The Tricolour Legion (French: Légion Tricolore), which existed almost entirely on paper between 22 June 1942 and 28 December 1942, was an initiative of the Vichy government under the auspices of Pierre Laval and his Secretary of State Jacques Benoist-Méchin to politically and militarily co-opt the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism (Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchevisme (LVF)), created on 8 July 1941. The latter in effect had the status of a private legal group under the exclusive control of French collaborationists, and its combat wing was integrated into the German Army as Infanterie Regiment 638.
Making of the LVF a French force that could fight for France, according to goals set by France. But the fighters of the LVF served on the Eastern Front as the German 638th infantry regiment, which made it impossible to recruit soldiers of the Armistice Army, who were forbidden to serve in a foreign uniform.
Making of the LVF a political instrument of the government.
The LVF was torn by collaborationist political parties who fought one another to put themselves at the head of it. Its management was deplorable, embezzlement was frequent, and the tentacles of its bureaucracy were comfortably ensconced in Paris while its troops were massacred at the front.
The Tricolor Legion therefore should allow:
Tearing the LVF away from its political infighting;
Creating a French force with French goals (notably intervention in North Africa);
Recruiting the soldiers of the Armistice Army;
Intensifying collaboration with the Germans.
Card with oath of the legionnaire – 1941
Failure to establish the Tricolore Legionedit
The Legion failed largely because the French officials assumed that the Germans would approve. The Germans on the other hand had no desire to set up such a force, which could be turned against them if by chance the situation came to allow it, such as in the event of an alliance of the Vichy government with the Allies.
A delegate of the armistice commission investigated and the Germans required the French State to dissolve the Tricolore Legion that they were not recognizing, and Hitler banned the group on 17 September 1942. French law number 1113 of 28 December 1942 (Journal officiel du 17 janvier 1943) dissolved the unit.
Consequencesedit
With the Legion dissolved, a good number of its members who did not belong to the Armistice Army rejoined the LVF;
The LVF gained some candidates from the Légion tricolore;
The collaborationist parties who had feared the Legion co-opting the LVF were strengthened;
For the Vichy government, it was a burning failure.
Aftermathedit
In North Africa, in Algiers after the Allied debarkment, the creation of a local Tricolore Legion was suggested, under the command of general Giraud. This project ran into strong local opposition. Volunteers were however recruited to form the French Corps d'Afrique, to fight alongside the Americans.
Bibliographyedit
De la LVF à la division SS Charlemagne, les Français sous uniforme allemand (From the LVF to the Charlemagne Division: The French in German Uniform) - 27 May 2004 - Agence France Presse.
Volontaires français sous l'uniforme allemand (French Volunteers in German Uniform) - Pierre Giolitto
Durand, Romain (1999). De Giraud à de Gaulle: Les corps Francs d'Afrique [Giraud to de Gaulle: the French Corps of Africa] (in French). Paris: L'Harmattan. p. 596. ISBN2-7384-7485-3.
January 06, 2024
tricolour, legion, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2022, learn, when, re. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tricolour Legion news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Tricolour Legion French Legion Tricolore which existed almost entirely on paper between 22 June 1942 and 28 December 1942 was an initiative of the Vichy government under the auspices of Pierre Laval and his Secretary of State Jacques Benoist Mechin to politically and militarily co opt the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism Legion des volontaires francais contre le bolchevisme LVF created on 8 July 1941 The latter in effect had the status of a private legal group under the exclusive control of French collaborationists and its combat wing was integrated into the German Army as Infanterie Regiment 638 Contents 1 Goals of the Tricolore Legion 2 Failure to establish the Tricolore Legion 3 Consequences 4 Aftermath 5 BibliographyGoals of the Tricolore Legion editMaking of the LVF a French force that could fight for France according to goals set by France But the fighters of the LVF served on the Eastern Front as the German 638th infantry regiment which made it impossible to recruit soldiers of the Armistice Army who were forbidden to serve in a foreign uniform Making of the LVF a political instrument of the government The LVF was torn by collaborationist political parties who fought one another to put themselves at the head of it Its management was deplorable embezzlement was frequent and the tentacles of its bureaucracy were comfortably ensconced in Paris while its troops were massacred at the front The Tricolor Legion therefore should allow Tearing the LVF away from its political infighting Creating a French force with French goals notably intervention in North Africa Recruiting the soldiers of the Armistice Army Intensifying collaboration with the Germans nbsp Card with oath of the legionnaire 1941Failure to establish the Tricolore Legion editThe Legion failed largely because the French officials assumed that the Germans would approve The Germans on the other hand had no desire to set up such a force which could be turned against them if by chance the situation came to allow it such as in the event of an alliance of the Vichy government with the Allies A delegate of the armistice commission investigated and the Germans required the French State to dissolve the Tricolore Legion that they were not recognizing and Hitler banned the group on 17 September 1942 French law number 1113 of 28 December 1942 Journal officiel du 17 janvier 1943 dissolved the unit Consequences editWith the Legion dissolved a good number of its members who did not belong to the Armistice Army rejoined the LVF The LVF gained some candidates from the Legion tricolore The collaborationist parties who had feared the Legion co opting the LVF were strengthened For the Vichy government it was a burning failure Aftermath editIn North Africa in Algiers after the Allied debarkment the creation of a local Tricolore Legion was suggested under the command of general Giraud This project ran into strong local opposition Volunteers were however recruited to form the French Corps d Afrique to fight alongside the Americans Bibliography editDe la LVF a la division SS Charlemagne les Francais sous uniforme allemand From the LVF to the Charlemagne Division The French in German Uniform 27 May 2004 Agence France Presse Volontaires francais sous l uniforme allemand French Volunteers in German Uniform Pierre Giolitto Durand Romain 1999 De Giraud a de Gaulle Les corps Francs d Afrique Giraud to de Gaulle the French Corps of Africa in French Paris L Harmattan p 596 ISBN 2 7384 7485 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tricolour Legion amp oldid 1135635473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
