VOLUNTEERS OF 2ÈME DB
In History
We went in search of the last members of this prestigious unit to tell the story of young men and women determined to fight for freedom.
They were teenagers when WWII began: Jean, Alain, Charles, Henri, Guy and Raymonde are in their 90’s today and recall their time in the glorious DB.
The French 2nd Armored Division (French: 2e Division Blindée, 2e DB), commanded by General Philippe Leclerc, fought during the final phases of World War II in the Western Front. The division was formed around a core of units that was most known for its role in the fight at Kufra in 1941; later renamed the 2nd Light Division, in August 1943, it was organized under the US light armored division organization.
The division embarked in April 1944 and shipped to various ports in Britain. On 29 July 1944, bound for France, the division embarked at Southampton. During combat in 1944, the division liberated Paris, defeated a Panzer brigade during the armored clashes in Lorraine, forced the Saverne Gap and liberated Strasbourg. After taking part in the Battle of the Colmar Pocket, the division was moved west and assaulted the German-held Atlantic port of Royan, before crossing France in April 1945 and participating in the final fighting in southern Germany, even going first into Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest”.
Jean-Marc Seban
Born in 1953 in Paris and graduated from IDHEC , Jean-Marc Seban has directed many documentaries and fiction films for television.
He is best known for his work primetime drama “Les Cordier, juge et flic “, “Diane, femme flic” or “Joséphine, ange gardien”. He also directed documentaries including: ” The camps, and after …” ( FR3 ) . Many topics for “Etoiles et toiles”, a show by Frederic Mitterand , ” Infovison “, ” Special Envoy ” , and as part of the collection ” The Secrets of the secret war ” produced by Igor Barrère for FR3 : “the war of lies”, “War of brains” and “Guerrillas” .
Broadcast
Aired on France 2 on May 19th, 2015 “Infrarouge” (53’23”)
International Sales
ALEGRIA
Coproduction / pre-sales
With the support
CNC
Ministère de la Défense et des Anciens Combattants
Secrétariat Général pour l’Administration et la Direction de la Mémoire du Patrimoine et des Archives
Musée du Général Leclerc de Hauteclocque et de la Libération de Paris – Paris Musées