Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/Modern Armies/France products

Paris, Philippe: De Gaulle et Bayeux 19,00 €

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:40:07 +0200

This work recalls the central role of the city of Bayeux in de Gaulles vision of the state, particularly in the speech of June 16, 1946, that launched the Fifth Republic. Readers follow his journey step by step through numerous illustrations.

Puyvelde, Damien Van: The DGSE 29,95 €

Fri, 29 May 2026 07:00:07 +0200

This is the first English-language account of the history of Frances modern-day foreign intelligence service. Frances foreign intelligence agencyresponsible for espionage, analysis, covert operations, and securityis the powerful *Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure* (DGSE). The DGSEs mandate encompasses a broad spectrum of threats, including foreign interference, terrorism and international crime, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the defense of French economic interests. Drawing on official reports, rare declassified documents, interviews, memoirs, and French secondary literature, Van Puyvelde offers an accessible, concise introduction to the DGSE. The books thematically organized chapters provide insights into the services foundations, organization, leadership, activities, international partners, cultural portrayals, historical legacy, and future trajectory. The service enjoys a reputation for conducting daring operations and for wielding shadowy influence both within the French state apparatus and on the international stage. Fiascos such as the bombing of Greenpeaces *Rainbow Warrior* have tarnished its reputation; yet in recent years, the DGSE has undergone reform and distanced itself from its checkered past. Van Puyveldes innovative analytical approach demonstrates how the DGSE has successfully adapted to the security challenges of the 21st century.

Fall, Bernard: Dien Bien Phu 24,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

On Saturday, 8 May 1954, the command aircraft receives the very last message sent by the French from Dien Bien Phu: Breakout failed, stop, can no longer communicate with you, stop, end. The breakout of Isabelle has just failed, and this is indeed the end. The end of the Indochina War and French colonial power. For the first time in history, a guerrilla force had defeated a major power on the battlefield. The loss of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, whose siege had lasted 167 days, had consequences similar to those of Waterloo, the Marne and Stalingrad. How did this desperate situation come about on the eve of the Geneva Conference? Bernard Fall meticulously reconstructs the battle after collecting the testimonies of survivors from both sides, interviewing the key players in this drama, such as Ho Chi Minh and Giap in Hanoi, and obtaining permission from the French Minister of Defence to view still-secret documents of the utmost importance. He describes the attack and subsequent suffocation of Dien Bien Phu by trench warfare reminiscent of Verdun, and takes us into the hell of the entrenched camp, where the wounded cower with vermin in dark trenches. He shows how the 13,000 men of the French garrison, 70% of whom were legionnaires, North Africans and Vietnamese, faced 50,000 Viet Minh fighters and 55,000 unarmed recruits men, women and the elderly. In this panorama, Bernard Fall reveals the truth about the hidden aspects of this tragedy: what role did Generals Navarre, Cogny and de Castries really play, and what was the relationship between them? Why did the United States not intervene? Was the dropping of an atomic bomb considered? And above all: would the history of Vietnam have taken its current course if a decisive defeat had been avoided in 1954?

Dando, Neal: Iron Resolve: 4th Armoured Brigade and the Gazala Battles, 1942. Volume 1: From Reorganisation to Contact. 4th Armoured Brigade Before and Into Gazala, January-27 May 1942 24,95 €

