From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Philippe de Hautecloque, often known as his French resistance alias Leclerc (Belloy-Saint-Léonard, France, 1902 - near Colomb-Béchar, Algeria, 1947) was Marshal of France.
During World War II, he joined the Free French forces and distinguished himself in Tunisia. Sent in from Normandy, his 2nd armored division freed Paris. He accepted Dietrich von Choltitz's surrender at the Gare Montparnasse. His troops subsequently liberated Strasbourg and finished their war course in Berchtesgaden.
He died in an airplane accident.
