Originaire du comté de Wayne, dans le Michigan, il est né à Detroit le14 janvier 1924.

Il est le fils de Maurice Isaac Bale (1900-1965) et Edith Mary Pearlman (1901-1989). Il est surnommé « Little Jœ », contrairement à un autre membre de sa famille qui porte le même prénom et qui est lui surnommé « Big Jœ ». Joseph L. Bale (célèbre dans le comté pour ses aptitudes sportives, et apparaissant régulièrement en tête d’équipe lors des championnats de baseball, de cross-country et de basketball).

Joseph L. Bale prépare son entrée au Michigan State College, lorsqu’éclate la deuxième guerre mondiale. Il est alors enrôlé dans l’armée américaine et rejoint les effectifs de la 3^rd Infrantry Division, où il effectue sa formation initiale.

 Après ses classes, Le Private First Class (Pfc.) Joseph Louis Bale III, numéro de matricule 16105122, est affecté à l’Etat-major du second bataillon (Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion) du 7th Infantry Regiment de la 3rd Infantry Division, de la Seventh U.S. Army. Le surnom donné aux soldats du 7th Infantry est “Cottonbalers” et leur devise « Volens et Potens » qui veut dire « Volonté et capacité » (Willing and Able).

Joseph participe aux débarquements d’Anzio en Italie et celui de Provence en France. Il effectue la longue remontée, des troupes alliées du sud de la France vers l’Alsace. Il est blessé à trois reprises au cours de son service actif et réintègre à chaque fois son unité à l’issue de ses convalescences successives.

Au moment du déclenchement de l’opération « Krautbuster » c’est à dire le franchissement du canal de Colmar, puis la prise des localités de Wihr-en-Plaine et de Horbourg ; Le Pfc. Joseph L. Bale qui appartient à la compagnie d’état-major du 2nd Battalion du 7th Infantry Regiment est sous les ordres du Major Duncan.

Dans la nuit du 29 au 30 janvier 1945, alors que le 2nd Battalion vient de franchir le canal  de Colmar et approche de Wihr-en-Plaine, les soldats américains se heurtent à deux chasseurs de chars « Jagdpanther » allemands. Ces derniers dispersent les fantassins américains par des tirs d’obus explosifs et de mitrailleuses, qui occasionnent des pertes notables, bousculent les Companies F et G et frappent de plein fouet la Company E qui se trouve en réserve, ainsi que le groupe d’état-major du bataillon.

Le Major Duncan appelle alors en renfort les équipes anti-char armés de bazookas, afin d’engager les blindés lourds allemands. Le Pfc. Joseph L. Bale, qui fait parti de l’une de ses équipes anti-char, se tourne alors vers le Major Duncan et lui dit : « Eh bien, Monsieur, nous voici au dernier round ! »  Le jeu de mots en anglo-saxon (round = roquette/munition) est bien choisi car il n’a en effet plus qu’une roquette.

 Le tir n’est pas aisé vu la distance à laquelle il se trouve par rapport au Jagdpanther (estimation à plus de 500 yards, soit 457 mètres) qui est très au-delà de la portée utile du bazooka (maximum 300 yards/270 mètres). Les soldats présents autour de Bale retiennent leur souffle… « J’avais l’impression que des années passèrent » se remémore plus tard le Major Duncan.

Le soldat Earl A. Reitan indique dans son livre autobiographique : « La roquette décrivit un arc et frappa le char, qui explosa et prit feu. L’équipage allemand sauta du blindé en flammes. Les hommes se roulèrent dans Ia neige pour éteindre le feu qui brulait leurs uniformes. Un second char leur vint en aide, récupéra les survivants et se replia. Une grande clameur vint de la compagnie E. J’entendis cette clameur et escaladais le mur, mais ne vis pas le tir miraculeux […]. »

Le Major Duncan notait les mêmes scènes de liesse parmi ses hommes : « Les soldats ne purent se réfréner. Ils hurlaient à pleins poumons. Certains pleuraient de joie sans retenue. »

Certains soldats américains voulurent ouvrir le feu sur l’équipage du Jagdpanther, mais ne disposant plus de roquettes de bazooka, ils jugèrent préférable de ne pas attirer l’attention sur eux.

