Reincarnated: Vive La France
Chapter 227: He’s fighting for dignity. That costs more than defeat.

Chapter 227: He’s fighting for dignity. That costs more than defeat.

Next day Journalists, foreign diplomats, and Parisian citizens crowded into the grand chamber, all eyes focused on the central dock where Léon Blum, former Prime Minister stood.

At the same as yesterday Barbier, Claudel, and Levasseur entered.

Barbier leaned forward.

"We reconvene again, under Articles 14, 15, and 17 of the Emergency Judicial Order of 1937 and applicable military judicial statutes, this Tribunal begins hearing testimony for Citizen Léon Blum, the former Prime Minister of the French Republic. The charges allege neglect of duty through internal obstruction hindering critical military and technological development, partisan bias within military appointments, and the infusion of politically driven actors into state policy, undermining our national sovereignty."

Blum inclined his head slightly.

His lawyer, Jules Rancourt, remained silent for now.

Vincent Auriol rose, stepping forward.

"Your Honors, we first call General Raymond Lafond, former Director of Military Research, to testify regarding suspended armor and mechanization programs during 1936."

Lafond, tall and straight-backed, took the stand.

He swore the oath and began.

"Under Blum’s administration, the Ministry of Defense slashed funding for armored corps and mechanization by approximately sixty percent," he stated.

He produced documentation, budget line entries, official requests, and meeting minutes.

"The request for additional funding was initially submitted in May 1936, followed by two subsequent reminders. No meeting nor formal response was provided until these programs had been effectively canceled."

Auriol laid out Exhibit A, the dossier containing financial tables and annotated correspondences. "General, in your professional opinion, how critical were these programs to national defense?"

"They were essential," Lafond answered firmly. "Modern armies depend on mobility. France’s border security required modern tanks and motorized brigades not just infantry. Delaying or defunding these programs left critical gaps."

Judge Claudel interjected, voice calm. "General Lafond, is it within precedent to delay funding while assessing ministerial priorities?"

"It is," Lafond acknowledged. "But we hit full stop, years passed without adjustments. That is abnormal."

Auriol nodded. "No further questions, Your Honor."

Barbier addressed Rancourt. "Defense counsel your cross-examination."

Rancourt stood carefully, glancing at Blum before addressing Lafond. "General, was it within the constitutional power of the Prime Minister to adjust defense spending amid other national pressures economic, social, fiscal?"

Lafond paused. "Yes but spending was cut deeply without strategic justification."

Rancourt offered the general a document. "Was it ever said, even informally, that these defenses were less important than social reforms or labor stabilization?"

Lafond studied the pages. "It was argued, yes defense must wait until domestic issues were resolved."

"Understood," Rancourt said softly. "No further questions."

Barbier called the next witness.

Auriol stepped forward. "We call Commander Isabelle Noguès of the Air Force Planning Division."

Noguès took the oath.

"In late 1936," she testified, "officer appointment boards were consistently interrupted by political oversight. Your government insisted officers demonstrate ideological reliability. Tactical competence was often dismissed."

She placed annotated appointment rosters on the table names of qualified pilots bypassed for men with overt party loyalty.

Auriol leaned in. "Commander, did ideological oversight weaken operational integrity in your opinion?"

Noguès squared her shoulders. "Absolutely. I saw dozens of capable officers sidelined for the sake of political balance."

Rancourt stood again. "Commander, were these political filters direct orders from the Prime Minister, or ministry-level recommendations?"

"Some filters were suggested by ministry aides who first reported to Mr. Blum’s office," Noguès said quietly. "I cannot claim direct orders from the Prime Minister, but suggestive pressure was real."

Barbier nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. No further questions."

Auriol called the third witness Dr. Jules Martineau of the Fiscal Commission.

"Dr. Martineau, your report says you found several government contracts awarded to foreign-aligned industrial groups in late 1935?"

"Yes," Martineau said. "These contracts received expedited approval, despite not having met technical standards. They were politically connected."

As he spoke, he unfurled a schematic.

"Our records show a particular consortium linked to Spain received orders for gun barrels delivered late, overpriced." He placed contracts and telegrams before the court.

Auriol asked, "Was there any scrutiny over these firms’ connections to foreign entities?"

Martineau nodded. "There were warnings flagged, but no disqualification followed the approval process bypassed standard review."

Rancourt stood and responded. "Dr. Martineau, did Parliament ratify emergency funding authority that allowed you skip regular tender?"

"It did," Martineau said. "But those programs were meant for domestic need not foreign interfaced contracts."

Barbier interjected. "Defense counsel, keep to specifics of this contract’s effect."

Rancourt returned to his seat. "No further questions."

Barbier leaned forward. "Citizen Blum, you may make your statement."

Blum rose.

"Honorable judges, my service as Prime Minister was never and can never be a betrayal of France," he began. "Yes, I exercised caution in military funding. I believed that unchecked military buildup risked tipping us into war we could not yet choose. I weighed millions in factories, social reform, unemployment relief. Within that, I erred, but not from malice."

He met Barbier’s eyes. "As for ideological filtering I admit we sought officers aligned with national solidarity. Our democracy faced throngs of extremist ideas. I believed that loyalty to the Republic should be measured by character, yes, but professional competence as well."

He paused. "Did we err? Perhaps. Did we knowingly sabotage the army? No. If errors were made, they came from democratic caution, not treason."

He returned to his seat.

Silence fell.

Judge Levasseur began the questioning. "Monsieur Blum, if your government had allowed mechanization to proceed sooner, do you believe France would have been better prepared now?"

Blum paused. "I do. Hindsight reveals my hesitation may have cost time we could not afford."

Claudel leaned forward. "Then you owe the Republic restitution of preparation, not just apology."

Blum nodded gravely.

Barbier set aside his papers. "The Tribunal will now adjourn. Deliberation will proceed in chambers. Final verdict will be delivered tomorrow morning."

The court rose.

Blum walked out under guard.

His face did not flicker at jeers or cheers from both sides of the gallery.

Outside, vendors sold extras labeled

"Freedom or Failure?" and "Blum Before the Court."

In a nearby balcony, Moreau watched quietly.

Beside him, Beauchamp whispered, "He’s fighting for dignity. That costs more than defeat."

Delon replied softly: "Let the judges do the scoring. We need his performance to be fair no martyrdom, no mockery."

Moreau nodded. "The nation must believe in its own judgment. If this is to be our Republic, it must see justice even in mercy."