query: where were the free french forces coming from

pos: Free France Bank". To this day, General de Gaulle's Appeal of 18 June 1940 remains one of the most famous speeches in French history. Free France Free France and its Free French Forces (French: "France Libre" and "Forces françaises libres") were the government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War and its military forces, that continued to fight against the Axis powers as one of the Allies after the fall of France. Set up in London in June 1940, it organised and supported the Resistance in occupied France. Charles de Gaulle, a French government minister who rejected the armistice

pos: Military history of France during World War II them worked in German agriculture, where food supplies were adequate and controls were lenient. The others work in factories or mines, where conditions were much harsher. Free French Forces were created in 1940 as a rebel faction of the French Army, refusing both the armistice (they were called « "the fighting French" ») and Vichy's authority. Its allegiance was toward General de Gaulle and its HQ was in London; later moving to Algiers. Starting as a limited force made of volunteers from metropolitan France and French colonies but also from other countries (such as Belgium and Spain). It evolved to

pos: René Pleven of purchasing planes for France. As late as 1939, Pleven stated that "Politics do not interest me," but then a year later, he joined Charles de Gaulle's Free French Forces, which resisted the Nazi-allied French Vichy Regime. Pleven helped rally support for Free France in French Equatorial Africa. Returning to London, where de Gaulle and his forces were exiled, in 1941, he became national commissioner for the economy, finance, the colonies and foreign affairs of the French National Committee. In this role, he presided over a 1944 conference in Brazzaville, which opted for a more liberal policy towards the colonies

pos: Charles Philippe Leblond able to localize the radioactivity to specific thyroid [follicles]. Leblond's early career at McGill was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Free French Forces. He was dispatched first to Rio de Janeiro, then to London, where he conducted medical exams of would-be soldiers. "In 1946, after returning to Montreal from service with the Free French Forces, it was clear to me that the crude technique previously used for radioautography had to be improved". In collaboration with Leonard Bélanger, Leblond worked on increasing the resolution of the autoradiographic technique. They were advised by physicist Pierre Demers

pos: 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion rallied to Free France (), the others joined Morocco under the command of général Béthouard. Joining later the camp, where were regrouped the garrisoned Free French Forces, the 13 DBLE participated to the July 14 parade in London. The units of the Free French Forces took temporarily, between July 1, 1940 and November 2, 1940, the designation of 14th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 14 DBLE, while composed of the following: Accordingly, the demi-brigade was strong of 25 Officers, 102 Sous-Officiers and 702 militaire du rang. End of September 1940, the unit participated to the Battle of Dakar against Dakar.

pos: Free France Bank". To this day, General de Gaulle's Appeal of 18 June 1940 remains one of the most famous speeches in French history. Free France Free France and its Free French Forces (French: "France Libre" and "Forces françaises libres") were the government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War and its military forces, that continued to fight against the Axis powers as one of the Allies after the fall of France. Set up in London in June 1940, it organised and supported the Resistance in occupied France. Charles de Gaulle, a French government minister who rejected the armistice

pos: Free France Free France Free France and its Free French Forces (French: "France Libre" and "Forces françaises libres") were the government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War and its military forces, that continued to fight against the Axis powers as one of the Allies after the fall of France. Set up in London in June 1940, it organised and supported the Resistance in occupied France. Charles de Gaulle, a French government minister who rejected the armistice concluded by Marshal Philippe Pétain and who had escaped to Britain, exhorted the French to resist in his BBC broadcast "Appeal of

pos: Susan Travers Red Cross as a nurse, but later became an ambulance driver with the French Expeditionary Force to Finland in 1940. After the fall of France she went to London and joined the Free French under General de Gaulle. In 1941, she drove a medical doctor of the 1st Free French Division during Operation Exporter in Syria and Lebanon, during which the Allied forces invaded and seized Syria and Lebanon from the Vichy French. She served in the 13e demi-brigade de Légion étrangère as a driver for the medical officer, where she gained the nickname "La Miss". Travers was assigned as

neg: Free France of troops rose from around 560,000 in the summer of 1944 to 1 million by the end of the year and eventually 1.3 million by April 1945. The Free French forces included men from the French Pacific Islands. Mainly coming from Tahiti, there were 550 volunteers in April 1941. They would serve through the North African campaign (including the Battle of Bir Hakeim), Italian Campaign and much of the Liberation of France. In November 1944, 275 volunteers remained when they were repatriated and replaced with men of French Forces of the Interior to better deal with the cold weather. The

neg: Free French Air Forces Army Air Forces, because of its ties to the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I. Operating from a forward base at Thelepte, Tunisia, the two squadrons of GCII/5 fought alongside American units in clearing North Africa of Axis forces in 1943. On July 1, 1943, the Algiers-based "Armée de l'Air" general staff (which received its orders from de Gaulle and General Giraud) and the FAFL general staff were merged and placed under the command of General Bouscat. He conducted the reorganization of the French Air Force, incorporating all elements coming from the ex-Vichy French Army in North Africa and the

neg: Free French Air Forces of Alexander Nevsky, with eleven citations between the two orders. Free French Air Forces The Free French Air Forces (, FAFL) were the air arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War from 1940. They officially ceased to hold this title from 1943, with the merger of Free French Forces with General Giraud's anti-German forces, but were still commonly known by the title until the liberation of France in 1944, when they became the regular French Air Army. They were commanded by Martial Henri Valin from 1941 to 1944, who subsequently became commander of the Air Army.

neg: Free French Air Forces Free French Air Forces The Free French Air Forces (, FAFL) were the air arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War from 1940. They officially ceased to hold this title from 1943, with the merger of Free French Forces with General Giraud's anti-German forces, but were still commonly known by the title until the liberation of France in 1944, when they became the regular French Air Army. They were commanded by Martial Henri Valin from 1941 to 1944, who subsequently became commander of the Air Army. On 17 June 1940, five days before the signing of

neg: West India Regiments regiments that fought in World War I and World War II were West Indian volunteers, with officers and some senior NCOs coming from Britain. The WIR soldiers became a valued part of the British forces garrisoning the West Indies, where losses from disease and climate were heavy amongst white troops. The black Caribbean soldiers by contrast proved better adapted to tropical service. They served against locally recruited French units that had been formed for the same reasons. Free black Caribbeans soldiers played a prominent and often distinguished role in the military history of Latin America and the Caribbean. The new

