The Free French Forces (French: Forces Françaises Libres, FFL) were French fighters in World War II, who decided to continue fighting against Axis forces after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries The Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed at 1850 on 22 June 1940 near Compiègne, in the department of Oise, between Nazi Germany The German occupation of France in World War II occurred during the period between May 1940 to December 1944
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Definition
In many sources, Free French describes any French individual or unit that fought against Axis forces after the June 1940 armistice. The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The reality is more complex as some French forces did take part in the fight against the Axis, for example in Tunisia in early 1943, without any relationship with de Gaulle's organisation. Tunisia (تونس Tūnis officially the Tunisian Republic ( is a country located in North Africa. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Historically, an individual became Free French after he enlisted in de Gaulle's Free French organisation located in London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Free French units are units formed by these people. De Gaulle's organisation stopped accepting members in mid-1943 as Free French forces were merging with the French forces in North Africa, and the Comité français de libération nationale (CFLN) was set up in Algiers. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Algiers (الجزائر Algerian Arabic: Dzayer ( (From kabyle pronunciation Kabyle: Ledzayer, Alger) is the Capital and largest
Postwar, to settle disputes over the Free French heritage, the French government issued an official definition of the term. Under this "ministerial instruction of July 1953" (instruction ministérielle du 29 juillet 1953), only those who served with the Allies after the Franco-German armistice in 1940 and before 1 August 1943 may correctly be called "Free French". Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [2]
French forces after July 1943 are therefore correctly designated as the "forces of Liberation". Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
This article temporarily includes the activities of French forces after 1942, in order to maintain continuity. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
History
Prelude
In 1940, General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French cabinet during the Battle of France. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French French government ministers are members of the Prime Minister 's Government or cabinet although in French the term " Cabinet " is rarely used to describe In World War II, the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries As French defence forces were increasingly overwhelmed, de Gaulle found himself part of a small group of politicians who argued against a negotiated surrender to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Kingdom of Italy ( Italian: Regno d'Italia) was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom As these views were shared by the President of the Council, Paul Reynaud, de Gaulle was sent as an emissary to the United Kingdom, where he was when the French government collapsed. Paul Reynaud (15 October 1878 - 21 September 1966 was a French politician and lawyer prominent in the interwar period noted for his stances on economic liberalism and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
On 16 June, the new French President of the Council, Philippe Pétain, began negotiations with Axis officials. Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951 generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain ( Maréchal Pétain) The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries On 18 June, de Gaulle spoke to the French people via BBC radio. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries He asked French soldiers, sailors and airmen to join in the fight against the Nazis. Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German In France, de Gaulle's "Appeal of the 18th of June" (Appel du 18 juin) was not widely heard, but subsequent discourse by de Gaulle could be heard nationwide. The Appeal of 18th June was a famous speech by Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French Forces, in 1940 Some of the British Cabinet had attempted to block the speech, but were over-ruled by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 To this day, the Appeal of 18 June remains one of the most famous speeches in French history. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Nevertheless, on June 28, Pétain signed the surrender and became leader of the puppet regime known as Vichy France. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. A puppet state is a State that is nominally independent but in reality under the control of another power Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 (Vichy is the French town where the government was based). Vichy ( Occitan: Vichèi) is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France.
De Gaulle was tried in absentia in Vichy France and sentenced to death for treason; he, on the other hand, regarded himself as the last remaining member of the legitimate Reynaud government able to exercise power, seeing the rise to power of Pétain as an unconstitutional coup.
Cross of Lorraine
Capitaine de corvette Thierry d'Argenlieu[3] suggested the adoption of the Cross of Lorraine as symbol of the Free French, both to recall the perseverance of Joan of Arc, whose symbol it had been, and as an answer to the Nazi swastika [1]. The rank Insignia of the French Navy ( French: Marine Nationale) are worn on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu, in religion Louis de la Trinité ( August 7 1889 - September 7 1964) was a priest diplomat and This article is about a symbol For the film see The Cross of Lorraine. Joan of Arc (c 1412 Joan asserted that she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the Hundred Years' The swastika (from Sanskrit: svástika sa स्वस्तिक Hindu IS CORRECT if 'ि' is positioned incorrectly see -->) is
In his general order n° 2 of 3 July 1940, Vice Admiral Émile Muselier, two days after assuming the post of chief of the naval and air forces of the Free French, created the bow flag displaying the French colours with a red cross of Lorraine, and a cocarde also featuring the cross of Lorraine. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Emile Henry Muselier ( Marseilles, 17 April 1882 - Toulon, 2 September 1965) was a French admiral who led A cockade is a knot of ribbons or other circular- or oval-shaped symbol of distinctive colors which is usually worn on a Hat.
Following repeated broadcasts, by the end of July that year, 7,000 people had volunteered to join the Free French forces. The Free French Navy had fifty ships and some 3,700 men operating as an auxiliary force to the British Royal Navy. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service)
A monument on Lyle Hill in Greenock in western Scotland, in the shape of the Cross of Lorraine combined with an anchor, was raised by subscription as a memorial to the Free French naval vessels which sailed from the Firth of Clyde to take part in the Battle of the Atlantic, and is also locally associated with the memory of the loss of the Maillé Brézé which exploded at the Tail of the Bank. Greenock ( Gaelic Grianaig g̊ɾʲiənɛg̊ʲ is a large town and former Burgh of barony in the Inverclyde Council area of western Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer Firth in The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous Military campaign of World War II, (though some say it was a series of naval Military campaigns The Tail of the Bank is the name given to the Anchorage in the upper Firth of Clyde immediately north of Greenock and Gourock.
 The French flag with the Cross of Lorraine, emblem of the Free French. This article is about a symbol For the film see The Cross of Lorraine. |  The Free French memorial on Lyle Hill, Greenock, overlooks Gourock. Gourock ( Gaelic Guireag (pimple shaped or rounded g̊uɾʲag̊ is a Burgh in Inverclyde, Scotland. |  Free French Naval Ensign and French Naval Honour Jack. |  Free French Forces adrian helmet with the Cross of Lorraine replacing the 1939-1940 French Republic "RF" emblem. The M15 Adrian helmet (Casque Adrian was a Combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. |
Mers El Kébir
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill deemed that, in German or Italian hands, the French fleet would have been a grave threat to the Allies. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 He ordered the French ships to rejoin the Allies and agree to be put out of use in a British, French, or neutral port. As a last resort, Churchill indicated that the French fleet would be destroyed by British attack. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874
The Royal Navy attempted to persuade the French Navy to agree to these terms but, when that failed, they attacked the French Navy at Mers El Kébir in Algeria. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The Attack on Mers-el-Kébir, also known as Operation Catapult, was a hostile engagement off the coast of French Algeria where a British Royal Navy Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's This attack on 3 July 1940 caused bitterness and division in France (over 1,000 sailors had been killed), particularly in the Navy, and discouraged many French soldiers from joining the Free French forces in Britain and elsewhere. Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Some French warships did remain on the Allied side and others re-joined later after the Axis occupation of Vichy France (codenamed Case Anton) and the scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon. During World War II the German authorities codenamed the occupation of Vichy France Case (or Operation) Anton. The French fleet in Toulon was Scuttled on 27 November 1942 on the order of the Admiralty of Vichy France to avoid capture by Those ships flew a separate flag, the Free French Naval Ensign, which is still in use as a mark of honour by ships that continue to use the name of a Free French ship.
The struggle for control of French colonies
After the fall of France in 1940, the French colonies of Cameroun and French Equatorial Africa (except for Gabon) joined the Free French while the remainder sided with the Vichy Regime. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. France was a dominant empire in the world from the 1600s to the late 1960s possessing many colonies in various locations around the world Cameroun was a French mandate territory in central Africa now constituting the majority of the territory of the Republic of Cameroon. French Equatorial Africa ( Afrique équatoriale française, AEF) was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending Gabon (gəˈbɒn or /gaˈbõ/ in French) is a country in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic With the addition of French African colonies came a large number of African colonial troops. Colonial troops or colonial army refers to various military units recruited from or used as garrison troops in colonial territories From July to November 1940, Free French forces fought French troops loyal to Vichy France during the West African Campaign. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 The name West African campaign refers to two battles during World War II: the Battle of Dakar (also known as Operation Menace) and the Battle The outcome of this campaign was mixed with the Vichy French claiming victory at the Battle of Dakar and the Free French claiming victory at the Battle of Gabon. The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar The Battle of Gabon or the Battle of Libreville was part of the West African Campaign of World War II fought in November 1940 The French West African colonies remained Vichy French and the French Equatorial African colonies remained Free French. French West Africa ( Afrique occidentale française, AOF) was a Federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: French Equatorial Africa ( Afrique équatoriale française, AEF) was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending
In Asia and the Pacfic, the The French South Pacific colonies of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and the New Hebrides joined the Free French later. For the former North American fur-trading district see New Caledonia (Canada, and for the Scottish colony in Panama see Darien scheme. French Polynesia ( French: Polynésie française, Tahitian: Pōrīnetia Farāni) is a French Overseas collectivity in the Hebrides (disambiguation New Hebrides was the colonial name for an Island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The South Pacific colonies would become vital Allied bases in the Pacific Ocean. In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions French Indochina was invaded by Japan in September 1940, although the colony remained under nominal Vichy control. First French interventions See also France-Vietnam relations France-Vietnam relations started as early as the 17th century with the mission of the Jesuit The, also known as the Vietnam Expedition, was an attempt by the Empire of Japan, during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China and prevent Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On 9 March 1945, the Japanese took full control of Indochina and launched the Second French Indochina Campaign. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Indochina, or the Indochinese Peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. The Second French Indochina Campaign also known as the Japanese coup of March 1945, was a Japanese military operation in all Vietnam, then a French colony
In North America, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (near Canada) joined the Free French after an "invasion" on 24 December 1941 by Rear Admiral Emile Muselier and the forces he was able to load onto three corvettes and a submarine of the Free French Naval Forces (Forces navales françaises libres, or FNFL)
During 1941, Free French units fought with the British Commonwealth army against Italian troops in Ethiopia and Eritrea during the East African Campaign. The Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a group of small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Emile Henry Muselier ( Marseilles, 17 April 1882 - Toulon, 2 September 1965) was a French admiral who led Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres ("Free French Naval Forces" were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres ("Free French Naval Forces" were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Eritrea () ( Ge'ez: ኤርትራ ʾErtrā, Arabic: إرتريا Iritriya) officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in The East African Campaign refers to the battles fought in East Africa during World War II. During the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, Free French forces fighting alongside British Commonwealth forces once more faced French troops loyal to Vichy France — this time in the Levant. The Syria-Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French -controlled Syria and Lebanon See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the By July 1941, General Henri Dentz and his Vichy Army of the Levant were defeated. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Henri Fernand Dentz (born 16 Dec 1881, Roanne, Loire, France; died 13 Dec 1945, Fresnes, Val-de-Marne The Army of the Levant ( Armée du Levant) identifies the armed forces of France and then Vichy France which occupied a portion of the " Levant Free French General Georges Catroux was appointed as High Commissioner of the Levant. Georges Catroux ( 29 January 1877 - 21 December 1969) was a French military figure and diplomat who served in both World War I and High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking special executive positions held by a commission of appointment From this point, Free France controlled both Syria and Lebanon until they became independent. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية
In Africa, the Vichy colonies were gradually overthrown as Free French forces took part in the allied campaigns on the contient. Free French soldiers participated in the Allied North African campaign, in Libya and Egypt. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. During World War II, the North African Campaign, also known as the Desert War, took place in the North African desert from June 10, 1940 Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. General Marie Pierre Koenig and his unit, the 1st Free French Brigade, fought well against the Afrika Korps at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in June 1942, although eventually obliged to withdraw. Marie Pierre Kœnig ( October 10, 1898 &ndash September 2, 1970) was a French general. The German Afrikakorps ( German: Deutsches Afrikakorps DAK) was the original German blocking force (Sperrverband = Armored Blocking Force in Libya Bir Hakeim (sometimes written Bir Hacheim) is a remote Oasis in the Libyan desert and the former site of a Turkish fort Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. To the west the Allies launched Operation Torch, an invasion of Vichy-controlled French North Africa in November 1942. Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British - American invasion of French North Africa in World War II France was a dominant empire in the world from the 1600s to the late 1960s possessing many colonies in various locations around the world Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Many Vichy troops surrendered and joined the Free French cause. Vichy coastal defences were captured by the French Resistance. Vichy General Henri Giraud rejoined the Allies, but he lacked the authority that was required and de Gaulle kept his leadership of the Free French, despite American objections. Henri Honoré Giraud ( 18 January 1879 &ndash 13 March 1949) was a French general who fought in World War I and World In late 1942, after the Battle of Madagascar, the Vichy French forces under Governor-General Armand Léon Annet were defeated and Free French General Paul Legentilhomme was appointed High Commissioner for Madagascar. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Battle of Madagascar (or Operation Ironclad) was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy French -controlled Madagascar during World The term governor general or governor-general refers to a vice-regal representative of a Monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription Armand Léon Annet ( 5 June 1888 &ndash 25 April 1973) was a Governor for various colonies in French Colonial Empire. Paul Legentilhomme (Paul Louis Le Gentilhomme (born 1884 died 1975 was an officer in the French Army during World War I and World War II. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern On 28 December, after a prolonged blockade, the Vichy forces in French Somaliland were ousted. Events 1065 - Westminster Abbey is Consecrated. 1308 - The reign of Emperor Hanazono, Emperor of Djibouti ( جيبوتي Jībūtī, Somali: Jabuuti) officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the
The Nazi Germans lost faith in the Vichy regime after Operation Torch and, during Case Anton in November 1942, German and Italian forces occupied Vichy France. During World War II the German authorities codenamed the occupation of Vichy France Case (or Operation) Anton. Events in November All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day a Christian holy day is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In response, the 60,000-strong Vichy forces in French North Africa — the Army of Africa — joined the Allied side as the French XIX Corps within the British 1st Army, which also included the U.S. II Corps and two British corps. The Army of Africa (Armée d’Afrique was an unofficial but commonly used term for those portions of the French Army recruited from or normally stationed in French North Africa The French XIX Corps was formed in 1873 Anthony Clayton writes that the title of the 19th Army Corps (19e Corps d'Armee was given to the Army of Africa (Fr Armée d'Afrique The First Army was a field army of the British Army that existed during the First and Second World Wars First World War The US II Corps was a Corps of the United States Army and the first American formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa They fought in Tunisia for six months until April 1943. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Using antiquated equipment, the XIX Corps took heavy casualties (16,000) against modern armour and a desperate Axis enemy. The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries
After these successes, Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indies, as well as French Guiana on the northern coast of South America, joined Free France in 1943. Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629 sq Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km² The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting French Guiana (Guyane française officially fr ''Guyane'' is an Overseas department (French département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In November 1943, the French forces received enough military equipment through Lend-Lease to re-equip eight divisions and allow the return of borrowed British equipment. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lend-Lease (Public Law 77-11 was the name of the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, At this point, the Free French and ex-Vichy French Corps were merged. In 1943, Colonel (later General) Philippe Leclerc and Lieutenant-Colonel Camille d'Ornano led a column of 16,500 colonial troops from Chad to attack Italian forces in southern Libya and to occupy Kufra in the Fezzan region. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque ( November 22, 1902 – November 28, 1947) was a French general during World War II Lieutenant Colonel ( Lieutenant-Colonel in English from the French grade 's spelling is a rank of Commissioned officer in the armies Camille d'Ornano was a Lieutenant Colonel in the French Army leading up to the Second World War. Chad (Tchad تشاد Tshād) officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a Landlocked country in Central Africa. Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Kufra (also spelled Cufra or Khofra) is an Oasis in Southeastern Libya that played a minor role in the Western Desert Campaign of World Libya 5210 Wan Caza Luca Galuzzi 2007jpg|thumb|Wan Caza dunes in Fezzan
The Air War
There were sufficient Free French pilots, mainly from African colonial bases (but also volunteers from South American countries such as Uruguay and Argentina, to man several squadrons based in Britain and North Africa. The Free French Air Force (Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres FAFL were the air arm of Free French Forces during the Second World War. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. They were initially equipped with a mixture of British, French and American aircraft. They had mixed success at first, and French army-air cooperation was often poor.
At de Gaulle's initiative, the Groupe de Chasse 3 Normandie was formed on 1 September 1942, for service on the Eastern Front. The Normandie-Niemen squadron (Нормандия-Неман was a fighter squadron of the French Air Force. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Eastern Front of World War II (die Ostfront 1941-1945, der Rußlandfeldzug 1941-1945 (Russian campaign or der Ostfeldzug 1941-1945 (Eastern Campaign It served with distinction and was awarded the supplementary title Niemen by Stalin.
The War at Sea
The Free French Navy, commanded by Admiral Emile Muselier, played a role in the occupation of French colonies in Africa, in supporting the French Resistance, in D-Day (Operation Neptune), and the Pacific War. Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres ("Free French Naval Forces" were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers Emile Henry Muselier ( Marseilles, 17 April 1882 - Toulon, 2 September 1965) was a French admiral who led The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German D-Day may also refer to Decimal Day in the United Kingdom. D-Day is a term often used in Military parlance to denote The Normandy Landings were the first operations of the Allied Invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between
The Forces Françaises Combattantes and National Council of the Resistance
The French Resistance gradually grew in strength. The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German Charles de Gaulle set a plan to bring together the different groups under his leadership. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French He changed the name of his movement to "Fighting French Forces" (Forces Françaises Combattantes) and sent Jean Moulin back to France to unite the eight major French Resistance groups into one organisation. Jean Moulin ( June 20, 1899 – July 8, 1943) was a high-profile member of the French Resistance during World War II The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German Moulin got their agreement to form the "National Council of the Resistance" (Conseil National de la Résistance). The Conseil National de la Résistance Moulin was eventually captured, and died under brutal torture by the Gestapo. The ( contraction of ge heime Sta ats' po' lizei: "Secret State Police" was the official Secret police of Nazi Germany
Later, the Resistance was more formally referred to as the "French Forces of the Interior" (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur, or FFI). The French Forces of the Interior (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur refers to French resistance fighters in the latter stages of World War II. From October 1944 to March 1945, many FFI units were amalgamated into the French Army in order to regularize the units. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
Liberation of France
During the Italian Campaign of 1943 and 1944, 100,000 Free French soldiers fought on the Allied side, notably in the fighting on the Winter Line and Gustav Line. The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose The Winter Line was a series of German Military Fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt Monte Cassino has made it the repeated scene of battles and Sieges from antiquity. By the time of the Normandy Invasion,the Free French forces numbered more than 400,000 strong. 900 Free French paratroopers in the British Special Air Service Brigade (S. A. S. ), the Free French 2nd Armoured Division, under General Leclerc, landed at Utah Beach in Normandy on 1st August 1944, and eventually led the drive towards Paris, whilst the divisions which had been fighting in Italy became part of the French First Army, under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, and joined the U.S. 7th Army in Operation Dragoon. The 2nd Armored Division (2e Division Blindée 2e DB commanded by General Leclerc, fought during the final phases of World War II in the Western Front Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The First Army (Ire Armée was a field Army of France that fought during World War I and World War II. Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny ( 2 February 1889 &ndash 11 January 1952) was a French military hero of World The Seventh United States Army, formerly the United States Army Europe, is the land component of United States European Command. Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France, on 15 August, 1944, as part of World War II. This operation was the Allied invasion of southern France. The Allied forces advanced up the line of the Rhône River to liberate the Vosges and southern Alsace. The Rhone, or the Rhône is one of the major Rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France. Vosges (voːʒ is a French department, named after the Vosges mountain range. Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern