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

A volume from the Africa @ War series. The first volume of Iron Resolve offers a carefully researched account of the British 4th Armored Brigade's preparations for the Battle of Gazalaone of the most significant tank battles of World War IIand its first engagements in that battle. Based on a wealth of war diaries, mission reports, personal accounts, and previously unpublished material, the book traces the brigade's restructuring and re-equipment in early 1942 after its return from the Greek campaign. As British and Commonwealth forces in North Africa prepared for renewed attacks by the Axis powers, the 4th Armored Brigade took on the important task of establishing a mobile tank reserve in the increasingly contested desert area between the Gazala Line and the border. The narrative follows the brigade as it trained in the deep desert, adapted to evolving doctrine, and integrated reinforcements from across the Empire. It details the strategic tensions within the 8th Army command, the changing operational plans, and the challenges of preparing for battle in the face of limited supplies, unreliable equipment, and pervasive uncertainty. Volume 1 culminates in the days leading up to and including May 27, 1942, when Rommel launched Operation Venezia and the Axis tank divisions began their advance at the southern end of the Gazala Line. The book includes detailed descriptions of the 4th Panzer Brigade's initial engagements and highlights the tactical decisions, battlefield confusion, and individual bravery that marked the beginning of a grueling and costly battle. Rather than focusing exclusively on tanks and tactics, this volume also explores the human experiences of desert warfare: the endurance, ingenuity, and camaraderie of the men who fought in brutal conditions far from home. Illustrated with numerous maps, historical photographs, and diagrams, Iron Resolve Volume 1 is both a rich narrative and an authoritative reference work. It sets the stage for Volume 2, which continues the story through the heart of the Gazala battles, the fall of Tobruk, and the aftermath of the 8th Army's heaviest defeat to date. Essential reading for historians, military experts, and anyone interested in the development of British tank doctrine in the Western Desert.

Francois, David: French Mercenaries in Africa1960-1995 24,95 €

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

A volume from the series Africa @ War. The mechanization of armies, the industrialization of warfare, and the bipolarization of the world after World War II seemed to confine mercenaries to a few marginal conflicts. However, the chaos of decolonization led to the emergence of a modern mercenary force. Among these mercenaries, these dogs of war, the French occupy a special place. The fate of French mercenaries, marked by both failures and successes, reveals a little-known aspect of the history of conflicts in Africa, at the crossroads between the ambitions of the Cold War and France's desire to maintain its influence in Africa. French mercenaries in Africa often served as the armed and secret arm of France, particularly in fighting its rivals, especially the Anglo-Saxons. From the Congo to the Indian Ocean, via Biafra, Angola, Chad, Rhodesia, and Libya, French mercenaries became known through a series of emblematic and, for some, legendary figures such as Roger Faulques, Rolf Steiner, Jean Kay, and René Dulac. The most emblematic of them all, Bob Denard, the king of mercenaries and the nightmare of presidents, built his career on his experiences in Katanga and his dominance of the Comoros presidential guard between 1978 and 1989. French Mercenaries in Africa traces the path of these fighters who brought a certain idea of France to the African continent. Based on the statements and memories of the mercenaries, as well as scientific works and official documents, the book is richly illustrated with original photographs and specially produced color profiles, making it an indispensable reference source.

Wodka-Gallien, Philippe: A Sword for Peace and Liberty. Band 2: French Nuclear Forces 1990-2025 24,95 €

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

A volume from the series Europe @ War. This was a turbulent period, as the initial peace dividends gave way to a new era of strategic competition, with old adversaries reemerging and new ones joining the fray, while new technologies were spreading. While Paris' foreign policy supports international agreements at the diplomatic level, particularly the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, credibility and legitimacy remain the main pillars of military defense policy. This volume provides a detailed, illustrated overview of France's nuclear-powered submarines, Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter-bombers, impressive aircraft carriers, and computer-assisted intelligence and command centers, tracing the history of these armed forces from 1990 to the present and looking ahead to the end of this century. Volume 2 of A Sword for Peace and Liberty describes in detail the adaptation of French nuclear forces to these challenging times in order to maintain a constant deterrence strategy, the renewal of French nuclear forces, and how this will affect the rest of the 21st century with a new generation of fighter-bombers, submarines, and missiles.

Samson, Emmanuel: GIGN 42,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

GIGN: four letters that command respect. Since its creation in 1974, this anti-terrorist unit has established itself as a global benchmark and is always at the forefront when it comes to the most extreme threats. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Christian Prouteau, the GIGN has forged a unique identity: efficiency, rigour, respect for human life. From cases involving rampaging gunmen to terrorist hostage-takings, it embodies the last resort. Uniforms, legendary weapons, demanding training, decisive missions: the history of the GIGN is marked by moments that have been etched into the collective memory. This richly illustrated work is based on more than 60 previously unpublished accounts. It takes you behind the scenes of the unit: its origins, its most significant missions, its everyday life and its 50-year development.

