Papers by Dominique Trimbur
Relations internationales, 2022
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Francia Recensio, 2022
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The Eichmann Trial Reconsidered, University of Toronto Press , 2021
The Eichmann trial had a tremendous importance in the short, above all the long term, on percepti... more The Eichmann trial had a tremendous importance in the short, above all the long term, on perceptions of the Holocaust in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the relations between it and the State of Israel. Drawing mainly upon German diplomatic documentation, the paper aims at assessing this important dimension of the Eichmann Trial.
When Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped and put on trial, the FRG and Israel had no diplomatic relations with each other, even if the contacts between both countries had been very close, ever since the 1952 “reparations agreement”. Moreover, the announcement of the abduction of the former SS officer, and his trial, took place in a very specific context: only a few months after a series of anti-Semitic incidents across the whole West-German territory, and short time after a first and very promising encounter between Konrad Adenauer and David Ben Gurion in New York in March 1960.
The trial itself, with searing revelations of a very recent past, in which the actors (perpetrators, victims) were still alive and active, among other places in Bonn and close to the German Chancellor himself, threatened to endanger the pragmatic but also delicate relations between Israel and the FRG.
How did the event affect German-Israeli relations, on the official level as well as on the respective societies? And what impact did it have upon these relations during the following years? These article describes the complex before, during and after the trial, together with reflections on how one should evaluate decision-making in both countries. The answer to both questions appears rather simple: the Eichmann trial and no consequent influence on the German-Israeli relations. Generally speaking, if there was an influence, it was by no means a negative one, and rather a positive one, contributing in a way to the path that conducted to the formalization of the official relations between both countries, 3 years after the execution of the death sentence. In this opportunity, the handling of the trial by both countries and their leaders/civil servants appears as an eloquent illustration of the Realpolitik which prevailed in their connection.
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Nouvelle histoire de la Shoah, Paris, Passés-Composés, 2021
Les questions des relations entre l’Allemagne et le monde arabo-musulman, de la perception de la ... more Les questions des relations entre l’Allemagne et le monde arabo-musulman, de la perception de la question juive par ce monde arabo-musulman, du rôle ou de la perception de ce dernier quant aux persécutions antisémites et à la Shoah font désormais l’objet d’une bibliographie volumineuse, disponible notamment en anglais et en allemand. De ce fait, il ne peut être question ici de retracer l’ensemble des dimensions de la problématique. Si certes un rappel des principaux faits est incontournable, l’objectif de l’article est d’offrir une présentation de la recherche sur le sujet, en établissant l’image à laquelle on est désormais parvenu. On le verra toutefois, en l’occurrence la formule « rien n’est jamais acquis » semble devoir s’imposer : en dépit des avancées historiographiques, pouvant valoir établissement d’un reflet de ce que fut la réalité, on assiste régulièrement à des retours en arrière, souvent à des fins qui n’ont guère à voir avec des postures académiques. Quand la prise en compte de nouvelles dimensions de la Shoah ne conduit pas elle-même à ouvrir de nouveaux champs d’investigation pour la recherche, négligés jusque-là.
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The questions of relations between Germany and the Arab-Muslim world, of the perception of the Jewish question by this Arab-Muslim world, of the role or perception of the latter with regard to anti-Semitic persecutions and the Shoah are now the subject of a voluminous bibliography, available in English and German in particular. Therefore, it is not possible here to retrace all the dimensions of the problem. While a review of the main facts is essential, the aim of the article is to present the research on the subject, by establishing the picture that has now been reached. However, as we shall see, in this case, the formula "nothing is ever certain" seems to be imposed: in spite of historiographic advances, which may be worth establishing a reflection of what the reality was, we regularly witness backward steps, often for purposes that have little to do with academic postures. When the taking into account of new dimensions of the Shoah does not itself lead to the opening of new fields of investigation for research, neglected until then.
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European cultural diplomacy and Arab Christians. Between Connection and Contention, 1918-1948, 2021
This paper describes a brief period of French government cultural activities carried out with the... more This paper describes a brief period of French government cultural activities carried out with the aim of attracting a broad audience within the Arab population of Jerusalem, through the creation by the French Lay Mission (Mission laïque française) of a French Cultural Centre on the Arab part of the Holy City at the end of the British Mandate. This new institution illustrated French concern about renewing its presence in the area. Local conditions, and financial and political difficulties, lead to the closure of the centre after only two years. The brief experience illustrates an attempt to adapt the French presence to a developing Palestine and to enter into contact with the various populations of Jerusalem, in this case the broader Arab community, going beyond previous activities which had dealt only with the city’s elites.
