Légion impériale

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Légion impériale
Symbol of the Phalange Africaine
Active	November 1942 – May 1943
Country	Vichy France
Type	c.400-450
Size	Battalion
Part of	754th Panzergrenadier Regiment
Nickname(s)	Französische Freiwilligen Legion or Compagnie Frankonia
Engagements	World War II Tunisian Campaign

Military unit

The Légion impériale was a military unit created by the Vichy French government in November 1942, with the support of Nazi Ambassador Otto Abetz, to oppose the Allies, who had invaded North Africa in order to drive the Axis out. In April 1943 it was renamed Légion des Volontaires Français de Tunisie (Legion of French Volunteers of Tunisia), and it went into captivity upon the Axis surrender in Africa in May.

Organization

They were only able to raise a single weak battalion for the Legion, called the Phalange Africaine (African phalanx). It consisted of 400-450 men, about 2/3 French and 1/3 Algerians.^{[citation needed]}

The volunteer unit was formed to fight alongside the retreating Axis troops.^[1]

Commanding officers

The battalion was commanded by Colonel Simon Petru Cristofini.

Operational history

In the spring of 1943 it fought along with the remnants of the German 334th Infantry Division.

References

^ Gordon, Bertram M. (1980). Collaborationism in France during the Second World War. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. p. 102. ISBN 0801412633.