neg: 1st Free French Division two Free French brigades: The 1 BFL distinguished itself at the Battle of Bir Hakeim from May 26 to June 11, 1942, then in the Second Battle of El Alamein from October–November 1942. The two brigades and the Free French Flying Column formed the French Forces of the Western Desert (), part of the British Eighth Army. These two brigades (plus a third coming from Djibouti), are united on February 1, 1943 in the 1st Free French Division, 1 DFL, commanded by General Edgard de Larminat and participate in the Tunisian Campaign. In June 1943, various troops of the Army

neg: Free French Naval Forces Free French Naval Forces Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres ("Free French Naval Forces") were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. They were commanded by Admiral Émile Muselier. In the wake of the Armistice and the Appeal of 18 June, Charles de Gaulle founded the Free French Forces ("Forces Françaises Libres", or FFL), including a naval arm, the "Free French Naval Forces" ("Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres", or FNFL). On 24 June 1940, de Gaulle made a separate call specifically to servicemen overseas to join him, and two days later the submarine "Narval" entered

neg: Military history of France during World War II Françaises Libres, FAFL"), Free French Naval Forces ("Forces Navales Françaises Libres, FNFL"), Free French Naval Air Service ("Aéronavale française libre, AFL"), Naval Commandos ("Commandos Marine"), the French Resistance branch called French Forces of the Interior ("Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur, FFI"), and the intelligence service Central Bureau of Intelligence and Operations ("Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action, BCRA"), all giving allegiance to General Charles de Gaulle, creator of the Free France ("France libre"). It was close to Tripoli, Libya, where Leclerc's Free French Forces met Giraud's Army of Africa for the first time, in 1943. In November 1943 the French forces

neg: French Mexicans built grand mansions called "Maisons Mexicaines" and left a mark upon the city. Today, there are 60,000 descendants of the "Barcelonnettes". In 1833, 98 persons coming from Haute-Saône, Haute-Marne, Côte-d'Or and Yonne settled in a colony called Jicaltepec, in the state of Veracruz. In 1874, the community resettled on the other bank of the river, in San Rafael. From 1880 to 1900 the population of the colony grew from 800 to 1,000 inhabitants. There are now around 10,000 French Mexicans in the state of Veracruz. Jean René Champion, a Mexican of French ancestry, was the first Free French Forces ("Forces

neg: Free France would remain in Martinique for the next four years, her aircraft rusting in the tropical climate. Initially at least, the Free French forces were drawn mostly from the French colonial empire, rather than from metropolitan France. French nationals from the tropical African colonies formed a large part of the recruiting forces at the beginning, as did nationals from French Algeria following Operation Torch in 1942. Many combatants were drawn from the native populations of French colonies. Natives of Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and other former French African colonies made up a large portion of the French forces, around 56% of

neg: Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France in North Africa where they particularly distinguished themselves during the Battle of Bir Hakeim. These forces would later form the nucleus of the 1st Free French Division which distinguished itself in the Italian campaign of 1944 under general Koenig and of the 2nd Armoured Division in the liberation of Paris under general Leclerc. Also part of the whole, the Free French Naval Forces and Free French Air Force, although limited in numbers and equipment nonetheless took part in most major engagements alongside allied forces including in the Soviet Union. Free French Forces had grown to over half a million by

neg: Free French Naval Forces of the war in France. He developed the aqua-lung in Paris during the German occupation.) The merchant fleet of the FNFL suffered heavy casualties, amounting to one quarter of its men. A number of warships were lost, notably the submarine "Surcouf", possibly sunk in a friendly fire incident. Other losses include the destroyers "Léopard", "Mimosa", "Alysse", and "La Combattante"; submarine "Narval"; patrol boats "Poulmic" and "Vikings". Free French Naval Forces Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres ("Free French Naval Forces") were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. They were commanded by Admiral Émile Muselier.

neg: History of France exile, and gathered the Free French Forces around him, finding support in some French colonies and recognition from Britain but not the United States. After the Attack on Mers-el-Kébir in 1940, where the British fleet destroyed a large part of the French navy, still under command of Vichy France, that killed about 1,100 sailors, there was nationwide indignation and a feeling of distrust in the French forces, leading to the events of the Battle of Dakar. Eventually, several important French ships joined the Free French Forces. The United States maintained diplomatic relations with Vichy and avoided recognition of de Gaulle's

neg: Dewoitine D.520 lost 19 D.520s. Among the 44 kills that the French scored overall, there were five losses from fighters and flak out of a squadron of eight Fairey Albacores from , some of which were shot down by D.520s of GC III/3. A very small number of D.520s were briefly operated by Free French Forces for training purposes. Along with the three examples that had flown to Britain in June 1940, two other Dewoitines were recovered from retreating Vichy forces in Rayak, Lebanon. These D.520s were flown by pilots of the "Normandie-Niemen" unit before it was sent to the USSR, where

neg: Free French Naval Forces sailed for New Caledonia and spent the rest of the war based there and in Australia. The ship saw action in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. To distinguish the FNFL from the Vichist forces, Vice-Admiral Émile Muselier created the bow flag displaying the French colours with a red Cross of Lorraine, and a cocarde also featuring the Cross of Lorraine for aircraft of the Free French Naval Air Service ("Aéronavale Française Libre") and the Free French Air Force ("Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres"). A number of ships were leased from the British to compensate for the lack of warships in

neg: History of the French Navy Armistice and the Appeal of 18 June, Charles de Gaulle founded the Free French Forces, including a naval arm, the "Forces navales françaises libres" (FNFL, "Free Naval French Forces"). To distinguish the FNFL from the Vichist forces, vice-admiral Émile Muselier created the bow flag displaying the French colours with a red cross of Lorraine, and a cocarde also featuring the cross of Lorraine for aircraft. The French fleet was widely dispersed. Some vessels were in port in France; others had escaped from France to British controlled ports, mainly in Britain itself or Alexandria in Egypt. At the first stage of

neg: Military history of France during World War II Africa. On July 8, 1940 were created the Free French Flight (FAFL) units based in Middle-Eastern French colonies. They were initially equipped with a mixture of British, French and American aircraft. From a strength of 500 in July 1940, the ranks of the "Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres" (FAFL) grew to 900 by 1941, including 200 fliers. Besides the FAFL air force existed the Free French Naval Air Service. On August 3, 1943, de Gaulle's Free French forces merged with Giraud's Army of Africa. On the night of 7 November − the eve of Operation Torch − pro-Allied French General Antoine

neg: Free French Naval Air Service Free French Naval Air Service The Free French Naval Air Service (Aéronavale française libre) was the naval aviation arm of Free French Naval Forces during the Second World War. The Free French Naval Air Service supported Free French Naval and Allied forces in overseas fronts (North Africa, Middle East, etc.) and later supported the Free French Navy during Allied advances into French territory after the Battle of Normandy. The markings of the Free French Naval Air Service were regular French roundels overpainted with an anchor on the fuselage, and the French tricolor on the rudder. It operated all the French

