World War II–dated ALS in French, signed “C. de Gaulle,” four pages on two sheets, 9 x 12.5, June 20, 1940. Handwritten letter to French General Maxime Weygand, penned just after de Gaulle arrived in London as he began to organize what would be the Free French. Weygand was the newly appointed Minister of National Defence in what would become the Vichy government in July 1940. Weygand, cleverly using de Gaulle's old classmate General Pierre Lelong as an intermediary, had sent de Gaulle a message saying he must return to Paris or otherwise be considered a treasonous deserter from the (Vichy) French army.
In his reply, de Gaulle writes that he will gladly return to Paris on the condition that the French government continue its fight against Nazi tyranny. Should the Petain government surrender, de Gaulle threatens to continue to fight the Germans from exile. The timing is highly significant: de Gaulle had given his 'Appeal of 18 June' two days earlier, marking the beginning of the French Resistance, and here he lays out his philosophy for what would become the Free French movement. With this letter, de Gaulle is also effectively signing his own death warrant with the Petain government: Vichy tried de Gaulle in absentia and sentenced him to death for treason on August 2, 1940.
In full (translated): "General Lelong has informed me of your order to return to France. I have therefore enquired of him how to do so, as I have, of course, no other resolution than that of serving in combat. I therefore intend to come and present myself to you within 24 hours if, by then, the capitulation has not been signed.
In the event that it is, I shall join any French resistance movement that may be organised. In London in particular, there are military elements, and no doubt others will come who are determined to fight, whatever happens in France. I feel I must tell you very simply that I hope for France's sake and for your sake, General, that you will be able to escape disaster, reach overseas France and continue the war. At the moment, there is no armistice that would be honourable.
I would add that my personal relations with the British government, and in particular with Mr. Churchill, could enable me to be useful to you and to any other high French personality who would like to put himself at the head of the continued French resistance. Please accept, General, the expression of my most respectful and devoted feelings." In fine condition, with light creasing, and some small edge tears and chips.
De Gaulle would make good on his threat. The Petain government surrendered in the Armistice of 22 June 1940, and de Gaulle remained in England to establish a government-in-exile while supporting the resistance in Nazi-occupied France. De Gaulle's Free French Forces joined the Allied nations in their fight against the Axis powers, serving in essentially every major campaign from North Africa to Indochina and making substantial contributions to the liberation of France, and, ultimately, the victory of the Allies in World War II.
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