If the battle of Bir Hakeim was but one of many feats of arms during the Second World War, it particularly marks the memory of "Fighting France", because the exploit of the Free French Forces occurred during a period in which the Allies were having few successes on the Pacific and Mediterranean fronts. Allied propaganda therefore celebrated this battle, thus attracting adherents to the cause of "Fighting France", and aiding general de Gaulle's French National Committee in obtaining recognition from the British and American governments. General de Gaulle's challenge was to keep France at war so that France would participate in the Allied victory, offsetting the Vichy's government's collaboration. The legendary epic of the Free French Forces at Bir Hakeim is an important part of the myth, and the reality, of "Fighting France". While the official memory of "Free France" still celebrates the unity of Frenchmen under the banner of "the Cross of Lorraine", the soldiers at Bir Hakeim could not forget the franco-french tensions they experienced.

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Le sujet de cette thèse, traite des engagements du général Koenig (1898-1970) en tant que militaire, homme politique et militant pour la cause israélienne et l‟amitié avec le peuple juif. Natif de Caen, Pierre Koenig eut dès son enfance une vocation affirmée pour la carrière militaire. Engagé volontaire pendant la première guerre mondiale, il servit ensuite en Silésie, en Allemagne et pendant une longue période au Maroc dans la Légion étrangère. Au début de la 2e guerre mondiale, il participa en 1940 à la campagne de Norvège et se rallia en juin au général de Gaulle dont il fut un des plus fidèles compagnons. Sa carrière se poursuivit en Afrique : Gabon, Levant, Libye et Tunisie. C‟est en Libye en juin 1942 à Bir-Hakeim que Koenig et ses troupes en résistant pendant plus de dix jours aux forces germano-italiennes du maréchal Rommel, ont signé un des plus grands succès des armes françaises pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale. Après la campagne de Tunisie, Koenig fut appelé par le général de Gaulle à occuper des postes importants faisant appel à ses qualités de diplomate et de négociateur : état-major d‟Alger, représentant du Gouvernement provisoire de la République Française auprès du commandement interallié et chef des Forces Françaises de l‟intérieur. Á la Libération, il fut nommé Gouverneur militaire de Paris et ensuite commandant de la zone d‟occupation française en Allemagne avec les pouvoirs civils et militaires. [etc.] / This thesis deals with the engagements carried out general Koenig (1898-1970) as a soldier, a politician and a fighter for the Israeli cause and friendship with the Jewish people. Pierre Koenig was born in Caen (France). Since childhood he had inclined always strongly to a military career. He was a volunteer during the First World War, then he served in Silesia, in Germany and in the Foreign Legion in Morocco for a long period of time. When the Second world war began, he took part in the Norway campaign early in 1940, then in June he joined General de Gaulle and became one of his most faithful companions. His career went on in Africa : Gaboon, the Levant, Libya, Tunisia. In Bir-Hakeim in Libya in June 1942, Koenig and his troops held out against Marshal Rommel‟s German and Italian forces for over ten days, thus achieving one of the greatest successes for french arms during the Second world war. After the Tunisia campaign, Koenig was called by General de Gaulle to high appointments summoning his qualities as a diplomat and negotiator. Posted first at the Algiers Headquarters, he was then the Representative of the provisional government of the French Republic next to the S.H.A.E.F. and later on chief of the Home French Forces. After the liberation of France he was appointed as “Military governor” in Paris, and afterwards commander-in-chief for the French occupation zone in Germany with civilian and military powers [etc.]