neg: Free French Naval Air Service naval aircraft, seaplanes and flying boats, that escaped from German-occupied France after the Battle of France, together with naval aircraft from the French colonies that declared allegiance to de Gaulle's Free French Forces, and aircraft donated by the British and Americans. It carried out Marine patrols and operations against Axis forces in France during 1944-45. It formed the basis for the postwar French Naval Air Service. Free French Naval Air Service The Free French Naval Air Service (Aéronavale française libre) was the naval aviation arm of Free French Naval Forces during the Second World War. The Free French Naval Air

neg: Battle of Krzykawka early morning of May the 5th they reached Krzykawka, where they set up a camp. Soon after setting a camp on the morning of the 5th the insurgents were attacked by Russian troops coming from Olkusz. Miniewski was the overall Polish commander. Nullo commanded the right wing, and count Czapski, the left. The insurgents numbered about 600 soldiers, divided into four companies; the unit had only a dozen or so cavalrymen. Polish forces included the twenty or so Italians from the Garibaldi's Legion and several French volunteers, remnants of the Zouaves of Death. Russian forces were composed of three companies

neg: Vichy France within Allied circles. It raised the prospect of Frenchmen shooting at Frenchmen, raising fears of a civil war. Additionally, it was believed that the Free French were widely reviled within Vichy military circles, and that Vichy forces in Syria were less likely to resist the British if they were not accompanied by elements of the Free French. Nevertheless, de Gaulle convinced Churchill to allow his forces to participate, although de Gaulle was forced to agree to a joint British and Free French proclamation promising that Syria and Lebanon would become fully independent at the end of the war. From 5

neg: Military history of France during World War II many Vichy troops surrendered and joined the Free French cause. Vichy coastal defences were captured by the French Resistance. Following Operation Torch, Henri Giraud took the head of Army of Africa a third French force distinct from de Gaulle's Free French Forces and the Vichy French forces. The Army of Africa – (created in 1830) joined the Allied side as the French XIX Corps based in French Algeria. The Nazis suspected Vichy determination after "Torch" and they occupied the southern "free" part of metropolitan France known as Vichy France in November 1942, ("Case Anton"). Also, the Libya-based Luftwaffe performed several

neg: Anne Spoerry A Free French Forces “Court of Honour” in Paris in 1946 did, however "found Spoerry guilty of impersonating a doctor, being a traitor to the French and bringing shame on France through inhumane behaviour. She was disbarred from the Free French Forces and exiled from France for 25 years." Anne Spoerry departed France for Africa in 1948, finding work as a doctor at a women's hospital in Yemen, and eventually settling in the Kenyan highlands, where she lived on a cooperative farm and practiced medicine. She also founded the first Girl Guides troop in the region. At Kenyan independence, she

neg: Lebanese Armed Forces War II, Lebanese troops fought in Lebanon with the Vichy French forces against Free French and British forces. After the Vichy forces in the Middle East surrendered in July 1941, volunteers from the "Troupes Spéciales du Levant" enlisted in the Free French forces and participated in combat in Italy, North Africa, and southern France. In 1943, prior to the declaration of Lebanese independence, all the military units were combined in one brigade, the Fifth Brigade, under the command of General Fouad Chehab. On the day Lebanon declared independence, the Lebanese Third Sharp Shooters Regiment was placed at the disposal of

neg: Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France allowed it to win final victory! At the moment where the goal is attained, I want to thank you in friendship, simply, in the name of France! 1 September 1945." Upon application for the award, a committee would examine and confirm or deny membership in the Free French Forces. This committee, presided by a superior staff officer of the Free French Forces, was composed of: The Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France was struck from silvered bronze in the shape of a Cross of Lorraine with variants of 36 mm to 40 mm high (excluding suspension ring) and

neg: Military history of France during World War II the Free French Forces. A number of French colonies like French Equatorial Africa joined de Gaulle's fight, while others like French Indochina were soon attacked by the Japanese or remained loyal to the Vichy government. Italy occupied a small area, essentially the Alpes-Maritimes, and Corsica. The first Free French pilots flew from Bordeaux to rally de Gaulle in England on June 17, 1940. These individuals served in British squadrons until there were sufficient pilots to create All-Free French RAF flights. At least thirteen Free French pilots (from France) fought the battle of Britain against the German Luftwaffe. Among these men

neg: 26th Division (Spain) were interned in concentration camps by the French authorities. The Second World War began barely five months after the capitulation of the Spanish Republic. While some of the members of the 26th Division remained in the concentration camps, some of them were forced to join the French Armed Forces. A number of them were part of the 9th Armoured Company of the 2nd Armoured Division of the Free French Forces, where they formed a majority so that it was known by its Spanish nickname ""La Nueve"" or ""La Española"". This company was one of the first to enter Paris in

neg: Maurice Loebenberg the sophistication of this forgery service was such that it made packets of false papers intended to feed factories, groups of deserters, and Jews in hiding. As complete as they were varied, and easy to use (explanatory notes were attached), these packets from the perfect forger were almost small field laboratories.” Loebenberg's group produced an estimated 20,000 or more identity cards from September 1943 to March 1944. It also organized the flight of young people to French colonies, where they could enlist in the Free French Forces. Finally, it hunted down and executed French people who denounced their countrymen to

neg: Abdullah Pasha ibn Ali on the military support of the Druze clans and Emir Bashir's forces from Mount Lebanon and possibly the Shia Muslim clans of Jabal Amil. Abdullah's expenditures were paid directly from Acre's treasury. In order to make up for declining revenues, Abdullah reversed the free market trend set under Sulayman Pasha by extending Acre's monopoly on Syria's cotton exports to imports coming into Acre as well. These policies resulted in Acre being bypassed by merchants and traders, with cotton from Nablus being shipped to Beirut instead. The French consul also relocated to Beirut, which was prospering at Acre's expense. In a

neg: Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France The Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France () was a French commemorative war medal established by decree on 4 April 1946 on the 1945 proposition of general Edgard de Larminat to the Minister to the armies. The general proposed the creation of a distinctive award for the members of the Free French Forces who fought the Axis forces on most fronts during World War II. Beginning with a modest 7,000 men in July 1940, the Free French Forces had grown to approximately 70,000 by June 1942 and were especially active

