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The units covered in this book are something of a mix. The Legion de Volontaires Francais was formed in the occupied zone of France by French volunteers, but was soon absorbed into the German military. The Legion Tricolore was an attempt by the Vichy regime to create a similar unit. The Phalange Africaine was a more succesful Vichy effort to create a volunteer force to defend French North Africa after Operation Torch. Finally we look at French involvement in units of the German military – the Waffen-SS in general and the Charlemagne Division.
The only part of this story I was familiar with were the Waffen-SS volunteers and Charlemagne Division. Unsurprisingly the voluntary formation of a pro-German military force in occupied France in 1941, the Legion de Volontaires Francais, hasn’t attracted a great deal of attention, but the initial recruiting drive attracted 13,400 applicants (although only 2,500 were accepted). This unit fought in German uniforms and with German equipment. They were unlucky to arrive on the Eastern Front just in time to take part in Operation Typhoon, the final attack on Moscow, where this version of the unit was almost wiped out. Another part of the unit took part in anti-partisan warfare, on this occasion clearly fighting actual partisans judging by the number of succesful ambushes carried out against them. The Legion was reinforced and reformed, but found itself in the path of Operation Bagration, the destruction of Army Group Centre. The survivors of this disaster were then pushed into the Waffen-SS.
The Legion Tricolore was an attempt by the Vichy government to form a new fighting force that wouldn’t come under German command. Volunteers were sought in both the occupied and unoccupied zones. However this unit was never recognised by the Germans, not provided with arms, and disbanded after the German occupation of Vichy France.
Operation Torch led to the creation of the third French force covered here, La Phalange Africaine, formed after Operation Torch to fight in Tunisia. Although was always a small force, its interesting that it was raised after the occupation of Vichy France and the disbanding of the Vichy army. However the resulting unit only ever commited one company to combat, and spent most of its short existence retreating.
The last two chapters look at the best known examples of Frenchmen fighting for the Nazis, their service in the Waffen-SS and the Charlemagne Division. The Charlemagne Division was the largest of these French units, with over 7,000 troops from a wide range of sources. However this unit entered combat in 1945, so its story is one of defeat and retreat.
This is a useful guide to these units. Not of them were very large or significant, and those that saw combat generally suffered defeats. However they do form a part of the wartime story of France, and a reminder that not everyone resisted.
Chapters
La Legion des Volontaires Francais
The Legion Reborn
La Legion Tricolore
La Phalange Africaine
French Volunteers in the Waffen-SS
The ‘Charlemagne’ Division
Author: Massimiliano Afiero
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 48
Publisher: Osprey
Year: 2024