three african soldiers of french colonial artillery distinguished in battle @ bir hackeim. senegal, equatorial africa, , madagascar, respectively
for free french, victory badly needed show allies army of free france not, suggested, bunch of desperados, serious force contribute in battle against reich. free french used battle show world france not decadent nation appeared after catastrophic defeat in 1940. de gaulle used delegitimize cooperation vichy regime. withstand overpowering rommel army enormous achievement koenig , men. british general ian playfair said: lengthened defense of french garrison played major role in re-establishment of british troops in egypt. free french gravely disrupted, beginning, rommel s offensive, resulting on disturbed supply line of afrika korps. growing axis troop concentration in sector, needed subjugate fort, saved british 8th army disaster. delays in offensive caused relentless french resistance increased british chances of success , eased preparation of counter-offensive. on long term, holding rommel allowed british forces escape meticulously planned annihilation. s why can say, without exaggerating, bir hakeim contributed el-alamein defensive success . general claude auchinleck said on june 12, 1942, bir hakim: united nations need filled admiration , gratitude, in respect of these french troops , brave general koenig . winston churchill more terse: “holding fifteen days rommel s offensive, free french of bir hakeim had contributed save egypt , suez canal s destinies”.
even adolf hitler responded journalist lutz koch, coming bir hakim: hear, gentlemen? new evidence have been right! french are, after us, best soldiers! current birthrate, france able mobilize hundred divisions! after war, have find allies able contain country able of military exploits astonish world doing right in bir-hakeim! . rommel himself declared in africa given stiffer fight .
on 6 june, rommel had received orders hitler kill enemy soldiers in battle or shoot them when captured. in hitler s view free french troops group of partisans, rather regular soldiers, hosted political refugees germany. rommel supposedly burnt order: regardless, never followed , took free french soldiers regular pows.
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