Fearing the Germans would destroy Paris if attacked by a frontal assault, General Dwight Eisenhower ordered his forces to cease their advance and reconnoitre the situation. The 2nd Armored Division (2e Division Blindée 2e DB commanded by General Leclerc, fought during the final phases of World War II in the Western Front The Liberation of Paris' (also known as Battle for Paris) took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general At this time, Parisians rose up in full-scale revolt. The Liberation of Paris' (also known as Battle for Paris) took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of As the Allied forces waited near Paris, General Eisenhower acceded to pressure from de Gaulle and his Free French Forces. De Gaulle was furious about the delay and was unwilling to allow the people of Paris to be slaughtered as had happened in the Polish capital of Warsaw during the Warsaw Uprising. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Warsaw (Warszawa; also known by other names) is the Capital and Largest city of Poland. The Warsaw Uprising ( Powstanie Warszawskie) was a World War II struggle by the Polish Home Army ( Armia Krajowa) to liberate Warsaw De Gaulle ordered General Leclerc to attack single-handedly without the aid of allied forces. Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque ( November 22, 1902 – November 28, 1947) was a French general during World War II In response, General Eisenhower in an attempt to save face granted the Free French forces the honour of spearheading the Allied assault and liberating the capital city of France. Thus, on 24 August 1944, units of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division entered the city first during the Liberation of Paris. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The 2nd Armored Division (2e Division Blindée 2e DB commanded by General Leclerc, fought during the final phases of World War II in the Western Front The Liberation of Paris' (also known as Battle for Paris) took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of
End of the war
By September 1944, the Free French forces stood at 560,000. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This number rose to 1 million by the end of the year. French forces were fighting in Alsace, the Alps, and Brittany. Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into In May 1945, by the end of the war in Europe, the Free French forces comprised 1,300,000 personnel, and included seven infantry divisions and three armoured divisions fighting in Germany making it the fourth allied army in Europe behind the Soviet Union, the USA and the United Kingdom. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The final battles of the European Theatre of World War II as well as the German surrender took place in late April and early May 1945 Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The French offered to send a division to the Pacific to help fight the Japanese towards the end of the war, but it ended before they could be sent.
At that time, general Alphonse Juin was the chief of staff of the French army, but it was General Sevez who represented France at Reims on 7 May, while it was General de Lattre de Tassigny who was the leader of the French delegation at Berlin on V-E day, as he was the commander of the French First Army. France was then given an occupation zone in Germany, as well as in Austria and the city of Berlin, but they were given it a bit later than those of the "three Great". It was not only the role that France played in the war which was recognized, France appeared as a major nation of West Europe again, to stand against the Soviet Union in the future.
Units and Commands on 8 May 1945
Armies
- French First Army
- Atlantic Army Detachment
- Alpine Army Detachment
Corps
- I Army Corps
- II Army Corps
- III Army Corps[5]
Divisions
- 1st Free French Division[6]
- 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division
- 3rd Algerian Infantry Division
- 4th Moroccan Mountain Division
- 9th Colonial Infantry Division
- 27th Alpine Infantry Division[7]
- 1st Armoured Division
- 2nd Armoured Division[6]
- 3rd Armoured Division[5][7]
- 5th Armoured Division
- 1st Infantry Division[5][7]
- 10th Infantry Division[7]
- 14th Infantry Division[7]
- 19th Infantry Division[7]
- 23rd Infantry Division[7]
- 25th Infantry Division[7]
- 36th Infantry Division[5]
- 1st Far East Colonial Division[5]
- 2nd Far East Colonial Division[5]
Notable Free French
- Dimitri Amilakhvari
- Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu
- Georges Bidault
- Pierre Billotte
- Pierre Bourgoin
- Claude Hettier de Boislambert
- René Cassin
- Georges Catroux
- Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel
- Eve Curie
- André Dewavrin
- Félix Éboué
- René Iché
- Charles de Gaulle
- Joseph Kessel
- Marie Pierre Koenig
- Edgard de Larminat
- Pierre-Olivier Lapie
- Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
- Paul Legentilhomme
- Pierre Marienne
- Anna Marly
- Pierre Mendès-France
- Pierre Messmer
- Jean Moulin
- Émile Muselier
- Gaston Palewski
- René Pleven
- Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné
- Maurice Schumann
- Tereska Torres
- Susan Travers
- Martin Valin
- Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
(More cited on French Resistance)
Notable French who joined after 1942
- Antoine Béthouart
- Jean René Champion
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- Henri Giraud
- Alphonse Juin
- Marcel Marceau
- Jean Monnet
- Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert
- Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
References
- ^ Pharand (2001), p. Andre Dewavrin ( June 9, 1911 - December 21, 1998) was a French officer who served with Free French Forces intelligence "Eboue" redirects here for the Arsenal FC player see Emmanuel Eboue. René Iché ( January 21, 1897, Salleles-d'Aude France &ndash December 23, 1954, Paris) was a 20th century French Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French Joseph Kessel ( 10 February 1898 &ndash 23 July 1979) was a French Journalist and Novelist. Marie Pierre Kœnig ( October 10, 1898 &ndash September 2, 1970) was a French general. Edgard de Larminat ( November 29, 1895, Alès; July 1, 1962, Paris) was a French general who fought in Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque ( November 22, 1902 – November 28, 1947) was a French general during World War II Paul Legentilhomme (Paul Louis Le Gentilhomme (born 1884 died 1975 was an officer in the French Army during World War I and World War II. Anna Marly (Анна Юрьевна Смирнова-Марли ( October 30 1917 &ndash February 15 2006) was a Russian born Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer (20 March 1916 29 August 2007 was a French Gaullist politician Jean Moulin ( June 20, 1899 – July 8, 1943) was a high-profile member of the French Resistance during World War II Emile Henry Muselier ( Marseilles, 17 April 1882 - Toulon, 2 September 1965) was a French admiral who led Gaston Palewski (20 March 1901 - 3 September 1984 French politician was a close associate of Charles de Gaulle during and after World War II. René Pleven (15 April 1901 – 13 January 1993 was a notable French politician of the Fourth Republic. Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné, Compagnon de la Libération, was an officer of the French Foreign Legion. Maurice Schumann (1911-1998 was a French politician and hero of the Second World War who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Georges Pompidou in Tereska Torres (born in 1920 in Paris as Tereska Szwarc) is a French writer Born to the Jewish Polish sculptor Marek Szwarc and his wife Guina she had to flee Susan Travers ( September 23, 1909 - December 18, 2003) was a British subject and daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German Marie Émile Antoine Béthouart ( 17 December, 1889 &ndash 17 October, 1982) was a French general who served during World War Antoine de Saint Exupéry (ɑ̃twan də sɛ̃tɛgzypeˈʀi ( June 29, 1900 — July 31, 1944) was a French Writer and Henri Honoré Giraud ( 18 January 1879 &ndash 13 March 1949) was a French general who fought in World War I and World Alphonse Pierre Juin ( 16 December 1888 &ndash 27 January 1967) was a Marshal of France. Marcel Marceau (born Marcel Mangel) ( 22 March 1923 &ndash 22 September 2007) was a well-known French Mime artist Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet ( November 9, 1888 &ndash March 16, 1979) is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert ( Libourne 30 September 1887 — Dax, 13 June 1981 was a French general who served during the Second World War Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny ( 2 February 1889 &ndash 11 January 1952) was a French military hero of World 169
- ^ La France Libre et les Français Libres : éléments de définition
- ^ www.france-libre.net, Le site de la France-Libre, "Les origines des FNFL, par l’amiral Thierry d’Argenlieu" (French)
- ^ S. Decalo, 53
- ^ a b c d e f Did not see combat during the Second World War
- ^ a b Free French origin
- ^ a b c d e f g h Formed with FFI personnel. The French Forces of the Interior (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur refers to French resistance fighters in the latter stages of World War II.
See also
- French Forces of the Interior
- Maquis
- Goumiers
- Francs-Tireurs & Partisans
- Chant des Partisans
- Military history of France during World War II
External links
- FFF fighting units (France-Libre. The French Forces of the Interior (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur refers to French resistance fighters in the latter stages of World War II. The Maquis (ma'ki were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Goumier is a term used for Moroccan soldiers who served in auxiliary units attached to the French Army, between 1908 and 1956 The phrase francs-tireurs was used to describe Irregular military formations deployed by France during the early stages of the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871 The Chant des Partisans was the most popular song of the Free France. The military history of France during World War II covers the period from 1939 until 1940 which witnessed French military participation under the Third Republic, and the period net)
- France-Libre.net (Free French Forces foundation)
- Bibliographie about 1st Free French Division
- Fights of the the population in Gers in the regular army from Nov.8, 1942 to Aug.31, 1944 (1992- O. N. A. C. - S. D. GERS translated in English)
- Flags and Ensigns of Free France
- France’s true greatest day
- Composition and situation of the Free French Force in combat
- WW2 from the French Point of view
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