Le blindé allemand détruit est à priori le Jagdpanther numéro 311 commandé par l’Unteroffizier Hüsing. Deux membres d’équipage sont tués dont Hüsing lui-même, probablement morts brûlés vifs dans le blindé. Les trois autres membres d’équipage du char sont blessés (dont le tireur Roth). Le second Jagdpanther, après avoir récupéré les survivants de l’équipage, se replie dans le village.

Plus tard, dans la matinée du 30 janvier 1945, les forces allemandes déclenchent une violente contre-attaque qui vise à reprendre Wihr-en-Plaine. Celle-ci est appuyée par le Jagdpanther rescapé de l’accrochage précédent, aux abords du village. Le Major Duncan ordonne alors à ses hommes de se mettre à couvert dans les bâtiments, puis demande un tir de soutien d’artillerie sur la localité pour stopper l’offensive allemande.

C’est à ce moment-là que le Pfc. Joseph L. Bale, auteur du tir « miraculeux » au bazooka, tente de détruire le second blindé allemand. Réapprovisionné en roquettes, il tir depuis l’intérieur du bâtiment où il se trouve. Afin d’accélérer sa cadence de tir, Bale veut charger lui-même son bazooka, ce qui est normalement la tâche du pourvoyeur. Alors qu’il veut insérer la roquette dans le tube de son bazooka, cette dernière lui glisse des mains qui sont engourdies par le froid, et explose au contact du sol : elle lui arrache les deux jambes ! Il meurt peu de temps après des suites de ses blessures. Dix-sept autres de ses camarades qui se trouvent à proximité sont également blessés ou commotionnés par cette explosion.

Pour son action on lui décerne à titre posthume, l’une des décorations les plus prestigieuses de l’armée américaine, à savoir la Distinguished Service Cross, ainsi que la Purple Heart (médaille des blessés) avec trois feuilles de chêne (3 fois blessés).

La citation présidentielle qui accompagne la remise de la Distinguished Service Cross est la suivante :

« Le Président des Etats-Unis d’Amérique, autorisé par Acte du Congrès du 9 juillet 1918, est fier de décerner la Distinguished Service Cross (à titre posthume) au soldat de première classe Joseph L. Bale (matricule : 16105122), de l’Armée des Etats-Unis, pour son extraordinaire héroïsme en lien avec des opérations militaires contre un ennemi armé durant son temps de service au 2e Bataillon du 7e Régiment d’Infanterie de la 3e Division d’Infanterie, au combat contre les troupes ennemies le 30 janvier 1945 à proximité de Wihr-en-Plaine, France.

Ce jour-là, le bataillon du soldat Bale fut attaqué et stoppé par des blindés ennemis qui écrasèrent plusieurs fusiliers, en tuant un grand nombre.

Sous les tirs de 88 mm, d’armes automatiques et de grenades à fusil, le soldat de première classe Joseph L. Bale attaque sans crainte avec son lance-roquettes, ignorant les obus qui explosaient à cinq yards alentours et les balles d’armes automatiques qui martelaient la position. Il mit hors de combat un blindé ennemi, obligeant les Allemands à battre en retraite. Plus tard dans la même matinée, alors que son bataillon était attaqué par un autre blindé à une centaine de yards de distance, il brava un tir d’artillerie en tentant à lui seul de détruire ce dernier, mais fut mortellement blessé.

Les actions intrépides du soldat de première classe Bale, sa bravoure et le zèle dont il fit preuve dans son dévouement au prix de sa vie, illustrent les plus hautes traditions des forces armées des Etats-Unis et rayonnent à grand crédit sur lui-même, la 3e Division d’Infanterie et l’Armée des Etats-Unis. »

Le Pfc. Joseph L. Bale III repose en paix pour l’éternité au milieu de ses frères d’armes au cimetière militaire américain d’Epinal.

Sa tombe (n°56) se trouve dans le Carré B, dans la Rangée 34.

En Mémoire de son sacrifice ultime pour la libération de Wihr-en-plaine, nous lui rendons l’hommage qu’il mérite et ne l’oublierons jamais !

She was born on March 18, 1925 in Strasbourg (67) and grew up in the village of Bischheim (67), where her parents lived.

She is the daughter of Charles Grissmer and his wife Marie Kaufeld.

Single, she lived with her parents at 10 rue de l’étoile in Bischheim.

After the Nazi annexation of Alsace, she had to change her first name (Yvonne being “too French”) to Erika (as part of the forced Germanization of the Alsatian population, all French first names that had no equivalent in German had to be replaced by a Germanic first name from a list of pre-selected names).

