Abstract:
Amongst the great leaders of the 20th century, de Gaulle was perhaps the only one who served as an active frontline officer during the Great War. His diary and military papers of the days and months were published as "Carnets, notes et lettres". They offer a meticulous and dry recital describing in its very detail what life was like in the first lines of battles, from the perspective of trenches. He lived through the whole experience as a real professional who did not care about the many atrocities of war, but considered his role as that of someone who had a duty, and different problems that needed to be solved in an efficient manner.
