Career
Born in Molsheim (Bas-Rhin), François Joseph Westermann entered a cavalry regiment at an early age but soon left the service and went to Paris. After a short imprisonment on a charge of inciting riots in Haguenau, he returned to Paris, where he joined Georges Danton and played an important part in the attack on the Tuileries on 10 August 1792. He accompanied Charles François Dumouriez on his campaigns with the Army of the North, and assisted him in his negotiations with the Habsburgs, being arrested as an accomplice after the general"s defection.
Denounced by Jean-Paul Marat to the National Convention, Westermann succeeded in proving his innocence, and was sent with the rank of general of brigade to quell the Revolt in the Vendéest
Vendée and downfall
Westermann distinguished himself by his extraordinary courage, daring maneuvers, and severe treatment of the insurgents. After suffering a defeat at Châtillon, he defeated the Vendéens at Beaupréau, Laval, Granville, and Baugé, and in December 1793 annihilated their army at Le Mans and Savenay.
In a controversial document, the authenticity of which is disputed, Westermann supposedly wrote to the Committee of Public Safety:
"There is no more Vendée, Republican citizens. I have just buried it in the swamps and the woods of Savenay.
Following the orders that you gave to me, I crushed the children beneath the horses" hooves, massacred the women who, those at least, will bear no more brigands.
I do not have a single prisoner to reproach myself with. I have exterminated them all.."
Some historians believe this letter never existed. The rebellion was still going on, and there were several thousand living Vendéan prisoners being held by Westerman"s forces when the letter was supposedly written.
The killing of civilians would also have been an explicit violation of the Convention"s orders to Westermann.
He is depicted by Jacques Villeret in the 1983 film Danton.