neg: Military chaplain have no rank or rank insignia. The modern military chaplaincy is rooted in that war, where military chaplains were incorporated in almost every Free French Forces fighting unit and made up of personnel from England, France, or any of its imperial domains. After the war, military chaplains were sent to occupation zones in Germany and Austria. In the 1950s, military chaplains where sent in the French Union's territories, including Indochina and Algeria. In 1954, pastor Tissot was one of the last paratrooper volunteers to jump over the besieged Dien Bien Phu fortified camp in northern Vietnam. On May 7, he

neg: French Guiana of camps and penitentiaries along the coast where prisoners from metropolitan France were sentenced to forced labor. During World War II and the fall of France to German forces, Guianan Félix Éboué was one of the first to support General Charles de Gaulle of Free France, as early as June 18, 1940. Guiana officially rallied Free France in 1943. It abandoned its status as a colony and once again became a French department in 1946. After De Gaulle was elected as president of France, he established the Guiana Space Centre in 1965. It is now operated by the CNES, Arianespace

neg: Military history of France during World War II the end of the war in Europe (May 1945), the Free French forces comprised 1,250,000, including seven infantry and three armoured divisions fighting in Germany. Other Free French units were directly attached to Allied forces including the British SAS, RAF and the Soviet air force. The "Forces Expéditionnaires Françaises d'Extrême-Orient" (FEFEO) was a French expeditionary corps created on 4 October 1943 to fight in the Asian theatre of World War II and liberate French Indochina which was still occupied by the Japanese since 1940. Recruiting posters of the FEFEO depicted a US-built M4 Sherman tank of general Leclerc's Free French

neg: István Türr but were blocked by the French forces besieging the city (thus, Türr's meeting with Garibaldi, at this time directing Rome's defence, was delayed for ten years). Next, the Hungarians entered France itself via Nice, where they had to give up their arms and the authorities regarded them with considerable suspicion. The Hungarians, kept for a considerable time in Toulon, conceived the idea of going to the Ottoman Empire, where some Hungarians already got refuge (and many more would follow in the coming years). However, the French disliked this idea, attempting to send them instead to Algiers, where, Türr feared, the

neg: French Forces of the Interior French Forces of the Interior The French Forces of the Interior () refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation to one of a nation being liberated by the Allied armies. As regions of France were liberated, the FFI were more formally organized into light infantry units and served as a valuable manpower addition to regular Free French forces. In this role,

neg: Edouard Dieffenbach loyal to the Vichy regime in Madagascar, and all his properties confiscated. Upon release by the British, he made a long journey to the Horn of Africa, where he enroled with the first Free French Forces in Somaliland in April 1941, a few weeks after the liberation of the territory by British during the East Africa Campaign. There, he principally associated with the 1re DFL/BM21 land forces. In Djibouti, Captain Edouard Dieffenbach co-founded a squad of meharist camel cavalry, the Free French Camel Corps (), first known as the Free French Camel Plutoon (), with initial strength estimated to about

neg: African military systems after 1900 fighting resistance against the Nazis during the great German Blitzkrieg into France. These, African troops were also to form a large part of the Free French Forces that maintained French resistance under Charles de Gaulle, outside the continent. In Africa, Felix Eboue, a black colonial administrator, was instrumental in rallying the territory of Chad for the Free French, adding thousands of fighting troops and masses of equipment to de Gaulle's cause. Other colonial formations were made up of troops from north Africa. As the Germans were beaten back, African troops made up the bulk of the initial forces that participated

neg: Foreign relations of Vichy France the prospect of Frenchmen shooting at Frenchmen, raising fears of a civil war. Additionally, it was believed that the Free French were widely reviled within Vichy military circles, and that Vichy forces in Syria were less likely to resist the British if they were not accompanied by elements of the Free French. Nevertheless, de Gaulle convinced Churchill to allow his forces to participate, although de Gaulle was forced to agree to a joint British-Free French proclamation promising that Syria and Lebanon would become fully independent at the end of the war. While a few French colonies went over to the

neg: French Foreign Legion the (400,000 men) amalgam consisted of the Armistice Army, the Free French Forces and the French Forces of the Interior which formed Army B and were later part of the French 1st Army with forces also issued from the French Resistance. Following World War II, many French-speaking German former soldiers joined the Foreign Legion to pursue a military career, an option no longer possible in Germany including French German soldiers of Malgré-nous. It would have been considered problematic if the men from Alsace-Lorraine did not speak French. These French-speaking former German soldiers made up as much as 60 percent of

neg: French cruiser Montcalm continued to Dakar, arriving on 14 September. The three cruisers left Dakar on 18 September, intending to go south to Libreville, but they were intercepted by British forces, including . "Montcalm" and "George Leygues" outran the British ships and returned to Dakar, where they helped to defend the port against the unsuccessful British and Free French attack (Operation Menace) on the 23 to 25 September 1940. "Gloire", slowed by mechanical troubles and unable to escape, was ordered back to Casablanca. Apart from a deployment in April 1941 to recapture a French steamer, "Fort de France", the next two years were

neg: Free France Division and many Alpine Infantry Divisions. The 3rd Armoured Division was also created in May 1945 but saw no combat in the war. The Free French units in the Royal Air Force, Soviet Air Force, and British SAS were mainly composed of men from metropolitan France. Additionally, according to French historian Jean-François Muracciole, between the creation of the Free French forces in the Summer 1940 and the merger with the Army of Africa in summer 1943, 73,100 men fought for Free France. This included 39,300 French (from metropolitan France and colonial settlers), 30,000 Colonial soldiers (mostly from Black Africa) and

neg: Syrian Armed Forces Army of the Levant participated in a futile resistance to the British and Free French invasion that ousted the Vichy French from Syria during the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. After the Allied takeover, the army came under the control of the Free French and was designated the Levantine Forces (Troupes du Levant). French Mandate authorities maintained a gendarmerie to police Syria's vast rural areas. This paramilitary force was used to combat criminals and political foes of the Mandate government. As with the Levantine Special Troops, French officers held the top posts, but as Syrian independence approached, the ranks below major were gradually

neg: Battle of Brignais Battle of Brignais The Battle of Brignais was fought on 6 April 1362, between forces of the Kingdom of France under Count Jacques de Bourbon, from whom the later royal Bourbons descend, and the Tard-Venus Free Company, led by Petit Meschin and Seguin de Badefol. The French forces were besieging the town of Brignais, which had been seized in March by the Companies as an operating base, when they were attacked by Free Company forces which had been operating in the County of Forez and had marched to the relief of their comrades. The French army was destroyed. Jacques de

