Proclamation of the Commune de Creusot... and Garibaldi

La Commune de Paris. Domenica, 26 marzo 1871.

This small working-class town in Burgundy has a history of labor and union battles that resulted in violent repression. Creusot is an important metallurgical center, mines, foundries, cannon factories. In 1870 the town has about 20,000 inhabitants of 10,000 are workers. The labor movement of the time has among its ranks important militants such as Eugène Varlin, Benoît Malon, Adolphe Assi and Jean-Baptiste Dumay. In January 1870 there had been a 10-day strike and another 23-day strike in March. After the intervention of the army with 4,000 soldiers and the killing of 6 workers the struggles stopped. With the fall of the Second Empire due to the Franco-Prussian war, and the consequent flight to England of the powerful industrialist and president of the legislative body, Jean-Baptiste Dumay was elected as mayor of Creusot. These, today March 26, 1871, with the National Guard of the city proclaim the Commune de Creusot. It is interesting to know that the National Guard of Creusot was armed with 4,000 rifles and the necessary ammunition that Jean-Baptiste Dumay had received from Giuseppe Garibaldi before he left Dijon. Garibaldi, in spite of his age and arthritis, had gone to France to fight against the Prussians on the side of the republic, commanding an army stationed in Dijon and bringing back some of the few French victories over the Prussians. After the Franco-Prussian armistice and the resumption of power by the elected monarchists, the clash between the hero of the two worlds and the new power was immediately evident. Garibaldi found the support and solidarity of the French National Guard. Garibaldi will leave France stating "I have not come to associate with the monarchical activities, but to defend the Republic. Long live forever republican France".

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