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The French Liberation Army ( ; AFL) was the reunified
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...
that arose from the merging of the
Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (; FFL) during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. The military force of
Free France, it participated in the
Italian and
Tunisian campaigns before joining in the
Liberation of France with other Western
Allies of World War II
The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international Coalition#Military, military coalition formed during World War II (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers. Its principal members were the "Four Policeme ...
. It went on to join the
Western Allied invasion of Germany.
History
The French Liberation Army was created in January 1943 when the
Army of Africa () led by
General Giraud was combined with the Free French Forces of
General de Gaulle.
The AFL participated in the campaigns of
Tunisia
Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...
and Italy; during the
Italian campaign the AFL was known as the
French Expeditionary Corps in Italy ( ''en Italie or CEFI)'' making a quarter of the troops deployed. The AFL was key in the liberation of
Corsica
Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...
, the first French metropolitan department to be liberated. The troops that landed 2 months after D-Day were the
2nd Armored Division under
Philippe Leclerc and the 1st Battalion Marine Commando Fusiliers () better known as
Commando Kieffer.
During the
Allied invasion of Provence, on 15 August 1944, the AFL made the majority of the troops landing on French shores, capturing the ports of
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
and
Marseille
Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...
. The French troops in Southern France were now named
French First Army and would participate in the Liberation of France and the invasion of south-western Germany in 1944–45. One of the AFL's garrison and second-line formations, which later helped man the
French occupation zone in Germany, was the
10th Infantry Division.
See also
*
Military history of France during World War II
References
Citations
Sources
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External links
« ''Free French Divisions'' » on Stone & Stone website
*
Military history of France during World War II
National liberation armies
Armies in exile during World War II
World War II resistance movements
Guerrilla organizations
Military units and formations established in 1943
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
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