WW1 Original French warfare 1917 training manual book infantry Paris North East For Sale

Original 1917 WWI French Army Grand Quartier Général (GQG), État-Major 3e Bureau tactical field manual with two large folding battlefield/trench plans and the printed PÉTAIN authorization dated 22 August 1917.

Offered here is an original First World War French Army wartime publication, titled:

INSTRUCTION SUR L\'ORGANISATION DU TERRAIN À L\'USAGE DES TROUPES DE TOUTES ARMES – PREMIÈRE PARTIE

Issued by the:

Grand Quartier Général des Armées du Nord et du Nord-Est
État-Major – 3e Bureau
Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1917

This is the complete separately issued Première Partie, consisting of 78 pages plus two large folding tactical plans. The booklet measures approximately 7 3/4\" x 4 1/2\", with the folding plans measuring approximately 11\" x 7 3/4\" when opened. These measurements and contents correspond to the original wartime format shown in this example.

The manual was produced by the French Army\'s Grand Quartier Général 3e Bureau, the staff section responsible for operational and tactical matters. Rather than being simply an infantry handbook, it was intended “à l\'usage des troupes de toutes armes” — for troops of all arms and sets out official doctrine for organizing and defending battlefield terrain.

The illustrated text covers important mature-WWI tactical concepts including combat groups, machine-gun deployment, flanking fire, trench placement, centers of resistance, observation, communications, defensive positions and battlefield organization in depth. One photographed section is headed “LE FLANQUEMENT” and illustrates the tactical use of flanking fire, while another discusses “GROUPES DE COMBAT” and automatic weapons. The surviving diagrams are exceptionally interesting visual examples of French trench-warfare doctrine. The 1917 instruction is recognized in scholarship discussing the French shift toward more deeply echeloned defensive systems, intermediate positions and mutually supporting strongpoints.

Two original folding tactical plans

A particularly desirable feature of this copy is the presence of both original folding plans.

One illustrates an:

“Exemple d\'organisation pour groupe de combat en première ligne”

— an example of the organization of a front-line combat group.

The second illustrates another tactical combat-group arrangement between defensive lines/parallels.

The large foldouts show trenches/lines, weapon and observation positions, command elements, communication routes and directions of fire. Specialist bibliographic descriptions of the original 1917 edition specifically identify these two folding plates as an important part of the publication.

Philippe Pétain connection

Near the conclusion appears the official printed authorization:

Au Grand Quartier Général
Le 22 août 1917
PÉTAIN

This places the publication directly within the French Army\'s 1917 command period under General Philippe Pétain.

Important: the PÉTAIN name is part of the original printed official publication and is not a handwritten autograph.

For collectors, this provides a particularly strong historical connection between the manual and the evolution of French Army tactical doctrine during the critical later period of World War I.

Original 1917 wartime printing

This is an original period 1917 Imprimerie Nationale publication, not a modern print-on-demand reproduction.

The original tan printed wrappers, period paper, typography, pagination, tactical illustrations and folding plans are all consistent with the wartime edition.

Condition

The booklet displays genuine age and handling consistent with an original military publication more than a century old.

The original tan printed covers remain present and show overall age toning, handling wear, edge and corner wear, surface rubbing/soiling and several areas of visible staining/discoloration. The front cover has noticeable irregular age staining, including lighter tide/ring-type marks, with wear particularly evident toward the edges and corners.

The interior pages show even age toning with minor scattered handling wear and spotting, but the printed text and tactical diagrams remain sharp and readily legible. The photographs show the booklet remaining together with the internal pages in generally attractive condition for its age.

Both large folding tactical plans are present. They retain their original folds and show expected age toning and handling wear. The diagrams remain clear and highly displayable.

Please examine all 17 high-resolution photographs carefully for the exact condition, as the photographs form an important part of the description. The current gallery contains 17 images and clearly documents the cover, interior diagrams, Pétain authorization and folding plans.

This is a compelling original artifact for collectors of WWI French militaria, French Army documents, trench warfare, field fortification, military manuals, tactical doctrine, Grand Quartier Général material, Pétain-related history and original First World War paper items.

FREE SHIPPING TO THE US AND CANADA. The booklet will be carefully protected, securely packaged and shipped with tracking.

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Itemm SpecificsConditionUsedConflictWW I of OriginFranceCountry of OriginFranceThemeMilitariaTypeMilitary Tactical / Field Quartier Général des Armées du Nord et du Nord-EstDepartmentÉtat-Major – 3e BureauPublisherImprimerie Nationale, ParisTitleInstruction sur l\'Organisation du Terrain à l\'Usage des Troupes de Toutes ArmesPartPremière PartieSubjectField Fortification / Trench Warfare / Tactical DoctrineHistorical FigurePhilippe PétainSignaturePrinted PÉTAIN authorization – not autographedPages78IllustrationsTactical diagramsFoldouts2 Folding Tactical PlansBindingOriginal Printed Softcover / WrapsDimensionsApprox. 7 3/4\" x 4 1/2\"Foldout SizeApprox. 11\" x 7 3/4\"EraWorld War IModified ItemNo