Bidspirit auction | With The Foreign Legion at

With The Foreign Legion at Narvik, by Capitaine Pierre O. Lapie, 1941. Ahighly regarded, first-hand historical account written by Capitaine Pierre-Olivier Lapie and published in 1941 by John Murray.The book serves as a rare primary source detailing the Allied ground expedition during the Battle of Narvik (April–June 1940) in the Norwegian Campaign of World War II. Pierre-Olivier Lapie served as a French staff officer attached to the 13th Demi-Brigade of the French Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) during the Scandinavian operations. Following these events, he joined the Free French Forces under General Charles de Gaulle and later became a prominent French politician and author. The Battle of Narvik was a critical early World War II clash over the strategic, ice-free northern port used to ship Swedish iron ore to Germany. Lapie’s narrative provides an intimate look at how the Foreign Legion successfully fought through unforgiving Arctic terrain, snow slush, and mountainous terrain to dislodge dug-in German forces. : The book outlines the brilliant tactical victory of the Legion on the heights surrounding Narvik. However, it underscores the bittersweet reality that these forces had to be abruptly evacuated from Norway due to the catastrophic collapse of the Western Front and the invasion of France. Lapie vividly describes the logistical nightmares of moving troops through Arctic mountains, melting snow, and isolated fjords. Only two copies on Abebooks, priced at £64 each.