Author
Abstract
[fre] Résumé C'est la défaite française de 1870 qui a orienté Eugène Schneider, sur demande du Président Thiers, vers les fabrications militaires. Cette étude montre comment, en moins de 20 ans, Le Creusot rivalise avec Krupp, par la mise au point d'excellents aciers à canons et blindages, la création d'équipements d'une puissance exceptionnelle, comme le marteau-pilon de 100 tonnes, enfin l'élaboration d'un système d'artillerie très efficace. Aux ateliers d'artillerie du Creusot s'ajoutent ceux de Normandie, les chantiers navals de Chalon-sur- Saône et ceux de Gironde. D'où, à la veille de la Première Guerre mondiale, la formation d'un complexe militaro-industriel, qui s'étend vers Paris. A cet ensemble français s'ajoute le réseau organisé par Schneider en Russie autour des usines Poutilov. Le développement d'un réseau commercial mondial, et l'efficacité des canons Schneider lors des guerres balkaniques leur permet d'acquérir une réputation presque supérieure à celle de Krupp. A partir de 1915, la firme Schneider a pu réorienter ses fabrications vers l'effort de guerre français et jouer ainsi un rôle décisif dans la défense puis la victoire finale. [eng] Abstract The French defeat in 1870-71 directed Eugène Schneider, on President Thiers' s request, towards arms production. The originality of this study consists in showing how, in less than twenty years, Le Creusot succeeded in competing with Krupp : by perfecting excellent steels for guns and armour platings, by creating equipments of exceptional power, like the 100 ton power hammer, and finally working out a particularly efficient Schneider- Cane t artillery system. To the artillery works at Le Creusot were added others in Normandy, ship-yards at Chalon-sur-Saône, where the first submarines were launched, and in the Gironde where cruisers and battleships were built. So, on the eve of World War One, a military-industrial complex was formed and it annexed, in the Paris area, the SO.M.U.A. and the Société d'Optique et Mécanique de Précision. To that French group was added the industrial network organized by the Schneider Firm in Russia around the Poutilov works. The extensive mobilization of human, technical and financial means is obvious. The development of a world-wide commercial network and the efficiency of Schneider guns during the wars in the Balkans enabled them to win in foreign countries a reputation almost superior to Krupp 's. From 1915 onwards, the Schneider Firm could rapidly reorient its production towards the French war effort and thus played a decisive part in the defence and then the final victory.
Suggested Citation
Claude Beaud, 1995.
"Les Schneider marchands de canons (1870-1914),"
Histoire, économie & société, Programme National Persée, vol. 14(1), pages 107-131.
Handle:
RePEc:prs:hiseco:hes_0752-5702_1995_num_14_1_1763
DOI: 10.3406/hes.1995.1763
Note: DOI:10.3406/hes.1995.1763
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