France on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, but after the defeat of France it was revived, becoming closely associated with Breton collaborationism
Breton nationalism and World War II
Before and during World War II, the Breton nationalist movements were associated, as a whole, with anti-French and even pro-Nazi positions. The extent of and motivation for these affiliations has been a matter of historical controversy....
. An explicitly Nazi faction broke away in 1941 under the name Breton Social-National Workers' Movement
Breton Social-National Workers' Movement
The Breton Social-National Workers' Movement was a nationalist, separatist, and Fascist movement founded in 1941 by Théophile Jeusset. It emerged in Brittany from a deviationist faction of the Breton National Party; it disappeared the same year....
.
During its existence, the PNB published a newspaper, L'Heure Bretonne
L'Heure Bretonne
L'Heure Bretonne was a Breton nationalist weekly newspaper which was published from June 1940 to June 1944. It was the organ of the Breton National Party and was strongly associated with collaborationist politics during World War II....
.