Great War memorial books of École polytechnique (1914-1918) of the graduating classes 1912-1918

The declaration of war on August 2, 1914 had a direct impact on both the students and the entrance examination.

 

Les students from the classes of 1912 and 1913 were still at school and considered to be serving in the armed forces. They were immediately mobilized.

 

The 1914 entrance admission was interrupted by mobilization.A first admission list is published in the Journal Officiel on August 9. It included 228 eligible candidates who had obtained a minimum average score of 13 in the entrance exams.

 

Eligible candidates who had obtained an average of less than 13 in the competitive examination, or who had not completed the competitive examination but had obtained an average of at least 12 points for the 5 essays, could sign up for the commitment provided for in article 13 of the law of August 7, 1913. Almost all those eligible signed up. In 1915-1916, all those eligible who obtained an average of 12 or more for all written compositions were admitted.

 

Three volumes of Great War memorial books of École polytechnique students were produced after the war; they cover the classes of 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917 and 1918 and enable us to follow the careers of its students during the war.