In the history books and the collective memory the Liberation of France and Europe appears to be entirely the result of the landing in Normandy in June 1944, the actions of the Resistance, and the Soviet offensive on the Eastern front. This is forgetting the offensive from the South (3), after the victory in Tunisia and the retreat of the Axe, which will allow the opening of a second front before the western landing, in Normandy. These heavy attacks however were to mobilise a large number of the German troops in the South, to facilitate the progression of the Soviet troops from the East in 1944, and that of the anglo-american troops on the western front from June 1944.

The Tunisian campaign suffered great losses, according to the S.H.A.T. (Historical Service of the ground Army) figures: 1158 killed for the FFL, 2300 in Tunisia including all the different unities, 6255 for the Italian campaign (4), in Corsica (5) and Elba (6), also 14,900 for the France and Germany campaigns, which means 24,608 killed out of a total of 115,806 killed for the whole of the war (of which 90,000 in 1940, and 1,193 for the Armistice Army). With the addition of the civilian victims (in metropolitan France) the total of French casualties throughout the conflicts amount to 535,967 (this figure includes the deported, the Resistance, the military casualties, and the victims of the bombings).

The engagement of the French during the course of the liberation of Italy, and particularly during the violent conflicts around Monte Cassino, contributed to the retreat of the German troops, weakened having suffered great losses. Joined by the FFI and the FFL, the First French Army following the landing in Provence (August 15, 1944) will then liberate Toulon, Marseille, Lyon, Dijon, Belfort, far from the limelight and the press who only have eyes for the Anglo-American progression from Normandy and the very political liberation of Paris and Strasbourg by the French of the 2nd DB (armoured division) lead by Leclerc which was accomplished without the troops from the colonial territories.

 

Text by P. Blanchard

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  1. July 20,1940: Rallying of the French administration in the New-Hebrides; August 27-28, 1940 : rallying of the AEF-Cameroun block, with exception of Gabon. September 2, 1940: rallying of Tahiti; September 9, 1940: rallying of the Indian Trading Posts and September 19, 1940: rallying of New Caledonia.
  2. November 28, 1942: forced rallying of the French coast of Somalia, and in November 30, 1942, rallying of the Reunion Island to the French troops.
  3. May 11-18 1944 : break through of the French forces commanded by Marshal Alphonse Juin, in Garigliano.
  4. July 10, 1943: Allied landing in Sicily.
  5. September 8-October 4, 1943: participation of the French in the liberation of Corssica.
  6. June 17-18 1944: Isle of Elba taken by the Marshal Jean-Marie de Lattre de Tassigny.

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