For the creation of a research centre and permanent collections dedicated to the civil and military history of France Report by Hervé Lemoine

Presenting his wishes to the actors of the cultural world, on January 13, 2009 in Nîmes, the President of the Republic announced his decision to create a museum of the History of France: We decided to create a museum of the History of France. This museum will be located in an emblematic place of our history, a place that remains to be chosen and will be chosen». In his joint mission letter with the Prime Minister to the Minister of Culture and Communication on 1 August 2007, the President of the Republic had asked that the creation of a center of collections and research dedicated to the civil and military history of France be appraised. A mission has been entrusted in this regard to Hervé Lemoine, curator of heritage, currently director of the museum of French monuments at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine. His report was released in April 2008. It is the result of a broad consultation of historians, curators, parliamentarians and representatives of various ministerial departments. While it is not up to the State to write history, it is important that France has the ambition of a real policy for history. This is the general idea of this report, which proposes to create a museum of the history of France at the Invalides and develops the various issues involved. It is an important step in the reflection requested by the President of the Republic. Work must now continue, in particular to assess the various locations that could host this new institution.