1st Free French Division
Encyclopedia
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces
during World War II
, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.
in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the Vichy
troops there over to the side of the Allies. Other elements fought in Gabon
and Eritrea
before the various units were organized under British sponsorship as the 1st Free French Light Division in May 1941 near Tel Aviv
. From 8 June-11 July 1941, the division fought with British forces to remove the Vichy authorities from power in the Levant
. The division was then disbanded in August 1941, but the component units continued to serve with the Allied forces.
In action as separate brigades, units of the 1st Division became famous for their hard fighting at Bir Hakeim
and El Alamein
. The division was reformed as the 1st Free French Division on 1 February 1943, and subsequently fought in the Tunisian Campaign
during April and May, 1943.
For a few months, the 1st Division garrisoned Libya
, and then fought in the Italian Campaign
from April-July 1944. The division was equipped with U.S. weapons and supplies in January 1944. During the course of the war, the division would be officially renamed the 1st Motorized Infantry Division and finally the 1st March Infantry Division.
In August 1944, the division landed in southern France as part of the follow-on troops of Operation Dragoon
, and fought as part of the French 1st Army
, through Provence
and the Vosges Mountains
, and into Alsace
. In January 1945, the division defended the area south of Strasbourg
at heavy cost, losing the 24th March Battalion during desperate fighting against an offensive by the German 19. Armee. Shortly thereafter, the 1st Division fought as part of the II Corps
in the battle of the Colmar Pocket
.
In March 1945, the 1st Division was withdrawn from Alsace and sent to spearhead the French offensive into the Alps, recovering French territory taken by Italy in 1940 and claiming part of Italy for France. The final extent of the 1st Division's advance into the Alps became a point of contention between France on the one hand and the United States and Britain
on the other, with the French finally withdrawing to the prewar border after an acrimonious dispute.
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.
World War II
Units that eventually formed the division were engaged in combat as early as September 1940 at DakarBattle of Dakar
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 in French West Africa , which was under Vichy French control, and to install the Free French under General Charles de Gaulle there.-Background:At...
in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the Vichy
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
troops there over to the side of the Allies. Other elements fought in Gabon
Battle of Gabon
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 battle resulted in the Free French forces under General Charles de Gaulle taking Libreville, Gabon, and taking all of French Equatorial Africa from Vichy French...
and Eritrea
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
before the various units were organized under British sponsorship as the 1st Free French Light Division in May 1941 near Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. From 8 June-11 July 1941, the division fought with British forces to remove the Vichy authorities from power in the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
. The division was then disbanded in August 1941, but the component units continued to serve with the Allied forces.
In action as separate brigades, units of the 1st Division became famous for their hard fighting at Bir Hakeim
Battle of Bir Hakeim
Bir Hakeim is a remote oasis in the Libyan desert, and the former site of a Turkish fort. During the Battle of Gazala, the 1st Free French Division of General Marie Pierre Kœnig defended the site from 26 May-11 June 1942 against attacking German and Italian forces directed by Lieutenant-General ...
and El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
. The division was reformed as the 1st Free French Division on 1 February 1943, and subsequently fought in the Tunisian Campaign
Tunisia Campaign
The Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including Polish and Greek contingents, with American and French corps...
during April and May, 1943.
For a few months, the 1st Division garrisoned Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, and then fought in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
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 in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
from April-July 1944. The division was equipped with U.S. weapons and supplies in January 1944. During the course of the war, the division would be officially renamed the 1st Motorized Infantry Division and finally the 1st March Infantry Division.
In August 1944, the division landed in southern France as part of the follow-on troops of Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
, and fought as part of the French 1st Army
French First Army
The First Army was a field army of France that fought during World War I and World War II. It was also active during the Cold War.-First World War:...
, through Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
and the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
, and into Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. In January 1945, the division defended the area south of Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
at heavy cost, losing the 24th March Battalion during desperate fighting against an offensive by the German 19. Armee. Shortly thereafter, the 1st Division fought as part of the II Corps
II Corps (France)
The 2nd Army Corps was first formed before World War I. During World War II it fought in the Campaign for France in 1940 and during the 1944-45 campaigns in southern France, the Vosges Mountains, Alsace, and southwestern Germany...
in the battle of the Colmar Pocket
Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket ; in Alsace, France, was the site of an operation during the Second World War, between 20 January and 9 February 1945, where the French First Army and the U.S...
.
In March 1945, the 1st Division was withdrawn from Alsace and sent to spearhead the French offensive into the Alps, recovering French territory taken by Italy in 1940 and claiming part of Italy for France. The final extent of the 1st Division's advance into the Alps became a point of contention between France on the one hand and the United States and Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on the other, with the French finally withdrawing to the prewar border after an acrimonious dispute.
Divisional Order of Battle
August 15, 1944:- 1st Brigade
- 1st Battalion of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade13th Foreign Legion Demi-BrigadeThe 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade is a mechanized infantry demi-brigade in the French Foreign Legion. It is the only permanent demi-brigade in the French Army, and is a unit of particular notoriety and reputation within the Legion...
- 2nd Battalion of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade
- 22nd North African March Battalion
- 1st Battalion of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade
- 2nd Brigade
- 4th March Battalion
- 5th March Battalion
- 11th March Battalion
- 4th Brigade
- 21st March Battalion
- 24th March Battalion
- Infantry Battalion of the Navy and the Pacific
- 1st Regiment of Naval FusilierFusilierFusilier was originally the name of a soldier armed with a light flintlock musket called the fusil. The word was first used around 1680, and has later developed into a regimental designation.-History:...
s (Reconnaissance Battalion)
- 1st Artillery Regiment
- 21st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group
- 1st Engineer Combat Battalion
- 1st Transmissions Battalion
- 101st, 102nd, and 103rd Transportation Companies
- 1st Traffic Control Detachment
- 9th Quartermaster Company
- 1st Maintenance Group
- Light Surgical Ambulance
- 1st Medical Battalion
- Naval Female Medical Evacuation Section
- Hadfield-Spears Ambulance
Casualties
Over the course of the war, the 1st Free French Division lost over 4,000 men killed in action. Another source indicates 3,619 men killed in action including 1,126 Africans.Article Sources
- Foreign Volunteers of the Allied Forces 1939-45. Nigel Thomas. London: Osprey Publishing, 1991.
- GUF - Guerre 1939 - 1945. Les Grandes Unités FrançaisesGrandes Unités FrançaisesGrandes Unités Françaises is a monumental six-volume World War II order of battle and military unit history reference compiled by the historical service of the chief of staff of the French Army...
(Volume V-2). Armée de Terre, Service Historique. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1975. - La 1re D.F.L.. Boussard, Leon. Bobigny: L'Imprimerie de Bobigny (Seine), 1946.
- The French Army 1939-45 (2). Ian Sumner. London: Osprey Publishing, 1998. FAQ (with some pictures) on the 1re D.F.L., a unit frequently eclipsed by the 2nd (Armoured) Free French Division.
- Forum posting of TO&E of the predecessor elements of the 1re D.F.L, with reference to other FFL units in North Africa