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"The Prytan?e National Militaire de La Fl?che, a former Jesuit college, situated in La Fl?che (Sarthe, Western France), has trained many officers of the French Army since 1808. The pupils, called " Brutions," created a particular identity founded on toughness and brotherhood, and passed on through many rites. This identity asserted itself against the ruling staff after the 1871 defeat; it became a real military solidarity, gathering all the members of the school together in the same worship of Fatherland and in the hope for revenge against Germany. The memory of famous former pupils was glorified under command. The World Wars and the colonial wars reduced critics against the school to silence, then considered as too expensive and special. This was the golden age of the Prytan?e, which has already given the country many officers. After the sixties, this school and its customs were misunderstood in a newly pacifist society and were, once more, criticized. "