Raymond Dronne
Encyclopedia
Capitaine Raymond Dronne (Mayet (France) 8 March 1908 - Paris 5 September 1991), French civil servant and, following World War II, a politician. He was the first Allied officer to enter Paris
as part of the liberation forces
during World War II
. A volunteer who joined the Free French Forces
in Africa in 1940. Later, he was assigned as commanding officer of the 9e Compagnie, du Régiment de Marche du Tchad (Ninth Company, Regiment of March of Chad), which became a unit of the French 2nd Armored Division
During the move on Paris, due to combat conditions and poor road progress, General Philippe Leclerc, commanding general of the Second Armored, ordered Dronne to form an advance party, go to Paris and let the Resistance
know that the Second Armored would be in Paris in 24 hours.
His advance party, the 9th Company, consisted of armoured cars and Sherman tanks. In the French tradition the vehicles were named: the armored cars were called Guadalajara, Madrid and Ebro and the Sherman tanks were called Montmirail, Romilly and Champaubert.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as part of the liberation forces
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A volunteer who joined the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
in Africa in 1940. Later, he was assigned as commanding officer of the 9e Compagnie, du Régiment de Marche du Tchad (Ninth Company, Regiment of March of Chad), which became a unit of the French 2nd Armored Division
During the move on Paris, due to combat conditions and poor road progress, General Philippe Leclerc, commanding general of the Second Armored, ordered Dronne to form an advance party, go to Paris and let the Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
know that the Second Armored would be in Paris in 24 hours.
His advance party, the 9th Company, consisted of armoured cars and Sherman tanks. In the French tradition the vehicles were named: the armored cars were called Guadalajara, Madrid and Ebro and the Sherman tanks were called Montmirail, Romilly and Champaubert.