This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(October 2020)
François Joseph Westermann (German: Franz Joseph Westermann; 5 September 1751 – 5 April 1794) was a French general of the Revolutionary Wars and political figure of the French Revolution.
Born in Molsheim (Alsace, today department Bas-Rhin), François Joseph Westermann entered a cavalry regiment at an early age but soon left the service and went to Paris. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Revolution, and in 1790 became greffier of the municipality of Haguenau. After a short imprisonment on a charge of inciting riots in Haguenau, he returned to Paris, where he joined Georges Danton and played an important part in the attack on the Tuileries on 10 August 1792.[1]
Westermann distinguished himself by his extraordinary courage, daring maneuvers, and severe treatment of the insurgents. After suffering a defeat at Châtillon, he defeated the Vendéens at Beaupréau, Laval, Granville, and Baugé, and in December 1793 annihilated their army at Le Mans and Savenay.[1]
In a controversial document, the authenticity of which is disputed, Westermann supposedly wrote to the Committee of Public Safety:
"There is no more Vendée, Republican citizens. It died beneath our free sword, with its women and its children. I have just buried it in the swamps and the woods of Savenay. Following the orders that you gave to me, I crushed the children beneath the horses' hooves, massacred the women who, those at least, will bear no more brigands. I do not have a single prisoner to reproach myself with. I have exterminated them all..."[2]
Some historians believe this letter never existed.[3] The rebellion was still going on, and there were several thousand living Vendéan prisoners being held by Westermann's forces when the letter was supposedly written.[4] The killing of civilians would also have been an explicit violation of the Convention's orders to Westermann.[5]
After his victory he was summoned to Paris, where, as a friend and partisan of Georges Danton, he was proscribed with the Dantonist party and guillotined.[1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to François Joseph Westermann.
^ abcdOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Westermann, François Joseph". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 539.
^Frédéric Augris, Henri Forestier, général à 18 ans, Éditions du Choletais, 1996
^Jean-Clément Martin, Contre-Révolution, Révolution et Nation en France, 1789-1799, éditions du Seuil, collection Points, 1998, p. 219
^Jean-Clément Martin, Guerre de Vendée, dans l'Encyclopédie Bordas, Histoire de la France et des Français, Paris, Éditions Bordas, 1999, p 2084, et Contre-Révolution, Révolution et Nation en France, 1789-1799, p.218.
January 21, 2023
françois, joseph, westermann, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, october, 2020, german, franz, joseph, westermann, september, 1751, . This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article October 2020 Francois Joseph Westermann German Franz Joseph Westermann 5 September 1751 5 April 1794 was a French general of the Revolutionary Wars and political figure of the French Revolution Francois Joseph WestermannFrancois Joseph WestermannBorn5 September 1751 1751 09 05 Molsheim FranceDied5 April 1794 1794 04 06 aged 42 Paris FranceAllegianceKingdom of France FranceService wbr branchCavalryYears of service1792 1794RankGeneral of BrigadeBattles warsWar in the Vendee First Battle of Chatillon 1793 Second Battle of Chatillon 1793 Battle of Cholet 1793 Battle of Entrames 1793 Battle of Dol 1793 Battle of Le Mans 1793 Battle of Savenay 1793 Contents 1 Career 2 Vendee and downfall 3 ReferencesCareer EditBorn in Molsheim Alsace today department Bas Rhin Francois Joseph Westermann entered a cavalry regiment at an early age but soon left the service and went to Paris He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Revolution and in 1790 became greffier of the municipality of Haguenau After a short imprisonment on a charge of inciting riots in Haguenau he returned to Paris where he joined Georges Danton and played an important part in the attack on the Tuileries on 10 August 1792 1 He accompanied Charles Francois Dumouriez on his campaigns with the Army of the North and assisted him in his negotiations with the Habsburgs being arrested as an accomplice after the general s defection Denounced by Jean Paul Marat to the National Convention Westermann succeeded in proving his innocence and was sent with the rank of general of brigade to quell the Revolt in the Vendee 1 Vendee and downfall EditWestermann distinguished himself by his extraordinary courage daring maneuvers and severe treatment of the insurgents After suffering a defeat at Chatillon he defeated the Vendeens at Beaupreau Laval Granville and Bauge and in December 1793 annihilated their army at Le Mans and Savenay 1 In a controversial document the authenticity of which is disputed Westermann supposedly wrote to the Committee of Public Safety There is no more Vendee Republican citizens It died beneath our free sword with its women and its children I have just buried it in the swamps and the woods of Savenay Following the orders that you gave to me I crushed the children beneath the horses hooves massacred the women who those at least will bear no more brigands I do not have a single prisoner to reproach myself with I have exterminated them all 2 Some historians believe this letter never existed 3 The rebellion was still going on and there were several thousand living Vendean prisoners being held by Westermann s forces when the letter was supposedly written 4 The killing of civilians would also have been an explicit violation of the Convention s orders to Westermann 5 After his victory he was summoned to Paris where as a friend and partisan of Georges Danton he was proscribed with the Dantonist party and guillotined 1 He is depicted by Jacques Villeret in the 1983 film Danton and by Eduard von Winterstein in the 1921 movie of the same name References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francois Joseph Westermann a b c d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Westermann Francois Joseph Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 539 Secher Reynald A French Genocide The Vendee University of Notre Dame Press 2003 p 110 ISBN 0 268 02865 6 Frederic Augris Henri Forestier general a 18 ans Editions du Choletais 1996 Jean Clement Martin Contre Revolution Revolution et Nation en France 1789 1799 editions du Seuil collection Points 1998 p 219 Jean Clement Martin Guerre de Vendee dans l Encyclopedie Bordas Histoire de la France et des Francais Paris Editions Bordas 1999 p 2084 et Contre Revolution Revolution et Nation en France 1789 1799 p 218 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Joseph Westermann amp oldid 1120307535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