Goya, Michel: Théorie du combattant 29,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:30:23 +0200

On 18 August 2008, 10 French soldiers were killed and 21 others wounded in the Afghan mountains. No one had seen the ambush by the Taliban and their local allies coming. This tragic event is the starting point for Michel Goya's new work, which begins with a description of these battles in the Uzbin Valley and then analyses their consequences. Immediately after the events, a stark contrast emerges between the national shock caused by the destruction of a French infantry platoon in this ambush and the few measures that had been taken to prevent this tragedy. Close combatants, whose job it is to kill or be killed in direct contact with the enemy the vast majority of whom are infantrymen and special forces are indispensable to the victory of armies. If their death triggers a national event, they must rightly be the subject of a national priority, especially since there have never been so few of them in France. In reality, however, this has never been the case: the importance of infantrymen is only recognised when they die. Michel Goya begins by describing what a modern close combatant has been since the industrial age and how their profession has evolved from the small arms revolution to the end of the Second World War. Since then, little has changed for these warriors, while other military technologies and other types of warfare have undergone major developments. The French infantry unit destroyed by Afghan rebels with old Soviet weapons in 2008 could just as easily have been destroyed by a German infantry company in 1944. Finally, the author describes the current problems facing Western close combatants, while their direct opponents, who are currently often irregular, have never been so numerous. He also examines how to initiate a new revolution in the way warfare is conducted. A powerful and necessary iconoclastic reflection by a historian and strategist.

Bentégeat, Henri: Charles Ailleret 32,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:30:23 +0200

After the end of the Algerian War, General de Gaulle relied on one man to transform the army, which had become an instrument for maintaining colonial order, into a modern army with nuclear weapons, whose main task was to preserve France's rank and sovereignty in Europe. A graduate of the École Polytechnique, resistance fighter, deportee, key figure in the development of France's nuclear arsenal, military theorist and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Ailleret implemented General de Gaulle's military policy until his tragic death in 1968. His true role was little known until his granddaughter discovered some extraordinary family archives. Based on the analysis of these unpublished documents, this book brings together the contributions of a colloquium organised at the École militaire and dedicated to the figure of this extraordinary officer who became General de Gaulle's strategist.

Bellec, Olivier: Les paras à Dien Bien Phu. Volume 1: 20 novembre 1953 - 12 mars 1954 54,95 €

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

There are names that have a special significance in our history. Dien Bien Phu is etched in the French collective consciousness as a defeat marked by a series of disappointments, but also glory. Seventy years on, the author invites the reader to accompany the paratroopers in battle, day by day, even hour by hour. For this book, which is intended as a reference work, the facts have been reconstructed on the basis of documents from the period and supplemented by eyewitness accounts, because history can only be understood by understanding the lives of the people who wrote it. The author has set himself the goal of producing as accurate a historical work as possible through numerous checks. It is time to point the finger at certain legends that have been circulating since the battle and to restore the truth about certain facts. For the first time in such a work, you can also discover the uniforms, weapons and equipment that shaped the everyday life of the men during the battle.

1er Régiment de choc 44,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

Since its foundation in 1964, the 1st Shock Regiment - National Command Training Centre has continuously developed to offer training that increasingly reflects the realities of modern combat. This work, produced under the direction of its 29th commander, Colonel Vivien Bureu, provides an insight into the reality of this unit, which occupies a special place within the army, and all those who have had the good fortune to serve there.

Delaitre, Fabrice: La Chute de Dien Bien Phu 19,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:27 +0200

Volume 2 of the series Les Memoires de Oubliées. On 7 May at 5 p.m., General de Castries ended the battle without raising the white flag, as he had promised his superiors. On the 70th anniversary of the end of the Indochina War, the author uses unpublished accounts to bring back to life three people who witnessed the fall of the entrenched camp at Dien Bien Phù after a 56-day siege by Viet Minh troops. This historic event, which represents a tactical and strategic defeat for the French, is above all an opportunity to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of these brothers in arms who never wanted to surrender.

