Good morning, I've probably posted this to the wrong thread but could anybody help with the following query. I'm asking on behalf of somebody that posted the question on the Facebook page Scotland and the Spanish Civil War. Many thanks in advance. His query was:- At the start of the Second World War my father was called up and served in the BEF in France. While there, he came across a body of men in the French Army (sorry - I don't know the numbers, but it must have been at least a company) that looked very different from French soldiers - neatly turned out, clean-shaven and disciplined. They had all fought in the Spanish War before crossing the border and joining up as a unit. Does anyone know what happened to such French Army soldiers? Would they have been deported to Francoist Spain to meet goodness knows what fate, or sent to concentration camps as political prisoners? Did any ever survive the Second World War? Cheers - Maria
Good morning, I've probably posted this to the wrong thread but could anybody help with the following query. I'm asking on behalf of somebody that posted the question on the Facebook page Scotland and the Spanish Civil War. Many thanks in advance. His query was:- At the start of the Second World War my father was called up and served in the BEF in France. While there, he came across a body of men in the French Army (sorry - I don't know the numbers, but it must have been at least a company) that looked very different from French soldiers - neatly turned out, clean-shaven and disciplined. They had all fought in the Spanish War before crossing the border and joining up as a unit. Does anyone know what happened to such French Army soldiers? Would they have been deported to Francoist Spain to meet goodness knows what fate, or sent to concentration camps as political prisoners? Did any ever survive the Second World War? Cheers - Maria Yes I think I may know a possible answer. These men may be Spanish republicans who were interned in France after escaping over the Pyrenees. They were offered the option of joining the French Foreign Legion to fight against the Germans. Even after the fall of France, others joined as the French foreign legion was a better alternative to repatriation to the tender mercies of Franco. There were enough of them for the Spanish Republicans to be prominent in the Liberation of Paris in 1944. Régiment de marche du Tchad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia There is some bitterness ion France among the historically minded of its African population that no African troops were included in Leclerc's armoured division which had a starring role in the liberation while the North Africans and the Senegalese fought in the less glamorous Italian and Southern France campaigns.
Moved post to it's own thread as it doesnt really belong in the '1940 book' thread. If members dont know how to start a new one please look at this thread in the 'Network Info' section of the forum. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/network-information/26726-how-start-thread.html Spaniards in French Service During WW2 | Balagan France 1940 - French Army, Foreign Legion, and Labour Battalions The French took between 5,000 and 8,000 Republicans into the French Foreign Legion and 10,000 went to the Infantry. In addition 55,000 Republicans were drafted into labour battalions, and at least some of these saw combat during the Fall of France (1940); English officers saw one Spanish labour battalion attack the advancing Germans with weapons seized from a fleeing French unit. also Axis History Forum • France arming Spanish Republicans 1939/1940 Axis History Forum • Germans fighting Spaniards, France 1940
Thanks Owen for shifting thread. Not had enough caffeine this morning!! Sheldrake, I really appreciate the information. I shall pass this on to him. Many thanks for the help.
Just came across this under the title: Summary: Only a short explanation and some film footage:LIBRE Magazine - 03 - EN
