X-Nico

2 unusual facts about Free French forces


Cannon-class destroyer escort

Of the 116 ships ordered 44 were canceled and six commissioned directly into the Free French Forces.

Jean de Gaillard de la Valdène

In the early days of World War II as a lieutenant, he was sent by Admiral Émile Muselier to Algeria and Morocco to recruit aviators willing to continue the war with the Free French Forces.


Action Française

However, the AF members were split between supporting the counter-revolutionary regime and their nationalism: after 1942, and in particular in 1943, some members, such as Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie, Pierre Guillain de Bénouville or Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves joined the Resistance or escaped to join the Free French Forces.

Free French Naval Air Service

It operated all the French naval aircraft, seaplanes and flying boats, that escaped from German-occupied France after the Battle of France, together with naval aircraft from the French colonies that declared allegiance to de Gaulle's Free French Forces, and aircraft donated by the British and Americans.

Free French Naval Forces

In the wake of the Armistice and the Appeal of 18 June, Charles de Gaulle founded the Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres, or FFL), including a naval arm, the "Free French Naval Forces" (Les Forces Navales Françaises Libres, or FNFL).

French Equatorial Africa

During World War II, the federation rallied to the Free French Forces under Félix Éboué in August 1940, except for Gabon which was Vichy French between 16 June 1940 and 12 November 1940; the federation became the strategic centre of Free French activities in Africa.

Marek Szwarc

After the war he returned to Paris with his wife and daughter, Tereska Torres who had served in the Free French Forces of General Charles de Gaulle in London.

Operation RY

In late February 1942, as a Japanese invasion of Nauru and Ocean Island was feared, the Free French destroyer Triomphant departed the New Hebrides to evacuate both Nauru and Ocean Island.

United Nations Security Council veto power

France had been defeated and occupied by Germany (1940–44), but its role as a permanent member of the League of Nations, its status as a colonial power and the activities of the Free French forces on the allied side allowed it a place at the table with the other four.


see also

Battle of Kissoué

By 12 June, Deraa, Sheikh Meskine and Ezraa on the Deraa to Damascus road had been captured and the Indian and Free French forces, now named Gentforce and under the unified command of French Major-General Paul Legentilhomme were before Kissoué.

Bernard Destremau

After joining the Free French forces as a tank officer, he fought in France and Germany, was wounded in combat three times and received the Legion of Honour.

Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca

the Casabianca, the famous submarine which joined the Free French Forces during the Second World War, notably liberating Corsica.

Nora Gregor

In 1938, the Starhembergs emigrated to France through Switzerland, and her husband joined the Free French forces; cut off from their money and eighty family estates, they were supported for a period by Starhemberg's close friend Friedrich Mandl, the Austrian armaments magnate.

Radio London

Radio Londres, broadcasts made by the Free French Forces via the BBC during World War II