How to Pronounce Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque

Meaning and Context

Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, who adopted the nom de guerre Jacques-Philippe Leclerc to protect his family from reprisals, stands as one of France's most revered World War II generals and a legendary figure of the Free French Forces. Born into an aristocratic family in 1902, he was a career military officer whose escape from occupied France in 1940 to join General Charles de Gaulle marked the beginning of a storied path. His military leadership was characterized by audacity and relentless drive, most iconously demonstrated during the liberation of Paris in August 1944, where his French 2nd Armored Division (2e DB) played a pivotal role. Beyond this historic moment, Leclerc's campaigns were crucial to the Allied victory, including operations in North Africa, the fierce Battle of Normandy, and the subsequent push through the Alsace campaign to the final reduction of the Colmar Pocket. His legacy is immortalized in French history, with numerous streets, monuments, and the Leclerc tank bearing his name, cementing his status as a national hero of the French Resistance and the broader fight against Nazi Germany.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name presents several common points of confusion and frequent misspellings. The most significant is the dual-name usage itself: he is correctly referred to as Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque (his full, legal surname) or simply General Leclerc, his wartime nom de guerre. A frequent error is hyphenating "Leclerc" incorrectly, such as "Le-Clerc" or "Le Clerc" as separate words; it is a single, solid surname. The aristocratic particle "de" is often mistakenly capitalized as "De Hauteclocque," but in correct French usage, it remains lowercase unless starting a sentence. The final part of his surname, "Hauteclocque," is commonly misspelled as "Hautelocque" (dropping the 'c'), "Hautecloque," or "Haute-Clocque." Additionally, his first name is sometimes erroneously given as "Phillipe" with a double 'l' or confused with his nom de guerre, leading to the incorrect form "Jacques Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque," which conflates both identities.

Example Sentences

Upon entering Paris, General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque accepted the formal surrender of the German garrison at the Gare Montparnasse, a defining moment of the city's liberation.

Historians often cite Leclerc's unwavering determination and tactical flexibility as key factors in the rapid success of the French 2nd Armored Division across multiple theaters.

The oath he swore at Kufra in 1941—to not rest until the French flag flew over Strasbourg—was fulfilled three years later, a testament to his profound commitment.

Many memorials across France bear the name "Leclerc," honoring not just the general but the spirit of the Free French forces he so ably led.

His legacy, from the sands of North Africa to the streets of Paris and the battlefields of Alsace, remains a cornerstone of modern French military history.

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