neg: Military history of France during World War II the Allies in several campaigns. These complex opposing forces were called, in a simplistic manner, Vichy French forces and Free French forces. They fought battles all over the world from 1940 to 1945, and sometimes fighting against each other. These forces were composite, made of rebel factions and colonial troops; France controlled a large colonial empire, only second to the British empire. The military participation of the French ground armies, navies and air forces on the Allied side in each theater of World War II (1939–1945) before, during and after the Battle of France, even though it was on various

neg: Commandos Marine Commandos Marine The Commandos Marine are the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed "Bérets Verts" (Green Berets). They operate under the Naval Riflemen and Special Operations Forces Command (FORFUSCO) and form part of the French Special Operations Command. The Commandos Marine were formed in 1942 during World War II, in the United Kingdom and were modelled on the British Commandos (who were founded in 1940). They were formed from Free French volunteers from different services, mainly from Navy Fusiliers Marins (Naval Infantry), other Navy specialities and even from the Army. They were trained

neg: John French, 1st Earl of Ypres his life. At the time it was seized on by the press in Britain. That night White ordered all British forces to fall back on Ladysmith, where it was soon clear that they were about to be besieged by the combined Transvaal and Orange Free State forces. French spent much of the 26 and 27 October patrolling around the advancing Boer forces. On 30 October his cavalry fought dismounted at Lombard's Kop north-east of Ladysmith; this was the right flank of three unsuccessful actions—the others being Nicholson's Nek and an infantry action at Long Hill in the centre which ended

neg: Battle of Ifoghas soldiers are present at Tessalit. For their part, the Chadians were deployed east of the valley of Ametettai. A first column, left Tessalit and commanded by General Déby, bypassed the Tigharghar from the north, accompanied by a detachment of French special forces. Coming from Kidal, the second column leaded by General Bikimo arrived from the south. The two forces make their junction east of the Adrar. The February 22, after a few days, Chadian troops reached the eastern entrance to the Amettetai valley. Unlike the French who had advanced cautiously in the Tibeggatine Valley, Chadians were attacking in force. Shortly

neg: La Nueve had recently switched sides to join the Free French Forces. Given the formerly pro-Vichy sympathies of the latter, the majority chose to join Leclerc's unit. The Division Leclerc, under the command of General Philippe Leclerc, had been established in May 1943 in Chad as the 2nd Free French Division. In August of that year, after the fusion of the Free French Forces and the Army of Africa, it was rechristened the 2nd Armored Division. In the first half of 1943, it consisted of 16,000 men, of which 2,000 were Spanish . As Spanish soldiers were particularly numerous in the 9th

neg: 1st Spahi Regiment at Umbrega, still under the leadership of Captain Paul Jourdier. The defection of a regular cavalry unit of the Vichy forces was widely publicized by the British and Free French forces, making use of photographs showing charging spahis. The regiment was subsequently dismounted and participated in the Syria–Lebanon Campaign on trucks, as part of the 1st Free French Brigade. Other squadrons were created, forming first one then two army corps reconnaissance groups (GRCA), commanded by Jourider and Robert de Kersauson. Reinforced by a company of the 501e Régiment de chars de combat of the Free French Forces, the 2nd Group

neg: Frantz Fanon (a term used for Frenchmen joining Gaullist forces), traveling to British-controlled Dominica to join the Free French Forces. He enlisted in the Free French army and joined an Allied convoy that reached Casablanca. He was later transferred to an army base at Béjaïa on the Kabylie coast of Algeria. Fanon left Algeria from Oran and served in France, notably in the battles of Alsace. In 1944 he was wounded at Colmar and received the "Croix de guerre". When the Nazis were defeated and Allied forces crossed the Rhine into Germany along with photo journalists, Fanon's regiment was "bleached" of all

neg: Free France Damascus). General Henri Dentz and his Vichy Army of the Levant were eventually defeated by the largely British allied forces in July 1941. The British did not themselves occupy Syria; rather, the Free French General Georges Catroux was appointed High Commissioner of the Levant, and from this point, Free France would control both Syria and Lebanon until they became independent in 1946 and 1943 respectively. However, despite this success, the numbers of the FFF did not grow as much as has been wished for. Of nearly 38,000 Vichy French prisoners of war, just 5668 men volunteered to join the forces

neg: Vichy France a beach south of the port were driven off by heavy fire. Even worse from a strategic point of view, bombers of the Vichy French Air Force based in North Africa began bombing the British base at Gibraltar in response to the attack on Dakar. Shaken by the resolute Vichy defence, and not wanting to further escalate the conflict, British and Free French forces withdrew on 25 September, bringing the battle to an end. On 8 November 1940, Free French forces under the command of de Gaulle and Pierre Koenig, along with the assistance of the Royal Navy, invaded Vichy-held

neg: Battle of Gabon November. His forces included French Legionnaires (including the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade), Senegalese and Cameroonian troops. On 9 November, Free French Westland Lysander aircraft operating out of Douala bombed Libreville aerodrome. The aerodrome was eventually captured, despite stiff resistance met by Koenig's force in its approach. Free French naval forces consisting of the minesweeper and the cargo vessel were led by Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu aboard the in conducting coastal operations. "De Brazza" attacked and sank her sister ship, the Vichy French . Libreville was captured on 10 November. On 12 November, the final Vichy forces at Port Gentil surrendered without

neg: Battle of Gabon the Vichy regime and join the United Kingdom in its war against Germany and Italy. The broadcast provoked division in France's African territories, where colonists were forced to choose sides. On 26 August, the governor and military commanders in the colony of Chad announced that they were rallying to De Gaulle's Free French Forces. A small group of Gaullists seized control of Cameroon the following morning, and on 28 August a Free French official ousted the pro-Vichy governor of Moyen-Congo. The next day the governor of Oubangui-Shari declared that his territory would support De Gaulle. His declaration prompted a brief

neg: Santiago de Cuba the capital of the Spanish colony of Cuba. The city was plundered by French forces in 1553, by British forces in 1603 and again in 1662 under Christopher Myngs. The city experienced an influx of French and British immigrants in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many coming from Haiti after the Haitian slave revolt of 1791. This added to the city's eclectic cultural mix, already rich with Spanish and African culture. It was also the location where Spanish troops faced their main defeat at San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, during the Spanish–American War. After capturing the

neg: Îles des Saintes Martinique, Mr. de Meynard. Popular gatherings were forbidden and freedom of expression was banned by the regime. A passive resistance to Vichy and its local representatives was organised from 1940 to 1943. More than 4,000 French West Indians left their islands, at the risk of their life, to join the nearby British colonies. Then they rallied the Free French Forces, first by undertaking military training in the United States, Canada or Great Britain. At the same time, "Fort Napoléon" became a political jail where the dissidents were locked. The "Saintois" boarded their traditional "Saintoise" to the Guadeloupean coast to pick

