L'Odyssée De La Colonne Leclerc

by Didier Corbonnois

with the collaboration of Alain Godec (son of a member of La France Libre).

Published by Histoire & Collections, 5 Avenue de la République, 75541 Paris cedex 11, France, 2003
ISBN 2 913903 85 1

Although this book is written in French, there are copious diagrams, illustrations and photographs to describe the work of Colonel Leclerc and the Free French in North Africa. This is a well presented book of 175 glossy pages, slightly larger than the Kiwi Scorpions. It would average 4 photographs/illustrations or diagrams per page at least.



This is from the cover page of the book (translated from French):

June 1940:   France, defeated by the German army, capitulated. Traumatised by the totality of the defeat, the French, in the majority, backed the new government run by Marshall Pétain. However, a handful of men refused to give in. This spirit of resistance gave birth to a movement, la France Libre (Free French), and a distinguished leader Charles de Gaulle. The first phase started in overseas territories, a long way from France, the new operational and strategic base of the Free French....It is in this region that the first volunteers were raised. With next to no equipment and in a hostile environment, an extraordinary epic began....These events were made possible by an exceptional leader: Leclerc. Five years of work were necessary to accurately retrace their steps, to find unpublished sources, uncover that "gesture" of the first troopers of the Free French. This enlightening work of a new day an important period of our history pays homage to the men of Leclerc, the "combattants de l'impossible"

The book can be ordered from: