The French Army 1939–45 (2)

The Battle of France in May-June 1940 resulted in the French Army being outthought, outmanoeuvered and crushed. Despite being the most powerful land army in the world with huge reserves of manpower and some of the world's most modern and powerful tanks the French Army had lacked the flexibility to withstand the hammer-blows of the German Blitzkrieg. Those few thousand troops who were successfully evacuated supplemented by those individuals who managed to flee occupied territory began the task of rebuilding France's military might and pride under the inspirational leadership of de Gaulle. Many of those in occupied or Vichy territory refused to cooperate and began to fight back in their own way within the ranks of the Resistance. As the tide slowly turned re-equipped Free French Troops joined the fight combining with former Vichy units to fight in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and taking part in the liberation of France itself before helping to crush Nazy Germany. This second volume details the uniforms and equipment of the Free French forces which fought alongside the Allies to defeat Germany and liberate Western Europe.

About the Author
Ian Sumner and Francois Vauvillier have both made a lifetime study of this subject and have combined to produce the definitive study of the French Army during the Second World War. Francois Vauvillier is Group Editor of Histoire & Collections and lives and works in Paris. This is his first book. Ian Sumner is the author of MAA 286 The French Army 1914-18. Mike Chappell spent 22 years in infantry soldiering before become a full time military illustrator. His work is popular world-wide and he has written and illustrated several books, including Men-at-Arms 300 French Foreign Legion since 1945. He is particulary skilled in illustrating 20th century subjects.