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- In 1940, France is defeated and 1,400,000 French soldiers are prisoners in Germany (40,000 will die in captivity). The French army no longer exists. For almost two years, the colonial empire will be the principal stakes between the Gaullist forces and the Vichy regime. As from June 8, 1940, and immediately following General de Gaulle’s call to continue the fight, the rallying was individual at first. In July 1940, Free France can count on little more than 7,000 men.Numbers will increase throughout 1940 due to rallying of several African, Oceanic, Oriental colonies: Chad, Oubangui-Chari, Congo, Cameroun, Indian Trading Posts, Oceanea, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna (1). This support from the colonies provides Free France a legitimacy, and will allow France to impose its presence beside the allies in the conflict.
- In West Africa, in 1940, de Gaulle fails in his attempt to take Dakar from the Vichy forces, and decides to install the FFL (Free French Army) in Gabon in November 1940. The French Army, still few in numbers will then participate in different battles beside the allied forces:
- battles in the Fezzan, Eritrea and Libya .The Syrian operation in June 1941, marks a turning point after the defeat of the Vichy troops by the Free French Army. At Bir Hakeim, in May-June 1942, the 1st brigade of the Free French Army under General Kïnig, participate in the combat against the troops of the Axe and the Afrika Korps.
- But the great turning point will be the allies’ landing in North Africa in November 1942, from which date the French army is progressively reconstituted, notably under the orders of General Giraud, thanks to American material. Following this allied landing, carried out without the help of General de Gaulle or the French troops, the political situation is complex in North Africa (2). Several protagonists attempt to impose their authority in Free France. The political conflict between de Gaulle and Giraud lasts several months, while the battles continue to rage in Tunisia against the Axe. Finally, on June 3, 1943, the French International Committee in London and the civil and military commandment in Algeria merge, under the co-presidency of the Generals de Gaulle and Giraud, becoming the CFLN, French Committee for National Liberation, installed in Algeria. From this point the French army can be reconstituted before the decisive engagement in Italy. During the summer of 1943, 233,000 “North Africans” will be mobilized or volunteers to reinforce the French troops. They will join the 363,000 soldiers from North Africa already under military authority (European and “Indigènes”). 60,000 men from AOF, 12,000 from FFL, 20,000 escaped from France from prison camps, and 20,000 female volunteers. In the summer of 1943 this army regrouped just under 700,000 people, fighting or auxiliary. This is the army that is to participate, beside the Anglo-American allies, to liberate France, after the hard battles in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Corsica and the allies’ landing in Provence in 1944. The French Expeditionary Corps (CEF) is then composed partly of the Detachment of the Army A (or CEF from Italy), formed of the 3rd DIA (Algerian Infantry Division), the 2nd DIM (Moroccan Infantry Division), and the 4th DMM (Moroccan Mountain Division) to which are added the Moroccan Goums (the Tabors); the Army B Detachment is formed of the 1st DB and the 5th DB (armoured tanks division), and in Corsica of the 9th DIC (Colonial Infantry Division). It should be noted that the Europeans from North Africa (of which 14% will be mobilised during the conflict) will serve in administration, and the non-European populations (Maghreb and Black Africa) the majority of the fighting troops until the landing in Provence. These two detachments placed under the orders of general De Lattre de Tassigny will merge in July 1944 to become the Army B, to be joined by the FFI, while the FFL are already present in the 1st DFL, ex-motorised division of the infantry), then, in September 1944, the First French Army.
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