Emile Durkheim Biography (conclusion)
In 1914, Germany invaded Belgium and the
north of France, which was followed by the attack of east Prussia by
the Russians, which caused General Coblenz von Motke to relocate some
of his troops to the eastern front. The combined
efforts of the French and British armies successfully repelled the
German forces, changing the entire course of the war, as it was the
first time the Germans had been forced to retreat. This
development pleased Durkheim, who even if he wasn't a nationalist,
showed his patriotism by preparing a series of documents, including
patriotic leaflets which served to instill national pride, and others
devised to counter German propaganda in neutral countries.
Durkheim himself was discriminated against as
a Jew with a German name, but he nonetheless managed to remain
patriotic, despite his failing health, and the loss of his son André
who had been fighting on the Bulgarian front in 1916.
André was a brilliant young
sociolinguist, and he had recently been recruited to teach at the
Lycée. Durkheim was so upset by the loss of his son that
he demanded that no one speak his son's name in his presence.
The tragedy also motivated Durkheim to become more involved in the
war, up until he suffered a stroke during one of his impassioned
speeches. On November 15th 1917, after spending several months
convalescing, Emile Durkheim died, at the age of 59.
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