Langues O' during the Great War

15 May 2023

  • History

  • Institute

When the Great War broke out, the ֤École, which had just been renamed the École nationale des langues orientales vivantes (ENLOV), was quickly put to work. As early as the beginning of August 1914, for example, the General Administrator, Paul Boyer, proposed setting up an ambulance or military hospital on its premises.
visite du personnel médical aux malades, dans le lycée Janson de Sailly transformé en hôpital
Hôpital Janson de Sailly, la salle n° 2 : Drs Bernelin et Rimbault [visite du personnel médical aux malades, dans le lycée Janson de Sailly transformé en hôpital]. Agence Rol, 1914. © Source : Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Estampes et photographie, EST EI-13 (395)‎

This idea was quickly studied and it was estimated that the building at 2 rue de Lille could accommodate almost 40 beds spread over six rooms. Other rooms were also envisaged to house medical staff. Meticulous work was then carried out to adapt the premises to ensure good living conditions for patients and their carers. This operation was supported by the advice of members of the Paris Hospitals, in particular Madame Rebecca Boyer, medical doctor and wife of the administrator¹.

The institution's humanitarian commitment during the conflict went beyond this project alone. In fact, the school was involved in a wide range of associations, both through its administrator (who, along with his wife, was a member of several organizations such as the Orphelinat des armées and the Comité de protection et d'éducation des jeunes Français, orphelins de la guerre et autres, résidant à l'étranger), and through the initiatives of the school's teachers, which reflected the specific nature of the school's missions. In this respect, it is worth noting the establishment on December 11, 1914 of a "Société d'assistance aux blessés militaires musulmans" (Society for assistance to wounded Muslim servicemen), which aims to "improve the situation of wounded Muslims through aid, visits and all other manifestations of interest."

Lettre adressée au Comité de Secours aux prisonniers Musulmans, 1917, 62AJ/68, Archives nationales de Pierrefitte
Lettre adressée au Comité de Secours aux prisonniers Musulmans, 1917, 62AJ/68, Archives nationales de Pierrefitte © Inalco‎

The École des langues orientales vivantes also played an active role in the information war between the belligerents. Thus, the institution was tasked with assessing the capabilities of military interpreters and advising on their assignments. Teachers were also sometimes asked to translate communications intercepted by French intelligence services, as highlighted in a letter from Paul Boyer dated May 24, 1918, addressed to the head of the Slavic office of the Army General Staff.

Through these various actions, Langues O' took part in the first world conflict, with its specific features and its particular relationship to oriental languages and cultures.

¹ Letter dated August 8, 1914, 2010 03 20 / 98, 62AJ/68, Archives nationales de Pierrefitte.
² Declaration of association dated December 11, 1914, 62AJ/68, Archives nationales de Pierrefitte.
³ Letter from Paul Boyer dated May 24, 1918, 62AJ/69, Archives nationales de Pierrefitte.