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French commandos?


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I was just reading my latest National Geographic. They have a nice feature on D-Day.

I read a paragraph that surprised me. It stated that French commandos landed prior to the commonwealth landings (Brits, Canucks . . .).

Now I don't know much about D-Day, but that's the first I've heard of THAT. (And that's ALL I've learnt about that as the topic was comprised of that ONE sentence.) smile.gif

Can anyone tell me more about that? Was it just a small raiding party? Was it a relatively unexciting engagement, thus no press? Have I just never heard of it and I'm about to be smacked?

Sounds like the makings of a scenario . . . no?

Thanks,

KFS

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The commando "Kieffer" landed the 6th June on Sword beach (Troops 1 and 8 of the N°4 Commando = 177 men). Their mission was to clear and secure the beach sector. There was a strong fight at Ouistreham in the casino sector. At the end of the day, 41 men were kia or wounded... In the movie "The longest day", there is quite a good battle scene about the french commandos.

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The Brits did train and equip these special forces Frenchies. They are better simulated with British paras than with the usual CMBO French squads, which reflect the general US arming program which originated in the re-equipping of French forces in North Africa. There were even Free French units of the SAS, who were used on seperate missions. Not on D-Day, but in support of the south of France operation. E.g. seizing bridges ahead of columns, coordinating actions of the French Forces of the Interior (partisans).

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