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The Contested City - Jerusalem 1917–2017, Insights, 231, National University of Singapore, Middle-East Institute, 2020
This paper examines the background to the close, special relationship that secular France has wit... more This paper examines the background to the close, special relationship that secular France has with the Holy Land, a special relationship based on its past role as protector of Catholics in Palestine and on its "national domains" in Jerusalem.
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Juifs et protestants-Entre affinités électives et dialogue impossible, 2020
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Les Cahiers d’EMAM Études sur le Monde Arabe et la Méditerranée, 32 , 2020
Beyond imaginary, or clichés, beyond often rhetoric declarations without impact, the often
enoug... more Beyond imaginary, or clichés, beyond often rhetoric declarations without impact, the often
enough dramatic actuality of oriental Christians makes it possible to come back to the position they have in French diplomacy. The paper aims at describing the history of French preoccupation for the Holy land’ Christians (currently Israel and the Palestinian territories) as well at listing the tools of French diplomacy, in Paris and on the spot, with a focus on the Latins (Catholics) and the united Christians, which embody the main clientele of this religious diplomacy. At the end of the paper it is contemplated to evaluate the success, or not, of this policy and its actuality.
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Relations franco-allemandes et Lieux saints de Jérusalem Une confrontation au tournant des XIXème et XXème siècles, 2008
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Vingtième siècle, Revue d'Histoire, 2016
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Mélanges de Science Religieuse, Université catholique de Lille, 2001
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« Redécouverte et appropriation d’Abu Gosh : un patrimoine français en Terre sainte vu par des éc... more « Redécouverte et appropriation d’Abu Gosh : un patrimoine français en Terre sainte vu par des écrivains, des artistes, des diplomates (fin XIXe-début XXe siècle) », in Jean-Baptiste Delzant (dir.), L'église d'Abu Gosh. 850 ans de regards sur les peintures d'une église franque en Terre Sainte, Paris, Ed. TohuBohu, 2018, pp. 173-188
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The paper deals with the origins, the functions and the current stakes of four French national do... more The paper deals with the origins, the functions and the current stakes of four French national domains in the Holy Land: Sainte-Anne – 1856; Abou Gosh – 1873; Pater and Eleona - 1868-1874; Tomb of the Kings – 1886. The author analyses the way they were attributed to France and their transformation into small French territories abroad. Placed under the custody of religious and local people, who endorse their custody, they become places where the particular position of France is shown, genuine French places of memory and places of life, as well as focus of the French cultural policy in Palestine. The continued French involvement towards the preservation of the sites does not take place without problems, the preservation works placed under the auspices of the Israel antiquities law. Remainders of the French protectorate in the Holy Land, last vestiges of a vanished world, they are now objects of new approaches, being places for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.
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(French version)
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(Hebrew version)
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(Hebrew version)
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in Revue de l'Institut français d'histoire en Allemagne
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The First World War: Middle Eastern Perspective », Tel Aviv University, Yigal Sheffy, Shaul Shai,... more The First World War: Middle Eastern Perspective », Tel Aviv University, Yigal Sheffy, Shaul Shai, ed., 2001
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Jerusalem Quarterly, 2017
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Papers by Dominique Trimbur
When Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped and put on trial, the FRG and Israel had no diplomatic relations with each other, even if the contacts between both countries had been very close, ever since the 1952 “reparations agreement”. Moreover, the announcement of the abduction of the former SS officer, and his trial, took place in a very specific context: only a few months after a series of anti-Semitic incidents across the whole West-German territory, and short time after a first and very promising encounter between Konrad Adenauer and David Ben Gurion in New York in March 1960.
The trial itself, with searing revelations of a very recent past, in which the actors (perpetrators, victims) were still alive and active, among other places in Bonn and close to the German Chancellor himself, threatened to endanger the pragmatic but also delicate relations between Israel and the FRG.
