First french army?

Discussions on all aspects of France during the Inter-War era and Second World War.
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David Lehmann
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#16

Post by David Lehmann » 11 Jul 2004, 20:33

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David Lehmann
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#17

Post by David Lehmann » 13 Jul 2004, 21:36

French marine infantry and a captured Pak40 in action :
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French marine infantry and captured Pak40.jpg
French marine infantry and captured Pak40.jpg (72.5 KiB) Viewed 3492 times
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David Lehmann
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#18

Post by David Lehmann » 13 Jul 2004, 21:38

More photos :
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Free French Marseille 1944.jpg
Free French Marseille 1944.jpg (26.81 KiB) Viewed 3490 times
3rd DIA patrol Toulon 1944.jpg
3rd DIA patrol Toulon 1944.jpg (21.72 KiB) Viewed 3490 times
goumiers 81mm mortar 1943.jpg
goumiers 81mm mortar 1943.jpg (18.27 KiB) Viewed 3490 times
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David Lehmann
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#19

Post by David Lehmann » 13 Jul 2004, 21:40

more :
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French Bofors on the Rhine.jpg
French Bofors on the Rhine.jpg (94.34 KiB) Viewed 3491 times
French HTs 5eDB.jpg
French HTs 5eDB.jpg (106.8 KiB) Viewed 3491 times
M10 TD 'Bizerte' 5eDB and French troops.jpg
M10 TD 'Bizerte' 5eDB and French troops.jpg (238.15 KiB) Viewed 3488 times
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David Lehmann
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#20

Post by David Lehmann » 13 Jul 2004, 21:47

and more :
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French troops in Germany.jpg
French troops in Germany.jpg (67.26 KiB) Viewed 3483 times
French scout car in Germany.jpg
French scout car in Germany.jpg (239.41 KiB) Viewed 3483 times
French troops in Alsace and 57mm AT gun.jpg
French troops in Alsace and 57mm AT gun.jpg (86.08 KiB) Viewed 3483 times
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David Lehmann
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#21

Post by David Lehmann » 14 Jul 2004, 15:09

9e RTA soldiers in Tunisia in February 1943 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 200218.jpg

2e GTM soldier with Thompson Tunisia 1943 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 200868.jpg

WIA in Fuetzen in Germany April 1945 (note the SMG behind) :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... %20R01.jpg
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David Lehmann
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#22

Post by David Lehmann » 14 Jul 2004, 15:10

French soldier in Casterforte Italy taking a MP-40 in the rubbles :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 204731.jpg

French column in Italy May 1944 (destroyed Marder) :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 205043.jpg

de Gaulle, de Lattre de Tassigny and Monsabert in Italy :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 204927.jpg

French troops in Roma 4th June 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 205259.jpg

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 6-5260.jpg

unloading 105mm shells in Italy 1943 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 202757.jpg

General Giraud in Italy in 1943 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 202874.jpg

GMC truck from the 5e RTM in Italy :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 202954.jpg

German POWs carrying lieutenant Barbarin WIA Italy 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 203129.jpg

French soldier and Italian refugee 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 203211.jpg

General de Goislard de Monsabert in Italy 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 203375.jpg

Goumier in Italy in 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 8-4566.jpg

capitaine Morin and his Piper-cub in Italy 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... -G3619.jpg

155mm Gun M1 in Italy 1944 :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... -G3673.jpg
Last edited by David Lehmann on 17 Jan 2005, 22:25, edited 2 times in total.
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David Lehmann
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#23

Post by David Lehmann » 14 Jul 2004, 15:11

10,5 cm Leichte Feldhaubitze LeFH 18 destroyed during the battle in Montélimar :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 2-7353.jpg

2e Régiment de Dragons in Autun and Hitler photo :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 3-7397.jpg

German POWs in Autun :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 3-7408.jpg

.50 jeep in Gerbeviller :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 5-5162.jpg
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David Lehmann
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#24

Post by David Lehmann » 14 Jul 2004, 15:11

French commandos near Toulon (commando d'Afrique) :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... %20R36.jpg

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 20R147.jpg

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 20R103.jpg

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... %20R96.jpg

French commando with German and US grenades :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... %20R32.jpg

Marseille liberated :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 0-6045.jpg

German POWs in Marseille :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 0-6065.jpg

Captured German battery in Marseille :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 0-6066.jpg

heading for Toulon :

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... -L5949.jpg
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icelord
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#25

Post by icelord » 26 Jul 2004, 11:55

Well, if you really must know, the french forces were most likely to be found under the biggest white flag possible, singing der fuehrer face. :lol:
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David Lehmann
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#26

Post by David Lehmann » 26 Jul 2004, 12:17

Having heard hundreds of such comments from anglo-saxon people, usually from young teens, I am fed up with it and it sounds just like an ignorant brainfart hidden behind a smiley ...

