Germany’s French Allies 1941–45

The Wehrmacht's French volunteer units fought on the Eastern Front and in North Africa during World War II, with 13,000 Frenchmen enlisted in the 'Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchévisme' and posted to Russia. This volume examines their involvement, including their equipment, insignia, and uniforms, and describes their involvement in some of the most gruelling battles of the war.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 48 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A comprehensive examination of the Wehrmacht's French volunteer units and their roles in the Eastern Front and North Africa during World War II is presented in this fully illustrated study. Surprisingly, French volunteer units were among the Wehrmacht troops defending Germany in the harsh winter of 1941 on the Eastern Front and were also among the last to fight for Berlin in April 1945. Following Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, approximately 13,000 Frenchmen enlisted in the 'Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchévisme' (LVF), which was later reformed as the Wehrmachts Infanterie-Regiment 638 and sent to Russia. This volume delves into the participation of French volunteers not only on the Eastern Front but also in the 'Phalange Africaine' in Tunisia and the 'Légion Tricolore,' a short-lived military organization under the control of the French Vichy government. Through the use of archive photographs and specially commissioned artwork, this study sheds new light on the forces fighting for the Axis and examines the equipment, insignia, and uniforms of the French personnel involved, while recounting their involvement in some of the most grueling battles of World War II.

Weight: 164g
Dimension: 248 x 185 x 4 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472862983