War Memories of a Young Frenchman

This riveting memoir of the Second World War constitutes a rare insight on WWII seen from perspective of a young French soldier fighting alongside the American GI's.After the German "Blitzkrieg" and sudden defeat of French troops, the young Raymond Lescastreyres feels great sadness and shame. In 1940, when only Britain continues fighting heroically, the seventeen year-old Raymond is smuggling mail across the "demarcation line" at Mont-de-Marsan in southwest France. Reported to the...
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This riveting memoir of the Second World War constitutes a rare insight on WWII seen from perspective of a young French soldier fighting alongside the American GI's.After the German "Blitzkrieg" and sudden defeat of French troops, the young Raymond Lescastreyres feels great sadness and shame. In 1940, when only Britain continues fighting heroically, the seventeen year-old Raymond is smuggling mail across the "demarcation line" at Mont-de-Marsan in southwest France. Reported to the Gestapo, he must flee overnight and he crosses over to the Free Zone where, lying about his age, he enrols in the French army.Following two years of training in North Africa where he marvels at the technological superiority of the American equipment, he eventually lands on French soil in September 1944 at Saint Raphael. His regiment of Sherman tanks takes part alongside the American Infantry in the liberation of Alsace. Twenty year-old Raymond lives a victorious epic that takes him all the way to the shores of Lake Constance in Austria when the armistice signals the end of the conflict.These years of war were also the years of his youth which he reminisces in this moving chronicles with personal anecdotes, writing with astonishing clarity, humour and a great concern for accuracy. The book is illustrated with numerous photographs from the author's private album.This account of the Second World War as seen through the eyes of a young French soldier is not only an inspiring story but also a great reference tool for the historians and a testimony for future generations as well as a fresh perspective for those who have already read everything on the subject.