Merlin Robinson, Thomas Seignon

Division Leclerc (eBook, ePUB)

The Leclerc Column and Free French 2nd Armored Division, 1940-1946
Illustrator: Ruggeri, Raffaele

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

'General Leclerc' was the nom de guerre adopted by the Gaullist officer Philippe de Hautcloque, to protect his family in occupied France. He became France's foremost fighting commander, and his armored division (the '2e DB') its most famous formation. Starting as a small scratch force of mostly African troops organised and led by Leclerc in French Equatorial Africa, it achieved early success raiding Italian and German positions in co-operation with Britain's Long Range Desert Group. Following the Allied victory in North Africa it was expanded and reorganised as a US Army-style armoured division, with American tanks and other armoured vehicles. Shipped to the UK, in spring 1944, it was assigned to Patton's US Third Army, landing in time for the Normandy breakout and being given the honour of liberating Paris in August 1944. Combining a thorough analysis of their combat and organisation with detailed colour plates of their uniforms and equipment, this is the fascinating story of Free France's most effective fighting force.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury UK eBooks
• Seitenzahl: 64
• Erscheinungstermin: 27. Dezember 2018
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781472830081
• Artikelnr.: 54348470

Autorenporträt

M.P. ROBINSON is a Canadian author who lives with his wife and 5 children near Toronto, Canada. He has a BA (Hons) History from York University, and has authored or co-authored 15 books and numerous articles on armoured vehicles and armoured warfare. His historical interest in politics and warfare spans from ancient times right up to the present day.

Inhaltsangabe

* Introduction: Philippe de Hautecloque becomes 'Francois Leclerc' * Gaullist mission to French Equatorial Africa
August 1940 * The Colonne Leclerc - seizure of French West Africa - raids on Italians in southern Libya - capture of strategic Kouffra Oasis
March 1941 * Co-operation with LRDG - link-up with Eighth Army
1942 * Brigade-strength 'L Force' in Tunisia
February-May 1943 * Formation of division
May-August 1943 - equipment by US Army * Assignment to Patton's Third Army in UK
spring 1944 * August 1944: Operation 'Cobra'
and liberation of Paris * Alsace/Lorraine - capture of Strasbourg
November 1944 * Into Bavaria
April 1945 * Occupation duties
and stand down
1946.