PÉTAIN, Philippe (1856-1951)

PÉTAIN, Philippe (1856-1951)

Autograph letter signed « Petain » [to Jean-Louis Forain ?]
N.p, 10th August 1918, 1 p. in-8° on his letterhead

Marshal Pétain submits an idea for a drawing to his correspondent after the last great victory of the French Army during WWI

« Mon cher ami,
Il me vient une idée de dessin que je vous soumets.
Le “Nach Paris” des Boches serait représenté par quelques cadavres descendant la Marne au fil de l’eau.
Peut-être l’idée vous séduira-t-elle ?
Bien cordialement à vous
Petain »

This letter is probably addressed to Jean-Louis Forain (1852-1931), of whom we know a drawing depicting the corpse of a soldier descending the Marne along the river. This grease pencil drawing is entitled “LA MARNE in July 1918 / NACH PARIS… ».
The Marshal’s request to the artist came only a few days after the second victory at the Marne (27 May – 6 August 1918), the last major battle of the First World War. Following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Germans concentrated on the Western Front. A German offensive was launched on 27 May. The course of this battle was different from the others: the artillery supported the infantry with its fire, the air force intervened with its bombings. French tanks and British tanks accompanied the infantry to the battlefield. After three months and several defensive and offensive battles, the French army successfully repulsed the German army.