Class and Regional Variations

Mobilization revealed France's social fissures even as it temporarily bridged them. In working-class Belleville, red flags initially flew alongside tricolors as socialists struggled to reconcile international solidarity with patriotic duty. After Jaurès's assassination, however, most socialist leaders—including Jules Guesde and Marcel Sembat—joined the "Sacred Union," suspending class struggle for national defense.

Rural mobilization varied by region. In Catholic Vendée, priests blessed departing soldiers while urging wives to maintain farms and faith. The Republican Midi saw mobilization through different lens—defending the Revolution's legacy against German autocracy. Corsicans, with their tradition of military service, reported in higher percentages than any mainland department.

Paris haute couture transformed overnight. Worth, Poiret, and other fashion houses closed as seamstresses left for munitions factories. Wealthy women organized charitable efforts, converting mansions into hospitals and organizing aid packages. The Duchess d'Uzès, despite her royalist sympathies, declared: "Politics cease when France bleeds."