Free French divisions List of French divisions in World War II
these 2 divisions gaullist formations that, while excellent performers in combat, had friction operating other units of french army considered have been tainted affiliation vichy regime. treated special reserve de gaulle, who, @ times, assigned them military , political tasks in various areas of france frustration of general de lattre, 1st army commander 1944–1945.
the 2nd db parades in paris, 1944
1st free french division (1st dfl, later became 1st motorized infantry division , 1 march infantry division). formed in gambut, libya, on 1 february 1943 free french units had been fighting alongside british forces since 1940. campaigns: eastern tunisia, rome-arno (including battle of monte cassino), operations in provence, pursuit across rhône, vosges mountains, alsace (including colmar pocket) , alpine front. final command post vicinity col de tende in alps; forward elements approaching suburbs of torino @ war s end. division moved paris 1 june 1945 , disbanded 15 august 1945. subordination: multiple, including british 8th army, french 1st army , detachment of army of alps.
2nd armoured division (2nd db, former 2nd light division). formed in august 1943 leclerc s column after allied victory in tunisia, 2nd db sent great britain , entered france after d-day. division liberated paris , later forced saverne gap, breaking through german defenses in lorraine , liberating strasbourg. 2nd db stationed in paris de gaulle short period after city s liberation ensure nearby presence of loyal troops (de gaulle concerned french communists challenge assumption of power) while government established itself. campaigns: normandy, northern france, alsace (including colmar pocket), royan , bavaria. final command post @ bad reichenhall; division moved paris in late may 1945 , inactivated on 31 march 1946. subordination: u.s. 1st, 3rd , 7th armies, french 1st army , detachment of army of atlantic.
^ www.francaislibres.net
^ guf, vol. 4, pp. 349-360 , 955-984.
^ guf, vol. 5-2, pp. 15-139.
^ guf, vol. 5-2, pp. 968-1164.
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