The French Army 1939-45 (2) : Free French, Fighting French & the Army of Liberation (Men-At-Arms Series, 318)

By 16 June 1940, De Gaulle, with the decisive support of Churchill, had come to the conclusion that, whatever happened, France could not stand to one side in the struggle against Nazi Germany. And so, Free France was born. In this companion volume to MAA 315: The French Army 1939-45 (I) , Ian Sumner and François Vauvillier examine the history, uniforms and insignia of the Free French, Fighting French and the Army of Liberation during World War II (1939-1945). This second volume details the uniforms and equipment of the Free French forces which fought alongside the Allies to defeat Germany and liberate Western Europe. When Charles de Gaulle launched his celebrated appeal via the BBC on 18 June 1940, he was quite unknown to most French people.