TEXT: 1st Free French Brigade 
   
   
                                  May 26, 1942 
  By Greg Moore 
  gregpanzerblitz.com 
  May, 2010 
  x 9 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  2nd 
  Battalion 
  Foreign 
  Legion 
  x 9 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  2nd 
  Colonial 
  Infantry 
  Battalion 
  x 4 
  1st Free 
  French 
  Artillery 
  Regiment 
  x 4 
  x 2 
  1st Free 
  French 
  Anti-Tank 
  Company 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  1st 
  Naval 
  Fusiliers 
  Battalion 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  1st Free 
  French 
  Pioneer 
  Company 
  x 9 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  3rd 
  Battalion 
  Foreign 
  Legion 
  x 9 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  Pacific 
  Battalion 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  Troop, 
  43rd Light 
  Anti-Aircraft 
  Battery 
  French Foreign Legionaries, 
  some of them German and 
  Italian but all loyal to France 
  French colonists from the 
  Pacific colonies, including 
  Tahiti. 
  Colonial infantry with 
  many native Africans. 
  x 3 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  1st 
  Naval 
  Infantry 
  Battalion 
  (-) 
  Naval Infantry battalion, 
  usually tasked with guard-
  ing naval bases but some-
  times used in the field. 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  x 4 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  22nd 
  North 
  Africa 
  Company  
  French Foreign Legionaries, 
  some of them German and 
  Italian but all loyal to France 
  
          The 1st Free French Brigade (reinforced with some elements from the 2nd Free French Brigade) 
  was presented with the challenge of holding the southernmost fortified box, near an old Turkish fort at 
  Bir Hacheim.  The Axis battle plan put the French directly in the path of the assault.  The Italian Ariete 
  Armored Division was supposed to reduce the box in the early going but the first day attack was re-
  pulsed with the loss of 35 tanks.  The tough French, anchored by two battalions of Legionaries, contin-
  ued to take all that the Axis could throw at them, including air attack by Stukas and daily artillery bom-
  bardments.  Ignoring German calls for surrender, they continued to be such a problem for Rommel’s 
  supply lines and schedule that the entire Axis offensive was almost defeated.  With Rommel himself 
  leading some of the assaults, the French refused to yield or crack.  After 15 days, they were finally given 
  permission to retreat as most of the 8th Army, that could, was on the road to El Alamein.  The French 
  finally escaped with about two thirds of their manpower, having caused the loss of 51 tanks and 3300 
  men to the Afrika Korps. 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Panzer Leader & Panzer Blitz/1940-1943 North Africa/Battle of Gazala/1stFreeFrenchBrigadeGazala.pdf