On May 5, 1944, she was drafted into the German navy, the Kriegsmarine, and sent as a Marinehelferin to Kiel, a major seaport on the Baltic Sea.

On November 20, 1944, she gives her last news to her parents from Osehhof-Gottenhafen in Poland, and not in Germany as indicated in the file (Gotenhafen = today’s town of Gdynia in Poland).

Her death certificate records the date of November 20, 1944… she was 19 years old.

She almost certainly sank with the ship she was on (during this period, many German ships were sunk by Allied aircraft or Russian submarines along the North Sea and Baltic coasts).

On March 29, 1960, in a statement made to the Schiltigheim gendarmerie (as part of the study of the files of those drafted by the French Ministry of Veterans Affairs), her father declared:

“My daughter Grissmer Yvonne was drafted into the German navy in 1944. Since the date of her departure, she has not returned to our home. Her last letter, dated November 20, 1944, was from Osehhof-Gottenhafen in Germany (Gotenhafen = today the town of Gdynia in Poland). I know that my child was on a boat. She was with a girl from Strasbourg-Robertsau whose name and address I don’t know. That’s all I can tell you about my daughter.

On the same day, the gendarmerie questioned two other witnesses:

Joseph Lehmann, 50, a painter who also lives at 10 rue de l’étoile in Bischheim, declares:

“Grissmer Yvonne was a neighbor. In 1944 she was drafted into the German army. I don’t know what became of her. In any case, she never returned to her father’s home. I can certify that this young girl did not volunteer to serve the German cause and that if she left, it was under duress”.

Charles Erb, 54, town clerk in Bischheim, who said:

“I knew the young Grissmer Yvonne well, who was born on March 18, 1925 in Strasbourg. She was drafted into the German navy in 1944. She never returned to the home of her parents, who live in our commune, at 10 rue de l’étoile. This family always had Francophile feelings”.

On July 7, 1960, the Strasbourg court awarded her the title “MORT POUR LA FRANCE” (“DEAD FOR FRANCE”).

Many thanks to Claude Herold for his research and for sharing the information and documents he found.

Source : dossier AC21P219193/323312AL du Service Historique de la Défense de Caen – Mémoire des Hommes.

This sub-officer, affiliated to a Sanitätskompanie (Sanitary Company), is responsible for providing first aid to his comrades on the battlefield.

He wears a chasuble and a red cross armband to identify his role as caregiver to soldiers in his division and to opposing forces.

He carries two 1-liter canteens for the wounded, as well as two leather saddlebags on his belt and a metal crate for carrying his first-aid supplies.

As in every Wehrmacht division, the organization of medical units was essential to ensure medical support for troops in the field.

These units were responsible for first aid, evacuation of the wounded and their initial treatment before any transfer to more distant field hospitals.

The general organization of these units is as follows:

1. Sanitätsdienst (Divisional Health Service)

Each Wehrmacht division has a Sanitätsdienst, headed by a Divisionsarzt (Divisional Medical Officer), a senior medical officer.

2. Sanitätskompanie (Sanitary Company)

Each division generally has two Sanitätskompanien, which are advanced care units responsible for :

Providing first aid to the wounded on the battlefield.

Set up advanced aid stations (Hauptverbandplätze) a few kilometers from the front.

organize evacuation of the wounded to rear medical facilities.

3. Krankenkraftwagenzüge (Ambulance sections)

These motorized units are equipped with Krankenkraftwagen (ambulances) to transport the wounded from aid stations to field hospitals or rail transfer points.

4. Feldlazarett (Field Hospital)

Located further back from the front for safety reasons, it is used to treat the seriously wounded and stabilize them before transfer to a permanent hospital.

Feldlazarett can be set up in tents or requisitioned buildings.

5. Krankensammelstellen (Casualty gathering points)

Areas where the lightly wounded can be rapidly treated and possibly returned to duty, while the seriously injured are sent to the rear.

6. Veterinärdienst (Veterinary Service)

Responsible for the care of horses, which are essential for transporting supplies, ammunition, etc. in the German army’s infantry and artillery units.

Includes a Tierarzt (military vet) and a Pferdelazarett (horse hospital).

Additional medical support

In addition to divisional medical units, evacuation hospitals (Evakuierungslazarette) and permanent military hospitals (Kriegslazarette) existed in the rear zone, often linked to rail networks for the evacuation of wounded to Germany.

