CHARLES DE GAULLE. LE FIL DE L'EPEE - Lot 197

CHARLES DE GAULLE. LE FIL DE L'EPEE GAULLE (Charles de) Le fil de l'épée, Éditions Berger Levraut, 1944. In-12. Paperback (tear top right). This book remains Charles de Gaulle's reference work. It sets out his vision of history, war and what a good military leader should be. Written between the wars, the book proved Charles de Gaulle's visionary spirit and the accuracy of his observations. De Gaulle hoped that his ideas would inspire the French army to modernize its training, by encouraging and developing young officers' instinct, initiative and authority (fundamental qualities of a military leader for de Gaulle). Unfortunately, French army leaders failed to grasp the importance of the author's words, while across the Rhine, Wehrmacht leaders were providing a military education that contributed to German victories in the Second World War.