27 February 2008
book review
Tunis — In a moving book recently published by 'View Design International' in Tunis , Paul Nicolas a French history lover from the city of Metz , has paid tribute to the 4th Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment (4éme RTT) who valiantly fought for France during WWII.
The book which is entitled "Sidi Brahim des Neiges" (Sidi Brahim of the Snows), provides the reader with a vivid account of the major episodes of the 4th Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment, the most distinguished French regiment during the war.
The book which is 137 pages long took the author 3 years to write, and was achieved thanks to the aid of the French service of war veterans, the ministry of national defence, the French Cooperation Institute, and the Embassy of France in Tunisia.
Talking about how the idea of the book first came to him, Paul Nicolas said that one day he was walking in the Eastern part of France, he found an engraving in a bloc of granite planted some 1362 meter high in the Vosgian pass of Hohnek reading, "4th Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment : combats December 5 to 14, 1944" .
This engraving he said, triggered his interest in the regiment, whose men left everything behind them to defend France against the Nazis. Their heroic feats of arms, fight against the bitter cold and a staunch enemy, were eventually rewarded as they were the first French regiment to enter Germany on March 19, 1945.
The book which retraces the brotherhood of arms between Tunisian and French soldiers, is also a reflection of the bonds that tie together Tunisia and France, "as well as a tribute to those valorous Tunisian fighters to whom France owes its freedom and that of future generations", says Paul Nicolas.
The author adds that the book is part of that 'shared memory' between both countries which calls for looking at history objectively, without any judgment or passion.
During a recent trip to Tunisia , he also met with some of the survivors of the regiment who shared with him their memories of the most dramatic episodes of their combats.
According to Mr Philippe Arouy who is in charge of the French Association of 'anciens combattants' (former war veterans), some 62,000 Tunisian soldiers fought in France during WWI , 15,200 were killed during the war and many made prisoners. An additional 20,000 fought in France during WWII.
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