David
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Igor Geiller
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#27

Post by Igor Geiller » 26 Jul 2004, 19:08

Hi David

About this picture

http://www.ecpad.fr/ecpa/include/DrawIm ... 5-5162.jpg

I suppose it is soldiers of the Régiment blindé de fusiliers marins ( Armoured regiment of marines), a unit of the 2e DB.
What do you think about ?
Thanks

Igor
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David Lehmann
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#28

Post by David Lehmann » 26 Jul 2004, 19:27

Hello Igor,

Yes the insignia indicates clearly the 2nd French armored division and the uniforms identify these soldiers as being 'fusiliers-marins' (marine infantry). They must be from the 'Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers Marins' (or RBFM). This unit is a tank destroyer regiment (equipped with M10) but there are also few armored cars and jeeps like the one on the photo.

RBFM insignia :

Image

Commander : Cne de Corvette Maggiar
Commander in 2nd : Cne de Corvette Martinet
1st Squadron : Lt de Vaisseau Pauly (Tank Destroyers M10)
2nd Squadron : Lt de Vaisseau Guillon (Tank Destroyers M10)
3rd Squadron : Lt de Vaisseau Bonnet (Tank Destroyers M10)
4th Squadron : Lt de Vaisseau Richard (Tank Destroyers M10)
Headquarter Squadron (EHR = Escadron Hors Rang) : Lt de Vaisseau Olieu

see here : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/stephane.delogu/orga-2db.html

The 2e DB took part in battles in Normandy, look at the map on this page (click on it to zoom) : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/stephane.delogu/leclerc44.html

and later it liberated Paris before joining the 1st Army who landed in Southern France (after that they fought together in Alsace, Germany and Austria) :

Image

here are the losses for the battle of Paris :

French troops :
130 KIA, 319 WIA, 21 MIA
48 tanks
4 guns

German troops
3200 KIA, 12600 POW
74 tanks
64 guns
350 various vehicles

Regards,

David
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David Lehmann
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#29

Post by David Lehmann » 27 Jul 2004, 00:43

Panther knocked out in Paris :

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/ ... 4436&stc=1

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/ ... 4437&stc=1

Regards,

David
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USA_Finn
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Re: First french army?

#30

Post by USA_Finn » 03 Apr 2005, 04:08

Lindyhopper wrote:I'm trying to find info on the first french army, its OOB and activities during january 1945. Does anybody know any good sites on the internet?
Thanks,
Lindy
On November 22nd, the French 2nd Armor Division was assigned the capture of Strasbourg. The 2nd Bat. of the US 324th Regiment reinforced the tankers to provide the needed infantry combined arms support to the French, led by the charismatic General LeClerc. Tanks without infantry support were easy prey for even weak German defenses. The two joined forces in the vicinity of Rauwiller and boldly moved east without delay.

On November 22nd, the reinforced French 2nd A.D. reached the just captured city of Saverne and the Saverne Gap. The next day, Strausbourg fell. The combined French/Americans were the first to reach the Rhine. A US platoon captured and crossed the bridge into Germany, becoming the first Allied troops to cross the Rhine. The following day, all hell broke loose. The German's demolished the intact bridge over the Rhine. Shelling became intense and German resistance stiffened. The soldiers of the 2nd Bat. were relieved to rejoined the 324th Regiment and continue to the Siegfried Line. The supreme Allied military command decided against exploitation of the just captured Rhine bridgehead. The route into Germany it was decided lay to the north.

The 2nd A.D. was part of the battle order at Nordwind. In the first week of Jaunary, the division served in the Bitch/Rimling area. With the failure of the German nothern pincer, the division transfered to the threatened southern area, around Strausbourg.
Last edited by USA_Finn on 03 Apr 2005, 16:28, edited 1 time in total.
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