Definition of Free France

When France capitulated to Germany on June 25, 1940, at the same time what would be called "Free France" was brewing in England, a A parallel state to that of Vichy, led by Charles de Gaulle, who would fight alongside the Allies and succeed in placing the Gallic country on the side of the victors.

Free France was a politico-military organization declared heir to German-occupied France, which aligned itself with the allies during World War II, participating in various military actions, among which the most notorious was the liberation of Paris.

Before the French capitulation to the German troops, the Dunkirk rescue operation had already made it possible to save a large number of contingent of Gallic troops, despite the fact that the priority of the operation was to evacuate British troops (the operation itself was carried out by the British).

Over several days, and normally across the Brittany peninsula, other French troops would reach the English shores, presumably some hoping to start a counterattack that would allow them to regain their country, others to be able to get a few days of rest in order to catch their breath and continue the war more go ahead.

With the signing of the capitulation, some French commanders do not agree with the decision. This is the case of Charles de Gaulle, a brilliant tank commander, who spoke out publicly in favor of resisting and counterattacking the Germans alongside Great Britain.

In a famous speech broadcast by the BBC, de Gaulle addresses all of his compatriots, including the soldiers who have managed to reach England, as well as his fellow citizens who, from now on, will live under the German yoke, urging them to to resist.

With the establishment of government de Vichy, de Gaulle's speech does not have as much echo as the future ruler of France after the war would have desired, but still, this "other France" is capable of forming diverse units of combatants ready for the effort of war.

The military apparatus of Free France is divided between the Free French Forces (FFL) and the resistance, the latter acting in the form of guerrillas in the interior of the country.

The FFL thrives on soldiers so much that they are evacuated to territory from the British Isles, as from the colonial garrisons that disobey Vichy orders and side with de Gaulle.

The endurance will go on to swell, as of June 1944 after the Normandy landing, the so-called French Forces of the Interior (FFI), an irregular army with regular army modes, to swell the whole of the French army free.

Free France was conceived by de Gaulle from the beginning as a temporary organization.

Its "expiration date" should be the liberation of France and, therefore, the return to normality, something that was explicitly declared by the general.

De Gaulle also needed to publicly dissociate himself from the British government, so that the organization he had created would not be identified with a initiative British, which is precisely what Vichy had led to believe, exploiting the old rivalry between the two countries.

The first objective of Free France was to avoid, as far as possible, that the French colonial empire fell into the hands of Vichy France, to do so in their own.

The country still had a vast colonial empire, which could provide it with great resources.

It should be noted at this point that Vichy France was not at war with Germany or other allied countries, although at the beginning of July 1940, and after the signing of the armistice, the fleet Atlantic Gala (in the hands of Vichy) was bombed and practically destroyed by the British Royal Navy at the battle of Mers el-Kebir, to prevent this fleet from falling into the hands of Germanic.

The British attack "heated" relations between the Churchill and Pétain governments to the point of break them, but the Vichy marshal and head of government declined to strike back with a declaration of war and a reprisal.

On his side, de Gaulle justified the attack and approved of it, although it is probable that he did it a posteriori, without having known British intentions a priori.

The Pacific islands and settlements in India were the first French colonies to join the Free France, to be followed by Chad and Equatorial Africa (the latter after a military attack by the FFL).

The blows of the hand spread through the French possessions in Africa that, little by little, were swinging from the hands of Vichy to those of Free France. This last entity will declare the laws and provisions of the Petainist government illegal, totally breaking with it and with the France that exercises it. satelite From the axis.

The next significant territory to fall to Free France's side were the Gallic possessions in North Africa, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, in November 1942.

In the framework of Operation Torch (torch, in English), the combined Anglo-American forces landed in Casablanca, Oran and Algiers.

Initially these allied forces were met with resistance, but finally Eisenhower (supreme commander of the Allied operation) managed to convince Admiral François Darlan (in command of the Vichy forces) that it was better to change side.

North Africa had fallen into the hands of the Allies, without much intervention of Free France, although this would have its moment of glory in what was already the last step to complete the liberation of France: the assault on the European Gallic territory.

The main task of Free France in the face of D-Day (the Normandy landings) were intelligence and sabotage tasks carried out by the resistance in the interior.

The FFL also took part in amphibious operations, as well as in naval airships, although the number of its troops and resources was much lower than that of its Anglo-American allies. During the Battle of Normandy, the FFL fought bravely.

The liberation of Paris will possibly be the most brilliant moment of Free France.

The allied commanders wanted to bypass Paris to attack Germany, taking advantage of its speed and taking off the responsibility of having to feed a city of such size. De Gaulle will not allow it.

With an internal revolt of the resistance and the Germans in disarray, the Free French Forces entered Paris without difficulty. Curiously, the first mechanized units that arrive at the central points do not transport French soldiers, but rather Republican Spanish veterans of the War. Civil.

Free France will continue its attack through Germany along with the rest of the allied forces, and after the war, and thanks to de Gaulle's expertise, will sit at the table of the victors to impose their surrender conditions on Germany, becoming together with the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, one of the four occupying powers of postwar period.

As de Gaulle had openly declared, the end of the contest also marks the end of the existence of Free France, which becomes "normalized" and returns to the state before the invasion German.

Photos: Fotolia - Paul Daniels / 20ast

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