The Alsace-Lorraine Independent Brigade (French: Brigade indépendente Alsace-Lorraine, or BIAL), usually known as the Alsace-Lorraine Brigade or sometimes as the Brigade Malraux, was a French Forces of the Interior (FFI) unit that fought alongside regular French Army forces in World War II during the closing months of 1944 and early 1945.
Formed in September 1944 by André Malraux,[1] the brigade comprised approximately 1,000 men[2] organized into three battalions named for the cities of Metz, Mulhouse, and Strasbourg. Malraux's achievement in organizing this brigade was noteworthy in that few brigade-sized units of FFI men were organized at all, and his was one of the brigades that retained the longest an organization independent from that of the French regular army. Although the men of the brigade were highly motivated, many were not military veterans and the unit was equipped with a mixture of Allied and German weapons and material.
Despite these disadvantages, the brigade compiled a good combat record. Not assigned permanently to a division, the brigade was part of the army reserve of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's French First Army, and as such, was assigned as a reinforcement unit to various regular French divisions. From 26 September to 16 October 1944, the brigade fought in the vicinity of Thillot, east of Mulhouse.[3] In November 26-27, 1944, the brigade fought with the French 5th Armored Division to liberate the town of Dannemarie in the Vosges Mountains. Subsequently, Malraux personally led the brigade's assault on the nearby town of Ballersdorf.[4]
In January 1945, the brigade took part in the defense of Strasbourg during the German Nordwind offensive. During this action, 140 men of the brigade were encircled for three days from January 8-10 in Gerstheim, south of Strasbourg. On the afternoon of January 10, the Gerstheim garrison was assaulted by 10 Tiger tanks and two infantrycompanies, forcing the garrison to withdraw during the night after losing 40 men.[5] On February 27, 1945, the troops of the brigade were directed to enter regular service as part of the French 14th Infantry Division. On March 22, the brigade left the lines of the French 9th Colonial Division to form the 3rd Demi-Brigade of Chasseurs, ending the independent history of the Brigade Alsace-Lorraine.
Staff and organizationedit
André Malraux as commander of the Alsace-Lorraine Brigade, Winter 1944-45.Flash of the Brigade Alsace-Lorraine
alsace, lorraine, independent, brigade, france, alsace, lorraine, independent, brigade, french, brigade, indépendente, alsace, lorraine, bial, usually, known, alsace, lorraine, brigade, sometimes, brigade, malraux, french, forces, interior, unit, that, fought,. The Alsace Lorraine Independent Brigade French Brigade independente Alsace Lorraine or BIAL usually known as the Alsace Lorraine Brigade or sometimes as the Brigade Malraux was a French Forces of the Interior FFI unit that fought alongside regular French Army forces in World War II during the closing months of 1944 and early 1945 Brigade Alsace LorraineInsignia of the Brigade Alsace LorraineActiveSep 1944 Mar 1945CountryFranceAllegianceFFITypeLight InfantryNickname s Brigade MalrauxEngagementsVosges 1944Strasbourg 1945CommandersNotablecommandersAndre Malraux Contents 1 History 2 Staff and organization 3 Films 4 Bibliography 5 NotesHistory editFormed in September 1944 by Andre Malraux 1 the brigade comprised approximately 1 000 men 2 organized into three battalions named for the cities of Metz Mulhouse and Strasbourg Malraux s achievement in organizing this brigade was noteworthy in that few brigade sized units of FFI men were organized at all and his was one of the brigades that retained the longest an organization independent from that of the French regular army Although the men of the brigade were highly motivated many were not military veterans and the unit was equipped with a mixture of Allied and German weapons and material Despite these disadvantages the brigade compiled a good combat record Not assigned permanently to a division the brigade was part of the army reserve of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny s French First Army and as such was assigned as a reinforcement unit to various regular French divisions From 26 September to 16 October 1944 the brigade fought in the vicinity of Thillot east of Mulhouse 3 In November 26 27 1944 the brigade fought with the French 5th Armored Division to liberate the town of Dannemarie in the Vosges Mountains Subsequently Malraux personally led the brigade s assault on the nearby town of Ballersdorf 4 In January 1945 the brigade took part in the defense of Strasbourg during the German Nordwind offensive During this action 140 men of the brigade were encircled for three days from January 8 10 in Gerstheim south of Strasbourg On the afternoon of January 10 the Gerstheim garrison was assaulted by 10 Tiger tanks and two infantry companies forcing the garrison to withdraw during the night after losing 40 men 5 On February 27 1945 the troops of the brigade were directed to enter regular service as part of the French 14th Infantry Division On March 22 the brigade left the lines of the French 9th Colonial Division to form the 3rd Demi Brigade of Chasseurs ending the independent history of the Brigade Alsace Lorraine Staff and organization edit nbsp Andre Malraux as commander of the Alsace Lorraine Brigade Winter 1944 45 nbsp Flash of the Brigade Alsace LorraineCommander Colonel Andre Malraux Deputy commander Lieutenant colonel Pierre Elie Jacquot Chief of Staff Commandant Brandstetter Chaplain Abbe Pierre BockelThe Metz Battalion was made up of resistance fighters from Aquitaine Gers Haute Garonne Hautes Pyrenees Landes Lot Pyrenees Atlantiques and Tarn et Garonne Not included in the integration of the brigade with the 9th Colonial Division the Metz Battalion was not disbanded until May 28 1947 6 Commander Pleis Iena Company Captain Argence Kleber Company Captain Linder Ney Company Captain Bijon Rapp Company Captain Edmond FischerThe Mulhouse Battalion was made up of resistance fighters from Savoie and from Haute Savoie Commander Dopff Vieil Armand Company Captain Francois Lehn Donon Company Captain Schuhmacher Belfort Company Commandant DufayThe Strasbourg Battalion was made up of resistance fighters from Dordogne Commander Antoine Diener Ancel Verdun Company Captain Figueres Valmy Company Captain Gandouin Bark Company Captain Gossot Bir Hakeim Century and Ruffel Kinder Task Force Films editLes Liberations de l Alsace 1944 1945 film by Monique Seemann and Bertrand Gautier 52 min Ed Seppia Strasbourg La Liberte en retour histoire de la brigade Alsace Lorraine film by Monique Seemann and Arnaud Gobin 52 min Carmin Films Strasbourg 2000 Bibliography editMercadet Leon La Brigade Alsace Lorraine Paris Bernard Grasset 1984 ISBN 2 246 30811 9 Notes edit Michalon Roget ed Les Grandes Unites francaises 6 Paris Imprimerie nationale 1980 p 568 Michalon p 569 Strength valid as of 27 November 1944 Michalon p 569 Ordre de la Liberation website Archived from the original on 2011 05 16 Retrieved 2008 05 12 Rollot Bernard ed Les Grandes Unites francaises 4 Paris Imprimerie nationale 1975 p 105 Michalon p 569 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alsace Lorraine Independent Brigade France amp oldid 1008667551, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