Zeller, Bernard: Un Quarteron de Généraux avant le Putsch 29,95 €

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:45:09 +0200

On 22 April 1961, Generals Challe, Zeller and Jouhaud, soon joined by Salan, staged a coup in Algiers. The next day, General de Gaulle addressed the nation: "A rebellious power has established itself in Algeria [...]. This power has a face: a handful of retired generals. It has a reality: a group of officers, party members, ambitious individuals and fanatics. This group and this handful of people have quick and limited expertise. While the events were described in detail, the motives of the coup leaders remained unclear. How could these men, who had been appointed to the highest offices by General de Gaulle after a career marked by discipline and service, come to join a movement that was completely alien to French military tradition? The author draws on previously untapped sources and had access to the private archives of the protagonists of the event. He traces their careers from their entry into the army to the top of the hierarchy and provides explanations as to how, despite their different backgrounds and temperaments, they decided to cross the Rubicon. In doing so, he reconstructs an entire chapter of French military history, from the 1914 war in which Zeller and Salan took part to Syria, the A-OF, the Italian campaign, the landing in Provence, the liberation of Alsace and the Indochina War, right up to the Algerian War. A unique journey from the battlefields to the prison in Tulle. An important and necessary work that dispels many prejudices.

Guyader, Raymond: La Légion Étrangère en Algérie 1954-1962 64,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:27 +0200

This work immerses the reader in the past of the French Foreign Legion with precision. Experience the intense moments of the Legion thanks to rich and authentic documentation. With over 400 collectibles and around 200 historical photographs, you can not only admire the uniforms, but also understand their development and significance in the context of the time. The details of the Foreign Legion's uniforms are presented in detail in this volume. The second part focuses on combat and ceremonial uniforms and reveals the clothing traditions and special features that distinguish the legionnaires. From equipment to weapons, every element is carefully examined, offering a unique insight into the culture and identity of the Legion. Military history buffs and uniform collectors will be thrilled by the wealth of information and the quality of the illustrations. The third part of this book is a real highlight. For the first time, a comprehensive and original study of the uniforms of the Sahara formations of the Foreign Legion is presented. This often neglected aspect is highlighted here, enriching our understanding of the clothing worn during the Algerian War.

Muelle, Raymond: Lieutenant-colonel Jeanpierre 29,95 €

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:45:10 +0200

This book traces the exemplary life of Lieutenant Colonel Jeanpierre, a symbolic figure of the Foreign Legion. Through his commitment, bravery and leadership qualities, he embodies the archetype of the warrior and respected leader. From his beginnings as a simple soldier to his exploits in Syria, Indochina and Algeria, Jeanpierre demonstrated unwavering courage and unconditional devotion to the Foreign Legion. His life and death serve as an example and help to forge military legends.

Cholous, Philippe: Esprit de Décision 28,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:05:14 +0200

Intervention is an operational field in both the civil and military sectors, which is developing at national level and in foreign missions. It covers various geographical and professional areas, is subject to different legal frameworks and, paradoxically, remains little known and hardly researched. It is therefore essential to define intervention as a field of expertise and to describe its philosophy, recent history, legal framework, developments and similarities with other operational fields. It is also important to examine the numerous and diverse intervention units, the specific nature of their constraints and their operating principles, without revealing their technical and tactical procedures. Philippe Cholous, who has commanded professional and specialised intervention forces, is a so-called reflective practitioner, i.e. an author who conducts research based on his professional experience and his willingness to look at things simply in order to put them into context. His work is intended less to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art than to provide food for thought for interested readers who are interested in the field of intervention.

