Chars D2 Au Combat: Les Elephants De Guerre Du Colonel De Gulle

Description

In 1937, Colonel de Gaulle moved from theory to practice. The author in 1934 of a true manifesto in favour of the armoured corps will lead for two years a regiment of combat tanks in Metz, the 507th RCC. There, with powerful D 2 tanks of 20 tons, he creates a unit that he subjected to the most severe discipline and training, making of it a remarkable fighting resource for which "everything is possible". In the occurrence of the war, Charles de Gaulle is promoted to a higher command, the 5th Army. But when commencing the battle on May 15, 1940, the first tanks to join his 4th armoured division, are, again, the D 2. These tanks, armed with powerful 47 canons, will be engaged in offensive expeditions in Montcornet, Crecy, Somme and Amiens, before participating in the latest fighting in the battle of France.

Stephane Bonnaud, specialist in the history of combat tank units of the 1940's campaign, has already written the memorable "Chars B in combat" and more than thirty articles in Quarterly GBM. This new volume, he presents the results of a fifteen-year long study. .