PÉTAIN, Philippe (1856-1951)

PÉTAIN, Philippe (1856-1951)

Autograph quote signed « Ph. Pétain »
S.l., 1st August 1936, 1 p. in-8° oblong
Fine condition

Nice aphorism taken from his commemorative speech for the twentieth anniversary of the Battle of Verdun

« La force assure l’indépendance, attire les alliances et maintient les amitiés.
1^er août 1936
Ph. Pétain »

Commemorated on June 21, 1936, by France and Germany at the site of the battle, this twentieth anniversary primarily allowed Hitler’s deputies, Goebbels and Hess, to further their propaganda. After a silent march, behind a swastika banner, the Germans took a solemn oath, vowing to protect the peace of the place. This was not the case; the Third Reich was already preparing its country for war and developing a fully militarized economy, focused on arms production.