How did the event affect German-Israeli relations, on the official level as well as on the respective societies? And what impact did it have upon these relations during the following years? These article describes the complex before, during and after the trial, together with reflections on how one should evaluate decision-making in both countries. The answer to both questions appears rather simple: the Eichmann trial and no consequent influence on the German-Israeli relations. Generally speaking, if there was an influence, it was by no means a negative one, and rather a positive one, contributing in a way to the path that conducted to the formalization of the official relations between both countries, 3 years after the execution of the death sentence. In this opportunity, the handling of the trial by both countries and their leaders/civil servants appears as an eloquent illustration of the Realpolitik which prevailed in their connection.
-
The questions of relations between Germany and the Arab-Muslim world, of the perception of the Jewish question by this Arab-Muslim world, of the role or perception of the latter with regard to anti-Semitic persecutions and the Shoah are now the subject of a voluminous bibliography, available in English and German in particular. Therefore, it is not possible here to retrace all the dimensions of the problem. While a review of the main facts is essential, the aim of the article is to present the research on the subject, by establishing the picture that has now been reached. However, as we shall see, in this case, the formula "nothing is ever certain" seems to be imposed: in spite of historiographic advances, which may be worth establishing a reflection of what the reality was, we regularly witness backward steps, often for purposes that have little to do with academic postures. When the taking into account of new dimensions of the Shoah does not itself lead to the opening of new fields of investigation for research, neglected until then.
enough dramatic actuality of oriental Christians makes it possible to come back to the position they have in French diplomacy. The paper aims at describing the history of French preoccupation for the Holy land’ Christians (currently Israel and the Palestinian territories) as well at listing the tools of French diplomacy, in Paris and on the spot, with a focus on the Latins (Catholics) and the united Christians, which embody the main clientele of this religious diplomacy. At the end of the paper it is contemplated to evaluate the success, or not, of this policy and its actuality.
When Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped and put on trial, the FRG and Israel had no diplomatic relations with each other, even if the contacts between both countries had been very close, ever since the 1952 “reparations agreement”. Moreover, the announcement of the abduction of the former SS officer, and his trial, took place in a very specific context: only a few months after a series of anti-Semitic incidents across the whole West-German territory, and short time after a first and very promising encounter between Konrad Adenauer and David Ben Gurion in New York in March 1960.
The trial itself, with searing revelations of a very recent past, in which the actors (perpetrators, victims) were still alive and active, among other places in Bonn and close to the German Chancellor himself, threatened to endanger the pragmatic but also delicate relations between Israel and the FRG.
How did the event affect German-Israeli relations, on the official level as well as on the respective societies? And what impact did it have upon these relations during the following years? These article describes the complex before, during and after the trial, together with reflections on how one should evaluate decision-making in both countries. The answer to both questions appears rather simple: the Eichmann trial and no consequent influence on the German-Israeli relations. Generally speaking, if there was an influence, it was by no means a negative one, and rather a positive one, contributing in a way to the path that conducted to the formalization of the official relations between both countries, 3 years after the execution of the death sentence. In this opportunity, the handling of the trial by both countries and their leaders/civil servants appears as an eloquent illustration of the Realpolitik which prevailed in their connection.
-
The questions of relations between Germany and the Arab-Muslim world, of the perception of the Jewish question by this Arab-Muslim world, of the role or perception of the latter with regard to anti-Semitic persecutions and the Shoah are now the subject of a voluminous bibliography, available in English and German in particular. Therefore, it is not possible here to retrace all the dimensions of the problem. While a review of the main facts is essential, the aim of the article is to present the research on the subject, by establishing the picture that has now been reached. However, as we shall see, in this case, the formula "nothing is ever certain" seems to be imposed: in spite of historiographic advances, which may be worth establishing a reflection of what the reality was, we regularly witness backward steps, often for purposes that have little to do with academic postures. When the taking into account of new dimensions of the Shoah does not itself lead to the opening of new fields of investigation for research, neglected until then.
enough dramatic actuality of oriental Christians makes it possible to come back to the position they have in French diplomacy. The paper aims at describing the history of French preoccupation for the Holy land’ Christians (currently Israel and the Palestinian territories) as well at listing the tools of French diplomacy, in Paris and on the spot, with a focus on the Latins (Catholics) and the united Christians, which embody the main clientele of this religious diplomacy. At the end of the paper it is contemplated to evaluate the success, or not, of this policy and its actuality.