Maxime WEYGAND, General, Minister of National Defense from J - Lot 657

Maxime WEYGAND, General, Minister of National Defense from June to September 1940, member of the Académie Française (Brussels 1867 – Paris 1965) – 2 Autograph signed letters to Georges GOYAU, of the Académie Française: Letter on Académie Française letterhead, dated June 30, 1928. “Dear Permanent Secretary. I would like to remind you of Lieutenant Colonel CARRÉ’s excellent book, *Maréchal de VILLARS*, with a preface by Marshal Pétain. It was set aside last year because the author had received an award less than three years earlier, with the clearly stated intention of awarding it to him in 1938. At our Commission’s meeting, I had requested an Academy prize of 2,000 francs…” + Letter dated February 21, 1948. “My Dear Friend. I am very grateful to you for sending these very interesting excerpts from CORDELL HULL’s memoirs. The text published on February 10, which you most recently sent me, is of great interest to me. As for the dismissal of my case, I have heard nothing official so far. ” (WEYGAND was arrested by the Gestapo on the eve of the German invasion of the Free Zone on November 11, 1942, deported to Germany, and interned until the end of the war. Arrested upon his return from Germany, charged with high treason, and imprisoned by the Provisional Government of the French Republic, he was acquitted in 1948. He became a defender of Marshal Pétain’s legacy). Enclosed are 3 letters from General Weygand. Marie Renée Joséphine de Forsanz (1876–1961) was the daughter of Colonel Raoul de Forsanz. On November 12, 1900, she married the future General Maxime Weygand: These three letters, written by hand, were composed in Paris: April 6, 1930, regarding the commemoration of the 5th centennial of Joan of Arc; February 16, 1932, a letter written from a clinic, expressing gratitude; and December 10, 1955, a note regarding the payment of a membership fee. Signed “Renée Weygand.”