neg: Military history of France during World War II the French blamed the British for their deaths. Operation Catapult was called «"treachery"» by both the Vichy and Free French. The French State exploited this series of events in its anti-British propaganda which has a long-running history back to the Perfidious Albion myth. The French Navy took part in the naval Battle of the Atlantic from 1939 to 1940. After the armistice of June 1940, Free French Naval Forces, headed by admiral Émile Muselier, were created and pursued the war on the Allies side. The Free French Navy's submarine "Minerve" was involved in the Allied battle against the Allied battle

neg: Ireland and World War I The 10th Division, which included Connaught Rangers, together with the Anglo-French forces having failed to prevent the fall of Serbia after the Bulgarian forces made intensive progress, were ordered to retreat. They remained at Salonika, where during 1916 they were built up to strength again. The Bulgarians, with German support, crossed the Greek frontier on 26 May 1916. The 10th Division was first sent into action in August along the Struma River valley, coming into action against the Bulgarians on 30 September in the 'Struma offensive', crossing the river and taking the village of Yenikoi (present-day Provatas in Serres Prefecture,

neg: 1st Infantry Division (South Africa) times per hour. The following morning, the German—Italian forces made contact with the 7th Armoured Division, east of Bir Hakeim where General Messervy of the 7th Armoured Division was taken prisoner. 7th Armoured as well as the Free French at Bir Hakeim held up the advance but by late morning, Axis forces had advanced well behind the southern flank and were now heading north behind the Allied lines. The 90th Light captured and held El Adem. With Allied forces now recovering and re-deploying into better assault positions, the Axis forces were caught in an area known as "The Cauldron" between

neg: History of the Armée de l'Air (1909–1942) for "Regia Aeronautica" and "Luftwaffe" units flying to Mosul to support the Iraqi nationalist "coup". Then in June 1941 British, Commonwealth, Empire and Free French forces invaded Syria and Lebanon. Vichy French air units, some of which were equipped with Dewoitine D.520 fighters and US-built Martin Maryland bombers had initial air superiority, but the Allied invaders inflicted heavy casualties on Vichy air and ground forces. By mid-July the Allied invasion was victorious and put Syria and Lebanon under Free French control. The last major battles against the Allied forces, in which the Vichy French air force took part, took place

neg: French Somaliland in World War II Free French forces facing the Vichyite garrison in Somaliland, the British changed their policy to "rally French Somaliland to the Allied cause without bloodshed". The Free French were to arrange a voluntary "rallying" ("ralliement") by means of propaganda while the British were to blockade the colony. Wavell considered that if British pressure was applied, a rally would appear to have been coerced. Wavell preferred to let the propaganda continue and provide a small amount of supplies under strict control. As part of this propaganda war, there were even competing newspapers: the Free French published "Djibouti Libre" ("Free Djibouti") and smuggled

neg: French Committee of National Liberation while other French Army units remained under the leadership of Gen. Henri Giraud in France's colonial possessions in North Africa. Both factions struggled to gain legitimacy and representation amongst the Allied Powers. Following the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942, de Gaulle moved the Free French forces to Algiers in French Algeria, where he linked up with Giraud's forces. Although Giraud had briefly supported the Vichy regime, he joined de Gaulle in creating a united front and command of all French forces in North Africa, Europe, and in the colonial possessions in Asia. The Committee was formed on 3

neg: Battle of Kissoué Battle of Kissoué The Battle of Kissoué (17 June 1941) was part of the Allied advance on Damascus in Syria during the Syria-Lebanon campaign in World War II. The battle is noted for the confrontation between Vichy French and the Free French Forces. The Free French met with stiff resistance from the Vichy French. On 8 June 1941, troops of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade Group—under Brigadier Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd—had crossed the Syrian border from the British Mandate of Palestine to take Quneitra and Deraa with the objective of opening the way for Free French forces to advance along the

neg: Military history of France during World War II (French Resistance) began to seriously harass the German forces, cutting roads, railways, making ambushes as well as fighting battles alongside their allies. Free French airborne under Colonel Pierre-Louis Bourgoin dropped behind German lines in Brittany. Only a few French infantry were involved in the Allied landing operations on June 6, 1944. There were 209- 177 commandos and 32 airborne troopers. Additional personnel include a hundred French air force fighter and bomber pilots and hundreds of sailors from the French navy. Free French infantry fighting in the Normandy beaches on June 6 is limited to the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins

neg: Military history of France during World War II Chindits, to fight the Japanese forces in occupied French Indochina. They served in French Indochina, under General Roger Blaizot, since 1944 and were dropped by the British Force 136's B-24 Liberator. The first C.L.I. commandos were rather known as "Gaurs", the gaur is an Indian bison. Free French aircrew formed squadrons under the operational control of the Royal Air Force with British or Lend-Lease equipment. British warships were lent to the Free French navy. Besides materiel, the British formed and trained some Free French pilots and airborne commandos such as the 3rd SAS (French) and 4th SAS (French) and the

neg: Le Blanc-Mesnil which were whitened due to the flour dust coming from the windmills located there in ancient times. One researcher, however, thinks that "blanc" had also the meaning of "free" in Old French, and so the name would mean "free mesnil, free village", perhaps because the villagers had been freed from serfdom. None of these interpretations is certain. On 2 December 1792, a third of the territory of Aulnay was detached and became the commune of Le Blanc-Mesnil. Several French companies have their world headquarters in Blanc-Mesnil, such as Forclum and Sicli. The following political parties have a permanent base in

neg: Geoffrey Hallowes these three-member teams, with one British or American officer, one French officer and a radio operator, were parachuted into France after D-Day, to assist the French Resistance with sabotage. Hallowes led his team, code-named "Jeremy", with French Lieutenant Henri-Charles Giese and radio operator Sergeant Roger Leney. He and his team travelled via Algiers to arrive in the south of France on 24 August 1944, where they were met by American SOE operative Virginia Hall. Hallowes and Giese travelled to Le Puy, the local Gaullist headquarters. He assisted the Free French forces by arranging a drop of arms, assisting them to

