IVth DIVISION CUIRASSED RESERVE INSIGNE Belonging to Colonel de Gaulle, 1940 Enamelled translucent dark blue; clip missing Back with mark: "P. LESELLIER Dess A.AUGIS Ed LYON". With envelope marked in pencil by Admiral Philippe de Gaulle: "Insigne IVe Div cuir 1940 de mon Père". Historical background: On 11 May 1940, Colonel de Gaulle was given command of the 4th Reserve Cuirassée Division or 4th DCR, which was in the process of being formed. With limited resources, de Gaulle was to do more than resist the inexorable advance of the German armoured divisions, particularly at the battle of Montcornet. On 1 March 1941, while in London, the General spoke of this division, which was so dear to his heart: "I know of a certain armoured division, improvised in the middle of a battle, which inflicted on the Germans the same treatment that their 11 Panzer divisions inflicted on us". Provenance : - Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) - Then Admiral Philippe de Gaulle (1921-2024) - Then descendants