In the context of the Commemorative Day for the 42nd anniversary of the passing of General de Gaulle, Gérard Lhéritier, President of the Aristophil company, founding President of the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts, and Publication Director of Plume magazine, presented to Christian Estrosi, Deputy Mayor of Nice, the autograph manuscript of General de Gaulle’s speech delivered on April 9, 1945, in Nice, at the time of the Liberation.
This speech was given at Place Masséna, from the balcony of the municipal casino. The text reaffirms Nice’s French nationality, previously coveted by the Italians, but also emphasizes the significant national reconstruction effort made necessary by the war.
This document—three handwritten sheets—was long kept by an American collector. Gérard Lhéritier, president of the Paris Museum of Letters and Manuscripts, subsequently acquired it and wishes to return it to the City of Nice.
The Manuscript will be carefully preserved in the municipal archives.