neg: Free France Forces of the Interior in January 1945. Both the 1st Free French Division and 9th Colonial infantry Division contained a strong contingent of Tirailleurs Sénégalais brigades. The 1st Free French Division also contained a mixed brigade of French Troupes de marine and the pacific island volunteers.. The Division also included the Foreign Legion Brigades. In late September and early October 1944, both the Tirailleurs Sénégalais brigades and Pacific Islanders were replaced by Brigades of troops recruited from mainland France. This was also when many new Infantry divisions (12 overall) began to be recruited from mainland France, including the 10th Infantry

neg: Vichy France joined by the French mandate of Cameroun on 27 August 1940. One colony in French Equatorial Africa, Gabon, had to be occupied by military force between 27 October and 12 November 1940. On 23 September 1940, the Royal Navy and Free French forces under Charles de Gaulle launched Operation Menace, an attempt to seize the strategic, Vichy-held port of Dakar in French West Africa (modern Senegal). After attempts to encourage them to join the Allies were rebuffed by the defenders, a sharp fight erupted between Vichy and Allied forces. was heavily damaged by torpedoes, and Free French troops landing at

neg: Free French Air Forces the Franco-German Armistice, the first "exodus" (of 10 airmen) took flight from Bordeaux-Mérignac to England. Others rallied to General Charles de Gaulle from France and French North Africa during the period June 1940 to November 1942. A contingent of volunteers from South American countries such as Uruguay, Argentina and Chile was also created, as Free French officials recruited there personally. From a strength of 500 on July 1940, the ranks of the FAFL grew to 900 by 1941, including 200 flyers. A total of 276 of these flyers were stationed in England, and 604 were stationed in overseas theaters of

neg: Refah tragedy After reports about Mediterranean marine activities poured in, it became clear that the anonymous submarine belonged to Vichy France. In the summer of 1941, forces of Free France and Vichy France were fighting over Syria; one of Vichy France's submarines mistook "Refah" for a vessel of Free France. Later on, although not officially announced, it is believed that French government handed over two of her submarines to Turkey, as a compensation. However, recently disclosed documents from Italian and German archives support an alternative story. A report published by the Italian Navy gives coordinates where the Italian submarine "Ondina" attacked vessels.

neg: Médiouna Airfield May and 11 June 1944. Following the landings in Algeria and Morocco, the French Armée d'Afrique freed itself from Vichy France and joined the Allies against the Axis forces. The Cherchell-Mediouna French Cadet Officers Academy was established at the airfield in December 1942 in order to provide the Free French Forces with officers. Most of the officers from the Cherchell-Mediouna E.E.A. were trained in Cherchell (Algeria). The Mediouna camp, near Casablanca (Morocco), accommodated cadet officers only between January and May 1943. From January 1943 to June 1945, about 5,000 officers divided into five classes were trained in the Cherchell-Mediouna E.E.A..

neg: Free French Camel Corps Free French Camel Corps The Free French Camel Corps () was a méhariste camel cavalry unit of the Free French forces, founded by among others Captain Edouard Dieffenbach, under command of General Charles de Gaulle during World War II. Co-founded in Djibouti by Alsatian First World War veteran Captain Edouard Dieffenbach as deputy commander, first set up as the Free French Camel Plutoon (), the unit was later renamed Free French Camel Corps (). It was active from September 1941 to February 1942, with initial strength estimated to about 15-20 camels along with riders. Among the troops, apart from Edouard

neg: Battle of Blaauwberg important to the British, they decided to seize the colony in order to prevent it—and the sea route—from also coming under French control. A British fleet was despatched to the Cape in July 1805, to forestall French troopships which Napoleon had sent to reinforce the Cape garrison. The colony was governed by Lieutenant General Jan Willem Janssens, who was also commander-in-chief of its military forces. The forces were small and of poor quality, and included foreign units hired by the Batavian government. They were backed up by local militia units. The first British warship reached the Cape on Christmas Eve

neg: Franco-Ottoman alliance send an army twice as strong the following year, in 1543. When Francis I learnt from André de Montalembert that the Ottomans were not coming, he raised the siege of Perpignan. Most notably, the French forces, led by François de Bourbon and the Ottoman forces, led by Barbarossa, joined at Marseille in August 1543, and collaborated to bombard the city of Nice in the Siege of Nice. In this action 110 Ottoman galleys, amounting to 30,000 men, combined with 50 French galleys. The Franco-Ottomans laid waste to the city of Nice, but were confronted by a stiff resistance which gave

neg: Free France an individual. On 28 December, after a prolonged blockade, the Vichy forces in French Somaliland were ousted. After these successes, Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indies—as well as French Guiana on the northern coast of South America – finally joined Free France in the first months of 1943. 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. The Vichy forces in North Africa had been under Darlan's command and had surrendered on his orders. The Allies recognised his self-nomination as High Commissioner of France

neg: Military history of France during World War II Germany, and the Japanese empire. Vichy France fought for control over the French overseas empire with the Free French forces, which were aided by Britain and the U.S. By 1943, all of the colonies, except for Indochina, had joined the Free French cause. The number of Free French troops grew with Allied success in North Africa and subsequent rallying of the Army of Africa which pursued the fight against the Axis fighting in many campaigns and eventually invading Italy, occupied France and Germany from 1944 to 1945 by demanding unconditional surrender to the Axis Powers in the Casablanca Conference. On

neg: Free France only about 7,000 soldiers had joined the Free French Army in England. Three-quarters of French servicemen in Britain requested repatriation. France was bitterly divided by the conflict. Frenchmen everywhere were forced to choose sides, and often deeply resented those who had made a different choice. One French admiral, René-Émile Godfroy, voiced the opinion of many of those who decided not to join the Free French forces, when in June 1940, he explained to the exasperated British why he would not order his ships from their Alexandria harbour to join de Gaulle: Equally, few Frenchmen believed that England could stand alone.

