Free french - how many of them?

[Rodion Romanovich]

Thank you, very interesting read

[Brenus]

“What I have never figured out completely is why General Charles De Gaulle came out on top in the French Political Arena”; He was a better politician. He had a good reputation as military thinker with his book (vers l’armee de metier, 1934; towards professional army) where he developed the theory of the necessity of Armoured Units, combining fire power and speed which needed the creation of a professional army aside of conscription for the use of tanks (like Guderian and Liddle Hart, for ex).

He got credit (over estimated, in my opinion) for the battle of Montcornet when, as Colonel commander of the 4th Cuirassier de Reserve, he countered attack the exposed German left flank, his objectives are the villages of Montcornet and Lislet with their bridges over the Serre and Hurtaut Rivers. The objective was to sever Guderian's supply lines, but the lack of aerial cover doomed the movement. There was more success on May 28, when de Gaulle's tanks forced the German armour to retreat at Caumont. So he got the reputation to be the first and only French commanding officer to force the Germans to retreat during the invasion of France (which is, by the way, not true: The battle of Gambloux (12-16 May 1940) which opposed the units of the 1st French Army (Gal Blanchard) to the units of Panzer Divisions (3 et 4) of the XVI Panzer Korps (Gal Hoeppner) was a real victory.)
However, as it was one of the few if not victories but not compleat disaster of the French army in 1940 and done by tanks against tanks, De Gaulle got a huge prestige.
But I agree Leclerc, Juin and De Lattre de Tassigny were better commanders. However De Gaulle had (I have to concede) a political genius to go against his class interest, to over pass his prejudices for the best of France. Member of the French Nobility, he will allied with the Communists, the Socialists, the extreme Right, the Republicans, and even better, will convinced them to fight under his authority... Much more complicated, if you want my opinion.
He was also the only French General who had a political experience, as sous secretaire du Ministere de la Guerre of Reynaud.
Against all odds he succeeded to create the illusion he was France. Roosevelt didn’t like him, Churchill had a lot of difficulties with him, even the French Resistance movements doubted.

The fact is that until June 1941 and consequence of Barbarossa, the involvement of the Communist Party in the French resistance he was the unique representative of the French will to carry on the battle.

[Redleg]

Thanks - that explains his raise to the top a little better for me.

[Tribesman]

http://worldatwar.net/timeline/france/empire40-45.html
A useful timeline of French happenings .

[lars573]

Another fun fact about DeGalle is that Roosevelt hated him and wanted him nowhere near the leadership of the free French forces. Problem was most free French forces followed him an wouldn't accept the other French generals that Roosevelt tried to put up as leaders.

I had many crosses to bear during the war, but the cross of Lorraine was heaviest of all

Love this one.

[Brenus]

Another one: De Gaulle said:” I shout when I am right, Churchill does when he is wrong, we often yield to each other” (approximative translation)

“Problem was most free French forces followed him an wouldn't accept the other French generals that Roosevelt tried to put up as leaders.” Yeap, he tried with Giraud, and Darlan. Giraud was stupid and didn’t match De Gaulle political cunning, and Darlan was assassinated by French Resistance (well, with good reasons, I have to say…).