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France, once Europe's leading power, was now an abject vassal
of the Third Reich. But not all Frenchmen accepted defeat, and
their spirit of resistance was symbolized by a little-known Army
officer and junior government minister at the time of the French
surrender, Charles de Gaulle. His radio broadcast to the French
people from London on 18 June 1940 struck a spark that rekindled
the spirit of the nation under the flag of Free France.
Slowly, small groups of French soldiers, solitary ships and remote
colonies rallied to General de Gaulle. However, by 1942, a small
but effective military force had been organized. Its first notable
action was the heroic defense of Bir Hakeim.
The Battle of Bir Hakeim (May 26, 1942 - June 11, 1942) was fought,
during World War II, between the German/Italian Afrika Korps and
the 1st Free French Brigade, with support from the British 7th
Armoured Division.
Most Legion units fought with the Free French forces in the Second
World War, though some fought for Vichy and subsequently changed
sides. They distinguished themselves at Narvik, in Syria against
the Allies and most notably, under the French commander General
Pierre Koenig, at Bir Hakeim with the British 8th Army.
The Germans attacked Bir Hakeim on May 26. Over the next two weeks,
the Luftwaffe flew 1,400 sorties against the defenses, whilst
4 German/Italian divisions attacked. On June 2, 3, and 5, the
German forces requested that Koenig surrender, the French General
refused and launched counterattacks with his Bren gun carriers.
Despite the explosion of the defence's ammo dump, the French continued
to fight using ammo brought in by British armored cars during
the night. Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force dropped water and other
supplies. On June 9, the British Eighth Army authorized a retreat
and during the night of June 10/June 11 the defenders of Bir Hakeim
escaped the battered claws of Rommel's Afrika Korp.
Interestingly, it has been noted that among the Free French Stand
at Bir Hakeim, the majority of the fiercest fighting emanated
from the Foreign Legion. The Legion at Bir Hakeim counted among
its ranks Germans and other nationalities who knew that to be
captured by the Nazis would see them suffer a far worse death
than to die fighting. |
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