Alsace-Lorraine Brigade (France)
Encyclopedia
The Alsace-Lorraine Independent Brigade (French: brigade indépendente Alsace-Lorraine, BIAL), usually known as the Alsace-Lorraine Brigade or sometimes as the brigade Malraux, was a French Forces of the Interior
(FFI) unit that fought alongside regular French Army
forces in World War II
during the closing months of 1944 and early 1945.
, the brigade comprised approximately 2,000 men organized into three battalions named for the cities of Metz
, Mulhouse
, and Strasbourg
. Malraux's achievement in organizing this brigade was noteworthy in that few brigade-sized units of FFI men were organized at all, and his brigade was one of the longest to retain an organization independent from that of the French regular army. Although the men of the brigade were very motivated, many were not military veterans and the unit was equipped with a mixture of Allied and German weapons and material.
Despite these disadvantages, the brigade compiled a good combat record. Not assigned permanently to a division, the brigade was part of the army reserve of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
's French First Army
, and as such, was assigned as a reinforcement unit to various regular French divisions. During November 26–27, 1944, the brigade fought with the French 5th Armored Division to liberate the town of Dannemarie in the Vosges Mountains
. Subsequently, Malraux personally led the brigade's assault on the town of Ballersdorf.
In January 1945, the brigade took part in the defense of Strasbourg
during the German Nordwind
offensive. During this action, 140 men of the brigade were encircled for three days from January 8–10 in Gerstheim, south of Strasbourg. On the afternoon of January 10, the Gerstheim garrison was assaulted by 10 Tiger tanks
and two companies of infantry, forcing the garrison to withdraw during the night after losing 40 men. On February 27, 1945, the troops of the brigade were directed to enter regular service as part of the French 14th Infantry Division. On March 22, the brigade departed the lines of the French 9th Colonial Division to form the 3rd Demi-Brigade of Chasseurs, ending the independent history of the brigade Alsace-Lorraine.
Bataillon « Metz », formed from resistance fighters from Aquitaine (Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Landes, Lot, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Tarn and Garonne).
Commander : Pleis
Bataillon « Mulhouse » formed from resistance fighters from Savoie and from Haute-Savoie.
Commander : Dopff
Bataillon « Strasbourg » formed from resistance fighters from Dordogne.
Commander : Antoine Diener-Ancel
French Forces of the Interior
The French Forces of the Interior refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation...
(FFI) unit that fought alongside regular French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during the closing months of 1944 and early 1945.
History
Formed in September 1944 by André MalrauxAndré Malraux
André Malraux DSO was a French adventurer, award-winning author, and statesman. Having traveled extensively in Indochina and China, Malraux was noted especially for his novel entitled La Condition Humaine , which won the Prix Goncourt...
, the brigade comprised approximately 2,000 men organized into three battalions named for the cities of Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, Mulhouse
Mulhouse
Mulhouse |mill]] hamlet) is a city and commune in eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. With a population of 110,514 and 278,206 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2006, it is the largest city in the Haut-Rhin département, and the second largest in the Alsace region after...
, and Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. Malraux's achievement in organizing this brigade was noteworthy in that few brigade-sized units of FFI men were organized at all, and his brigade was one of the longest to retain an organization independent from that of the French regular army. Although the men of the brigade were very motivated, many were not military veterans and the unit was equipped with a mixture of Allied and German weapons and material.
Despite these disadvantages, the brigade compiled a good combat record. Not assigned permanently to a division, the brigade was part of the army reserve of General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, GCB, MC was a French military hero of World War II and commander in the First Indochina War.-Early life:...
's French First Army
French First Army
The First Army was a field army of France that fought during World War I and World War II. It was also active during the Cold War.-First World War:...
, and as such, was assigned as a reinforcement unit to various regular French divisions. During November 26–27, 1944, the brigade fought with the French 5th Armored Division to liberate the town of Dannemarie in the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
. Subsequently, Malraux personally led the brigade's assault on the town of Ballersdorf.
In January 1945, the brigade took part in the defense of Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
during the German Nordwind
Operation Nordwind
Operation North Wind was the last major German offensive of World War II on the Western Front. It began on 1 January 1945 in Alsace and Lorraine in northeastern France, and it ended on 25 January.-Objectives:...
offensive. During this action, 140 men of the brigade were encircled for three days from January 8–10 in Gerstheim, south of Strasbourg. On the afternoon of January 10, the Gerstheim garrison was assaulted by 10 Tiger tanks
Tiger tank
Tiger tank may refer to:*Tiger I, or Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, a German heavy tank produced from 1942-1944*Tiger II, or Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, a German heavy tank produced from 1943-1945, also known as Königstiger, King Tiger or Royal Tiger...
and two companies of infantry, forcing the garrison to withdraw during the night after losing 40 men. On February 27, 1945, the troops of the brigade were directed to enter regular service as part of the French 14th Infantry Division. On March 22, the brigade departed the lines of the French 9th Colonial Division to form the 3rd Demi-Brigade of Chasseurs, ending the independent history of the brigade Alsace-Lorraine.
Staff and Organization
- Commander : Colonel André Malraux
- Deputy commander : Lieutenant-colonel Pierre-Elie Jacquot
- Chief of Staff : Commandant Brandstetter
- Chaplain : Abbé Pierre Bockel
Bataillon « Metz », formed from resistance fighters from Aquitaine (Gers, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Landes, Lot, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Tarn and Garonne).
Commander : Pleis
- Compagnie Iéna : Capitaine Argence
- Compagnie Kléber : Capitaine Linder
- Compagnie Ney : Capitaine Bijon
- Compagnie Rapp : Capitaine Edmond Fischer
Bataillon « Mulhouse » formed from resistance fighters from Savoie and from Haute-Savoie.
Commander : Dopff
- Compagnie Vieil-Armand : Capitaine François Lehn
- Compagnie Donon : Capitaine Schuhmacher
- Compagnie Belfort : Commandant Dufay
Bataillon « Strasbourg » formed from resistance fighters from Dordogne.
Commander : Antoine Diener-Ancel
- Compagnie Verdun : Capitaine Figuères
- Compagnie Valmy : Capitaine Gandouin
- Compagnie Bark : Capitaine Gossot (Century Bir-Hakeim and Task Force Ruffel-Kinder)
Films
- Les Libérations de l’Alsace, 1944-1945, film by Monique Seemann and Bertrand Gautier, 52 min., Éd. Seppia, Strasbourg.
- La Liberté en retour : histoire de la brigade Alsace-Lorraine, film by Monique Seemann and Arnaud Gobin, 52 min., Carmin Films, Strasbourg, 2000.