Original French WWII Era Vichy Legion Francaise des Combattants LFC Grouping With Free France Flag and Harki Flag Patch – 3 Items Original Items

Original Items: Only One Lot Available. Vichy France, officially the French State, was the French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. It was named after its seat of government, the city of Vichy. Officially independent, but with half of its territory occupied under the harsh terms of the 1940 armistice with NSDAP Germany, it adopted a policy of collaboration. Though Paris was nominally its capital, the government established itself in the resort town of Vichy in the unoccupied “free zone” (zone libre), where it remained responsible for the civil administration of France as well as its colonies. The occupation of France by NSDAP Germany at first affected only the northern and western portions of the country, but in November 1942 the Germans and Italians occupied the remainder of Metropolitan France, ending any pretense of independence by the Vichy government.

The Items In This Lot:
– Légion Française des Combattants LFC Beret With Patch: The French Legion of Veterans (French: Légion française des combattants, or LFC) was an organization established consolidate pre-war associations of war veterans in Vichy France and Vichy’s colonial territories.

The beret does show wear to both the beret and the patch but is otherwise presented in good condition. The patch is and embroidered example which was hand sewn onto the beret itself. There are no markings visible.

– 19” x 16” Free France Flag: Free France was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general Charles de Gaulle, Free France was established as a government-in-exile in London in June 1940 after the Fall of France during World War II and fought the Axis as an Allied nation with its Free French Forces. Free France also supported the resistance in NSDAP-occupied France, known as the French Forces of the Interior, and gained strategic footholds in several French colonies in Africa.

The flag measures approximately 19” x 16” and is of a 3 piece construction. The flag, although now faded, is identical to the flag of France with the only difference being the use of the Cross of Lorraine hand drawn in the center.

– Post War 3” x 3 ½” Harki Flag Patch: The patch is in wonderful condition and is embroidered. The flag appears as the flag of France with Fatima’s hand (Hamsa) in the center. The hamsa is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings. Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the hamsa has been traditionally believed to provide defense against the evil eye.

Harki is the generic term for native Muslim Algerians who served as auxiliaries in the French Army during the Algerian War from 1954 to 1962. The word sometimes applies to all Algerian Muslims (thus including civilians) who supported French Algeria during the war. The motives for enlisting were mixed. They are regarded as traitors in independent Algeria and thousands were killed after the war in reprisals despite the Évian Accords ceasefire and amnesty stipulations.

All items are in wonderful condition and come more than ready for further research and display.