This structure enabled the Wehrmacht to effectively manage the care of its wounded soldiers while maintaining its war effort.

References:

  “Handbook on German Military Forces” (TM-E 30-451, published by the US War Department in 1945) – This detailed handbook describes the organization and structure of German medical units during the Second World War.

  “Die deutsche Wehrmacht 1939-1945” by Wolfgang Fleischer – An analysis of the organization and functioning of the various branches of the Wehrmacht, including the medical services.

  “Sanitätsdienst der Wehrmacht” – Various documents and archives available in German military archives or via specialized military history sites such as Lexikon der Wehrmacht (www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de).

 “Kranken- und Verwundetentransport im Zweiten Weltkrieg” by Karl-Heinz Parschalk – An in-depth study of wounded transport in the German army.

German veteran of the Russian front (combat since 1941), with the rank of Lieutenant:

tank commander belonging to Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654, an armored unit equipped with 45-ton “Jagdpanther” Sd.Kfz.173 tank fighters – Alsace, November 1944.

He wears an all-black cloth outfit, practical for these men who have to get in, move around inside and get out of the panzer’s highly compartmentalized space, sometimes very quickly when the situation calls for it.

An armored vehicle of this type is inevitably oily, dirty and more or less dusty, which easily explains the choice of black for this outfit.

The double-breasted jacket (Feldjack) features shoulder tabs edged in pink (the weapon color of the German Panzertruppen) and collar tabs, also in the weapon’s colors, with the famous skull and crossbones (the skull and crossbones are directly inspired by Frederick the Great’s Husaren-Regiment Nr.5 “von Ruesch”, dating from the mid-18th century).

Decoration ribbons and other awards are pinned to the left side of the jacket:

Verwundetenabzeichen “silver” (wounded badge for having been wounded 3 or 4 times in combat or seriously injured).

Bandspange EK2 und KVK(Kriegsverdienstkreuz) mit schwerter.

Iron Cross 1st Class (EKI)

Panzerkampfabzeichen “argent” (armored combat badge).

The pants (Feldhose) are of the same texture as the jacket, with drawstrings at the bottom of the legs.

The cap worn by this officer is decorated all around the flap with a small silver braid.

A model Walther P38 pistol in a leather holster is worn on the belt with a buckle.

Radio headphones and throat microphone are part of the on-board equipment.

Frédéric Georges Reinhardt was born on October 24, 1901 in Ingwiller (67).

He has an older sister, Rika, born in 1899, and a younger brother, Robert, born in 1905. His father, Fritz Reinhardt, also from Ingwiller, is a building contractor, married to Marie Ehretsmann from Hunawihr (68). His mother died of tuberculosis in September 1907, and his father six months later, in February 1908, of grief, according to family recollections.

Within a year, the couple’s three children were orphaned and raised by their grandmother and paternal great-aunt, who ran a haberdashery in Ingwiller. Frédéric spent his entire childhood in Ingwiller.

Around 1920, he completed an apprenticeship as a hardware merchant at a store in Strasbourg near Place Gutenberg. He then moved to the Paris region to work in Rueil, before moving to the Montbéliard region to take up a new job at BERNARD & MEGNIN, a hardware store.

At the age of 18, he finished 1st in the Tour d’Ingwiller (67), and won a cup that his family treasures. He went on to take part in many other competitions.

A keen sportsman, he practiced gymnastics and rowing when he was in Rueil.

Class of 1921, he was drafted on April 5, 1921, and joined the fleet crew depot in Lorient on May 20, 1921.

He completed his military service on April 1, 1923 and was sent home on April 25, 1923 (he was granted a certificate of good conduct for the duration of his service).

On June 20, 1923 he was posted as a reservist.

On February 1, 1927 he was attached to the Centre Mobilisateur (CM) n°201 de Chasseurs. On December 6, 1934 he was attached to the Sélestat subdivision following a change of address (now living in Barr). On November 1, 1937 he was appointed corporal, then on October 15, 1938 master corporal.

He had a little cousin, Roland Bloch, who was his godfather (22 years older than him, due to a generation gap). As this godson lived in Barr (67), he visited him regularly, and it was certainly during his stays in Barr that he met his future wife, Berthe Willm, who was born on October 26, 1901 and also lived in Barr. They married in 1927 and had the joy of giving birth to their only daughter Marie-Madeleine Christiane on December 24, 1930, whom everyone called Marlène.

