𝓛𝓮𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓬

This is a blog dedicated to the memory and legacy of the French General and Marshal Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, otherwise known as Jacques Leclerc or simply Marshal Leclerc. He served in the Free French forces during the Second World War and is most well known for the capture of Koufra, the Liberation of Paris, Strasbourg, and the Eagles Nest. This blog is a collection of information I have gathered on Leclerc during my years of studying his life. There will be photos, stories, documents, and more related to him. Please read the pinned post for more information.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Welcome

I am starting this blog to post and document information I have found pertaining to general Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque including videos, photographs, and more. I should first give an introduction and make some clarifications.

I am American, I speak English mainly and I am currently learning French, so don't be afraid to reach out in French.

I have a degree in history, my main field of study is the Second World War and the Free French.'

However this doesn't mean you should take everything I say as 100% factual, I am not an accredited historian and still make mistakes.

I have been interested in Leclerc since May of 2023.

This blog is solely historical, it's not meant to promote any political party or ideology.

Leclerc's real name is complicated since he took a nom de guerre, but know that whenever I mention Jacques Leclerc, Philippe de Hauteclocque, Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, Philippe Leclerc, or Leclerc, I am referring to the same person.

If you wish to have any pictures or documents removed from this blog for copyright and/or ownership reasons, then please request it.

Asks are encouraged, but spam, hate, etc. will be deleted. Otherwise don't be afraid to reach out, I love answering questions about Leclerc.

I am excited to start this blog and I hope it can be informative and educational to all who see this.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque in Bangui, now the Central African Republic. April-May 1941.

This is the current profile picture of the blog, it is slightly cropped, but it is hard to find a high quality version of the full photograph.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Found a better quality version.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Décès de la dernière fille du maréchal Leclerc, Bénédicte de Francqueville : "engagée, droite et profondément attachée à la transmission"

Elle avait passé sa vie à transmettre la mémoire de son père, le général Leclerc, originaire de la Somme, et visage de la libération de Par

I am saddened to hear about the passing of Bénédicte de Francqueville, the daughter and last living child of General Leclerc. Until her death she was committed to preserving her father's legacy and now it is up to us to continue. May she rest in peace and be reunited with her family after death 🕊️

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

I found some new Leclerc footage, I believe it is from the Liberation of Paris but I got it from a news broadcast about “La Bataille de Gaulle” where they played it as background footage.

I would love to know what he’s saying to the guy, but if anyone knows where to find the full video then let me know.

(Source at 10:58)

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

For those wondering: yes I am aware of the de Gaulle movie, yes I know Leclerc is in it, no it’s not released in my country, yes I will post pictures and review it when I see it.

For now check this out:

Director Antonin Baudry of La Bataille de Gaulle, with Niels Schneider starring as General Leclerc. (Source)

I’m always excited for new photos, but this detail surprised me.

The ring on his hand is one that Leclerc wore and you can see it in many photos. It’s a signet ring and it had some symbolism related to the Hauteclocques (his real family name) but not much is known about it or when he got it. Maybe it’ll be the subject of a future post.

Unfortunately it is on the wrong hand and finger, but I like this attention to detail and hope the movie keeps it up and portrays him well.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

General Leclerc during a parade, waving and showing his cane.

Date and location unknown, if anyone has any information then please let me know.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Images of Niels Schneider as General Leclerc in the upcoming two part biopic: La Bataille de Gaulle

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

General Leclerc during the Liberation of Alençon, August 1944.

Source: Archives départementales Alençon

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Images of Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque with his men on a boat in Lake Ammersee, Bavaria. Taken in May of 1945 and celebrating his promotion to an Army Corps General. One can imagine the excitement and relief he must've felt.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

I bring to you a discovery I made last night. This shows General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque at a lake in Hanoi, sometime in 1946. The woman next to him is the swimmer Mady Moreau.

I’ve long searched for a picture that would show off Leclerc’s body type and physique, so I nearly screamed when I found it. Now it can be accessible for all.

And worry not, for the consensus that Leclerc never had an affair still stands. There’s no solid evidence that they were a couple, and they seem to just be friends here.

From the private collection of Claude Guioneau.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Apologies for the lack of posts, I’ve been taking a break from studying history and preparing for graduate school. I experienced major burnout from my French history fixation partially due to my coworkers finding out about it, but I’ve left that place and feel much better. However I do plan to share any neat pictures of Leclerc if I find any.

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Colonel Philippe Leclerc with commandants Poletti and Louis Dio in Qatrun, Libya around 1941.

Another appearance of the "weird uniform", making me believe this was around the time of Koufra.

[sanjaangie]

Le General de Gaulle et le le general Leclerc

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

Hands

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

General Philippe Leclerc with General George S. Patton inspecting the 2eme DB. June, 1944.

(Source: Chroniques de L'histoire: Leclerc)

[threeroyalcousinsfan1914]

Philippe Leclerc being silly

Strasbourg, 1946

Taken from here

[everythingphilippeleclerc]

The future general Philippe Leclerc (left) - back when he was still Philippe de Hauteclocque - with the 8th Spahis in Morocco after being promoted to Lieutenant on October 1st, 1926.

I've found a new book simply titled Chroniques de L'histoire: Leclerc and it's moreso a collection of pictures and information about his life, you can find it easily on Archive.org. This includes rare pictures I haven't seen before and I will be posting a lot of them in the coming weeks.