Army

Army units began to form following the appeal of 18 June 1940. These were mainly simple battalions or even simple companies, which, as the territories rallied and new volunteers came in, were gradually transformed into regiments. These regiments mainly fought within the two major “historical” Free French units, namely the First Free French Division (1ère DFL) and the Second Armoured Division (2e DB). For their continuous, active participation in operations from 1940 to 1945, nine of these units were honoured with the Cross of Liberation.