Jean, Didier: Dans les Secrets du Sphinx 32,95 €

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:45:09 +0200

This book is about General Jeannou Lacaze, an officer in the Foreign Legion, an officer in the 11th Choc at the SDECE, corps commander of the 2nd REP from 1967 to 1970, head of intelligence at the SDECE from 1971 to 1976, commander of the 11th Parachute Division from 1977 to 1978, chief of staff of the armed forces from 1981 to 1985, advisor to the Minister of Defence from 1985 to 1989, advisor to African heads of state from 1988 to 2001, highlights the key aspects of his career: war, action, secret service, command, decision-making and influence. Through a thematic tour of the SDECE and the Algerian War, the Ben Barka affair, Operation Farewell, the Cold War, New Caledonia, the general's relationships, the defence of the African sphere of influence and the security of African heads of state, we discover General Lacaze, an influential man with diverse and eclectic relationships who kept many of France's secrets from 1960 to 2000. The original perspective on well-known but unchecked or little-used information, documents from the general and previously unpublished witness statements, always used with the aim of providing a well-founded analysis, enable the author to look at cases, some of which caused scandals, from a new perspective and to report completely unknown facts, making this book an important document for readers who want to understand the background of yesterday and today. Learning from the past to understand today's events is the aim of this book. General Lacaze's convictions on the strategy and methods of the USSR, on the defence of New Caledonia and on the defence of the African sphere of influence are highly topical, both in relation to Russia and to the strategic importance of New Caledonia and the decline of French influence in Africa.

Stan, Nicolas S./Sanchez, J. C.: Forces Speciales. Les Guerriers du 10 29,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:27 +0200

Nicolas S. served for nineteen years in the Special Forces in Parachute Regiment No. 10, where he held the positions of operations group leader and operations commander. Alongside his brothers in arms, he pursued and fought France's enemies on three continents and carried out the Republic's most delicate missions: the arrest of terrorist leaders and war criminals, the liberation of hostages, and the rescue and evacuation of French citizens from crisis areas. The ten reports in this book provide an insight into the everyday lives of these men in the shadows through their missions, their education and their training, offering an authentic glimpse into the life of the special forces.

Villatoux, Paul: Kolwezi 32,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:05:14 +0200

A report on Operation Bonite in Kolwezi in 1978, during which the 2nd REP distinguished itself in a lightning rescue mission amid the chaos of Zaire, the last major French airborne operation. In May 1978, the 2nd Parachute Regiment of the Foreign Legion (REP), then under the command of Colonel Philippe Érulin, was selected for a mission that only a few units could have accomplished: they were to parachute into Kolwezi, in the heart of the Shaba mining region in southeastern Zaire, where separatist rebels were committing bloody atrocities. The goal was to rescue thousands of European and African hostages who had fallen into their hands and were facing certain death. The operation, codenamed Bonite, was prepared on site and relied on courage and speed to achieve a surprise effect in favour of the attackers. The paratroopers of the Foreign Legion and their commander, who are ready for action at a moment's notice and prove their proven skills, gain fame and glory in this short but intense military action. To this day, this remains the last major airborne operation carried out by the French army. This book allows you to relive the course of events and better understand the challenges that emerged during that month of May 1978, based on unpublished sources and eyewitness accounts from those involved.

Renaud,Patrick-Charles: La Bataille de Timimoun 38,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:35:09 +0200

You have a free hand! When Lieutenant-Colonel Bigeard, commander of the 3rd Colonial Parachute Regiment, received the urgent telegram from General Salan, Commander-in-Chief of the Algerian Armed Forces, he knew he had to play for all or nothing. In recent weeks, Saharans and the air force had been unable to track down the deserters of a Meharist company who, after eliminating eight of their European comrades, struck again by laying a deadly ambush on oil tankers escorted by legionnaires. It is a risky undertaking, because they have to operate in the dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental, a vast, traditionally off-limits world, covering nearly 15% of metropolitan France. This book recounts the events from the mutiny to the chase. You will learn how Bigeard, a pragmatic and media-savvy officer with undeniable charisma, managed to track down the dissidents and their accomplices. With the help of the air force, he orchestrated airborne operations in which his men were flown directly by helicopter and dropped by parachute over these dreaded desert warriors, who fought to the last bullet.