neg: Georges Mandel including Pierre Mendès France and the former Popular Front education minister, Jean Zay. Mandel was arrested on 8 August 1940 in French Morocco by General Charles Noguès on the orders of Pierre Laval, Prime Minister of the Vichy government. He was conveyed to the Château de Chazeron via Fort du Portalet, where Paul Reynaud, Édouard Daladier and General Maurice Gamelin were also being held prisoner. Churchill tried unsuccessfully to arrange Mandel's rescue. He described Mandel as "the first resister" and is believed to have preferred him over Charles de Gaulle to lead the Free French Forces. Following pressure from the

neg: Greenock Although this disaster occurred before the Free French Naval Forces were established, many people tend to regard the Cross of Lorraine on Lyle Hill as a memorial to the loss of the "Maillé Brézé" as well as to the later losses of the Free French Naval Forces which sailed from the town. On the nights of 6 May and 7 May 1941 around 300 Luftwaffe aircraft attacked the town in the Greenock Blitz. A large building housing a drapery business constructed on Cowan's property at the corner of the Municipal Buildings was badly damaged and was demolished, leaving the blank

neg: Potez 630 of all P.63.11 aircraft unserviceable even prior to the German invasion; many aircraft were destroyed on the ground by enemy bombing and strafing attacks, and entire units were wiped out without conducting a single mission. The Potez 63.11 continued in service with the air force of Vichy France and with the forces of the Free French; this led to the two opposing sides both operating the type in the North African theatre. The Free French Air Force initially possessed as few as three Potez 630 aircraft, but further models were captured from the Vichy French Air Force. The Germans initially

neg: Normandie-Niemen units from Western Allied countries to see combat on the Eastern Front during World War II, and "Normandie-Niemen" was the only Western Allied unit to fight with the Soviet forces until the end of the war in Europe. Initially the "Groupe de Chasse 3" (GC 3) (3rd Fighter Group) in the Free French Air Force comprised a group of French fighter pilots sent to aid Soviet forces on the Eastern Front at the suggestion of Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French Forces, who felt it important that French servicemen serve on all fronts in the war. The "groupe",

neg: Requin-class submarine 16, 1940, and "Narval", which went to the Free French Naval Forces, joined the Vichy French navy. On June 25, 1941, during Operation Exporter, "Souffleur" was torpedoed and sunk off Beirut, Lebanon, by the British submarine . On November 27, 1942, during the scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon, "Caïman" was scuttled, later raised by the Italians and on March 11, 1944, sunk again by American planes. "Marsouin" was not scuttled and escaped from Toulon to join the Free French Naval Forces and served until 1946. On 8 December 1942 in Bizerte, German forces captured four ships of the

neg: French Navy the Allies invaded French North Africa. But the confrontations were set aside once the Germans occupied Vichy France. The capital ships were a primary goal of the occupation, but before they could be seized they were scuttled by their own crews. A few small ships and submarines managed to escape in time, and these joined de Gaulle's Free French Naval Forces, an arm of Free France that fought as an adjunct of the Royal Navy until the end of the war. In the Pacific theatre as well, Free French vessels operated until the Japanese capitulation; was present at the Japanese

neg: Scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon Scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon The French fleet at Toulon was scuttled on 27 November 1942 to avoid capture by Nazi German forces. The Allied invasion of North Africa had provoked the Germans into invading the ‘Free Zone’ (Vichy France), officially neutral according to the 1940 Armistice. Vichy Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Darlan, defected to join De Gaulle and the Free French, who were gaining increasing support from both servicemen and civilians. His replacement, Admiral Auphan, guessed correctly that the Germans were aiming to seize the large fleet at Toulon, and issued orders for scuttling these vessels.

neg: Military history of France during World War II received enough military equipment through Lend-Lease to re-equip eight divisions and allow the return of borrowed British equipment. At this point, the Free French forces and Army of Africa were merged to form the French Expeditionary Corps ("Corps Expéditionnaire Français, CEF"), under General Alphonse Juin, that would take part in the 1943 Italian Campaign and the August 1944 invasion in Southern France called Operation Dragoon. By September 1944, the Free French forces stood at 560,000 (and the FFI at 300,000), which rose to 1 million by the end of 1944, and were fighting in Alsace, the Alps and Bretagne. By

neg: Battle of Damascus (1941) Lloyd, having handed over to Evetts, resumed command of the 5th Indian Brigade and sent a force comprising two companies from the 3/1st Punjab Regiment, two companies of French Marines and a battery of artillery to fight its way through to Mezzeh. But they could not blast a way through and they progressed only slowly against determined opposition from French tanks. A Free French attack on Qadim the previous night had failed expensively, so that they were unable to exert pressure on Qadim that morning to draw Vichy forces away from Mezzeh. That night, however, the Free French with support

neg: Olvir Rosta immediately gather forces and attack Earl Rögnvaldr before he could be reinforced by the incoming men he knew were coming from the "Suðreyjar". That night Earl Páll was joined by five chieftains, with four ships—this brings his total forces to five ships. The fleet sailed to Rousay, where they arrive at sunset. During the night the force is further strengthened by arriving men. In the morning, as the fleet is about to set out for Shetland to meet Earl Rögnvaldr, about ten or twelve ships were spotted coming from the Pentland Firth. Earl Páll and his men were certain these

neg: Vichy French Air Force escaped from France and joined the Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres) and those who stayed and flew for the French Armistice Air Force on behalf of the Vichy government. Initially the Germans wanted to disband the air force completely, and all personnel were to be demobilized by mid-September. However, on 3 July 1940 the British Royal Navy attacked the French fleet anchored in the Algerian ports of Oran and Mers-el-Kebir. Angered, the French broke all connections with the British. The Germans now agreed to the forming of a Vichy French air force. In a parallel of what had happened

neg: Saphir-class submarine (1928) and was withdrawn from service on October 4, 1949. Saphir-class submarine (1928) The "Saphir"-class submarines were a class of six submarines built in France between 1926 and 1935 for the French Navy. Most saw action during World War II for the Vichy French Navy or the Free French Naval Forces. Three were captured by Italian forces but not used. "Saphir"-class submarines had a surfaced displacement of and a submerged displacement of . Their dimensions were long, with a beam of and a draught of . Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two Normand-Vickers diesel motors with a total of and

neg: Transit Center at Manas Assistance Force member states as well. The base was a transit point for U.S. military personnel coming and going from Afghanistan. The base had good recreation facilities for airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines (internet cafes, wireless internet, pool tables, free video games, telephones to DSN lines that allow a coalition forces to call their homes at little or no cost). The base had a large dining facility, gymnasium, and a chapel. There was also a library where books and magazines were available for active duty airmen. Several events, such as the shooting of a local civilian and rumors of fuel

neg: Military history of France during World War II Company) in Great Britain. This unit later known as "1re compagnie de chasseurs parachutistes, 1re CCP" (1st Parachute Light Infantry Company) joined the July 1941-created British Special Air Service airborne unit at David Stirling's demand to Charles de Gaulle in 1942 to become the SAS Brigade's French Squadron. The 3rd SAS (French) and 4th SAS (French) are also known as 1st Airborne Marine Infantry Regiment (1er RPIMa) and "2e régiment de chasseurs parachutistes" (2e RCP) respectively. Free French Forces ("Forces Françaises Libres, FFL") comprised 1st Free French Division ("1re Division Française Libre, 1re DFL"), Free French Air Force ("Forces Aériennes