The 1st Free French Division (DFL)

Parade of FFI (Forces Françaises de l’Intérieur) troops in liberated Dijon. From 23 September 1944, many FFI joined the 1st French Army. Source: SCA – ECPAD

The 1st DFL (Free French Division) was officially created in June 1942, but some of the units making it up had already been fighting since the start of the war, and all were made up of men who fought constantly since 1939. They were motivated by the famous words of General de Gaulle's appeal of 18 June.

Rallying the Empire to Free France

French possessions in Africa in late 1940. Source: MINDEF/SGA/DMPA

Following General de Gaulle’s call to arms of 18 June 1940, volunteers keen to join Britain and Free France began streaming in, but the British attack on the French fleet at Mers el-Kébir, for fear that the vessels should fall into German hands, dealt a serious blow to recruitment. In early July, Free France amounted to no more than a handful of exiles, dependent on British support.

August 1944 – The 2nd Armoured Division in Normandy

A Sherman M4 of the 12th regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique of the 2nd Armoured Division landing from a Landing Ship Tank in Normandy in August 1944. Source: U.S. Federal Government, royalty-free

The French on 6 June 1944

Commando Kieffer. Source: 4th Commando Museum

The Free French Air Force

Equipage Français d'un bombardier "Boston" du groupe "Lorraine" de retour de Mission Source : .geoforum.fr

Les Forces aériennes françaises libres sont créées le 7 juillet 1940 à Londres et placées (provisoirement) sous les ordres de l'amiral Muselier, commandant les Forces navales françaises libres.