“Franco-German friendship does not exist for the moment”

The first TGV line between Paris and Berlin is inaugurated this Monday. An eight-hour journey and another step taken in Franco-German friendship. But for writer and editor Arthur Chevallier, it’s not sure that’s enough…

Franco-German friendship, for the moment, does not exist. Two things must be distinguished. The efforts of Paris and Berlin to agree on one side. And the true friendship between the French and the Germans on the other. Official trips and joint declarations are good. But that's not enough. Friendship is not politics. It's affection, it's sincere.

We are the largest countries in Europe, so there is always one that wants to take over the other. Our friendship is simple, it’s the key to stability. And it starts after World War II. In the 1950s, French towns and German towns were twinning. With de Gaulle, it takes on a new dimension.

In 1962, the general toured Germany. He gives super nice speeches, and in German. In 1963, the Elysée Treaty was signed. This marks reconciliation and the beginning of cooperation. From there, the French presidents and the German chancellors will stage their friendship, like what happened in 1984. François Mitterrand and Chancellor Helmut Kohl pay tribute while holding hands on a field of battle of the First World War, at Douaumont. One of the strongest images of reconciliation.

No friends, but allies

This rivalry between France and Germany dates from a time when Germany was not yet called Germany. Before, it was Prussia. Prussia is a small state which will become more and more powerful. And we have to be honest, things never went well between us. We spent our time hating each other and going to war with each other. We faced them in the middle of the 18th century, during the Seven Years' War, and we lost. It's a humiliation. We took our revenge during the Revolution, at the battle of Valmy, in 1792. Napoleon beat them many times. Afterwards, it calms down a little…but it won't last.

New war in 1870. At the time, Napoleon III was on the throne. We have a memorable romp. Germany takes Alsace and Lorraine from us. And until the First World War, our obsession was revenge and recovering these two regions. At the end of the 19th century, children were raised to hate Germany. So we're starting from afar, all the same.

But why can't we become friends? Because we are a sovereign country and we have no friends. We have allies. We love Germany when it plays to our interests. It's a country like any other. In recent years, Germany has not given us any gifts in the European Union. The French know this, why should they be satisfied with it? To be loved, you have to be lovable.