Philippe de Hauteclocque, often known by his French resistance alias Leclerc (November 22, 1902 - November 28, 1947), was a Marshal of France.

He was born in Belloy-Saint-Léonard, Somme, France.

He was Governor of French Cameroon from August 29, 1940 to November 12, 1940.

During World War II, he joined the Free French forces and distinguished himself in Tunisia. Sent in from Normandy, his 2nd Armored Division freed Paris. Some argue that General George S. Patton freed the bulk of northern France, and was ordered to halt at the outskirts of Paris by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, to give Leclerc the appearance of freeing the city. Others note that the Allied troops were avoiding Paris, moving around it clockwise towards Germany, and that Leclerc and De Gaulle had to persuade Eisenhower to let some troops help the Parisians who had risen against the German troops.

Leclerc accepted Dietrich von Choltitz's surrender at the Gare Montparnasse. His troops subsequently liberated Strasbourg and finished their war course in Berchtesgaden, Hitler's headquarters in the Austrian Alps.

When the war was over in Europe, he received command of the French forces in Pacific, and represented France during the surrender of the Japanese Empire.

He died in 1947 in an airplane accident near Colomb-Béchar, Algeria.

Miscellaneous

The Leclerc is a main battle tank built by GIAT Industries of France is named after him.

External links

• spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FRleclerc.htm)