Editing Le Cercle (section)

==Origins==
Le Cercle was founded in 1952–1953 by Antoine Pinay, then French Prime Minister, and Jean Violet, a French intelligence operative and lawyer with ties to the French secret service (SDECE). Initially called the Cercle Pinay, the group aimed to promote reconciliation between France and Germany in the post-World War II era, aligning with the broader goal of building a unified, Christian-Catholic Europe to counter the Soviet threat. Historian Adrian Hänni notes that the group’s founding vision was rooted in “the integration of a Christian-Catholic Europe,” reflected in its early membership, which included representatives from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, many of whom were affiliated with Catholic organizations like Opus Dei and the Knights of Malta.
===Key Founders===
	◦	Antoine Pinay: A conservative French politician who served as Prime Minister in 1952, Pinay was a staunch anti-communist and advocate for European unity.
	◦	Jean Violet: A central figure in Le Cercle’s organization, Violet was a lawyer with connections to French intelligence, the Vatican, and anti-communist networks. He reportedly had links to South African, American, British, Swiss, and West German intelligence services.
	◦	Konrad Adenauer and Franz Josef Strauss: German Chancellor Adenauer and Bavarian politician Strauss, both conservative anti-communists, were co-founders, emphasizing the Franco-German axis.

	•	Early Meetings: The earliest known meeting occurred on August 18, 1958, involving Pinay, Violet, and Adenauer. The group operated in near-total secrecy, with no public agenda or participant lists, distinguishing it from more visible forums like the Bilderberg Group.