The adoption in the National Assembly of an amendment leading to the nationalisation of the activities in France of the steel group Arcelor-Mittal has revived old memories, the nationalisations following the arrival of the left in power in 1981, accompanied by unjustified critical comments. At the time, Usinor and Sacilor were on the verge of bankruptcy due to their heavy losses and excessive debt. The conversion into shares of these debts held by banks, which had been nationalized since 1945, and by the State, followed by the purchase of the last listed shares, made it possible to save the two ...