French text:General Jean Chrétien went through a period rich in extraordinary events. His personal action was decisive during the Anglo-American landings in North Africa in November 1942. Assigned to Vichy shortly after the defeat of 1940, then to Algiers at the beginning of 1941, Chrétien was close to the decision-making circles until 1944 and rubbed shoulders with the 'Large' of his time. As a member of the intelligence services, his testimony is very useful to understand post WWII France. His story, unpublished, lifts the veil on the spirit of resistance animating some members of the secret service, on the undeclared war between them and the London B.C.R.A. on the politico-military struggle between Gaulle and Giraud, and finally on the (sometimes murky) role of our allies, before and after the assassination of Darlan.