From 1927 to 1940, Frédéric and his family lived in Barr (67), where he worked for the Willm company, known at the time for its snail production and wines of the same name.

At the time, it was still relatively rare for an orphan like Frédéric, with no particular assets, to marry into a “well-to-do” family. This was certainly due to the fact that Frédéric got on very well with his father-in-law, who was the founder of the Willm company. The two of them share an entrepreneurial spirit. Throughout his life, before and after the war, Frédéric always had an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. He filed a patent in the thirties for the creation of an object entitled “l’étend miel” (which remained confidential) and other patents.

He served 2 mobilization periods at Mutzig(67); the first in 1938 and the second in 1939: He was recalled on April 11, 1939 to the CM Infanterie n°202 and sent home on April 19, 1939. Appointed reserve sergeant on March 20, 1939. Following the events of summer 1939 and the growing risk of war, he was recalled on August 23, 1939 and transferred to the 223rd Infantry Regiment on November 4, 1939.

During the “phoney war”, he fights with his unit’s Corps Francs…

In June 1940, he was in the Rambervillers sector of the Vosges, where, after the town was taken by the Germans, he withdrew on June 20 to Brû with the last elements of the 223rd Infantry Regiment.

On June 21, 1940, at 2 a.m., Lieutenant-Colonel Languillaume, commanding the 223rd RI, decided to organize the defense of the village “for the sake of honor”, despite the inevitability of defeat and the request of the mayor and villagers not to resist, to avoid unnecessary destruction. At 9 a.m., the first German elements appeared in front of the French defensive line, marking the start of intense fighting (more than 600 shells fell on the village between midday and 7 p.m.) which lasted until 7 p.m.. By the end of the day, the men of the 223rd Infantry Regiment had run out of ammunition and could no longer cope with the final German charge, which claimed a few more victims. At 7.15pm, the enemy assembles all the prisoners in columns of three…the long and painful ordeal of captivity begins! Frédéric Reinhardt’s service record states that he took part in the French campaign from November 4, 1939 to June 25, 1940.

Following the Armistice of June 22, 1940, the majority of Alsatian and Moselle prisoners were released relatively quickly by the German authorities, who considered them to be German citizens and wanted them to return home as soon as possible…in order to Nazify the populations of the 3 départements (67-68-57) as quickly as possible. Frédéric, prisoner number 567, received his release order from the Lunéville Kriegsgefangenenlager on July 11, 1940.

Entlassungsschein,

Der auf Grund Glaubhafter ausgaben als deutschstämmig erachtete Reinhardt Fritz geboren 24.10.1901 in Barr wird hiermit aus der deutschen Kriegsgefangeenschaft unter dem Vorbehalt des Widerrufes bei Festellung falscher Angaben entlassen, den 11 juli 1940. Für kommandant des Kriegsgefangeenlagers : Hauptmann Raff.

Jeder Entlassene ist verpflichtet so schnell wie möglich in seine Heimat zurückkehren und sich bei dem Ortskommandanten und dem Bürgermeister zu melden. Ausdem geraumten Gebiet stammende Entlassene haben sich bei dem nächst erreichbaren Landkommi-sar (Rückkehrer-Betreuungsstelle) zu melden zwecks Zuweisung eines vorläufigen Aufenthaltsortes. Das Betreten der geräumten Teile des elsass-lothringischen Grenzkreise nordwärts der linie Königsmachern-Hömburg-Bidingen – Bolchen – Falkenberg – Altdorf – Saaralben – Albcabshnitt – Örmingen – Enchenberg – Philippsburg – Langensullzbach – Sulz – Bischweiller – sowie dieser Orte selbst mit Ausname von Bischweiler von Süden her ist nur mit einer Ausnahmeerlaubnis eines Landkommissars zulässig. Zuwiderhandlungen gegen die vorstehenden Anweisungen werden gesetzlich bestraft.

Verpflegt bis zum 13 Juli 1940.

Certificate of release,

Reinhardt Fritz, born on 24.10.1901 in Barr, considered to be of German origin on the basis of credible information, is hereby released from German captivity subject to revocation in the event of finding of false statements, on July 11, 1940. Iron commandant of the prisoner-of-war camp: Hauptmann Raff.

All those released must return home as soon as possible and report to the local commander and mayor. Persons released from the expelled area must report to the nearest Landkommi-sar (return assistance office) to be assigned a temporary place of residence. Access from the south to the evacuated parts of the Alsace-Lorraine border district located north of the line Königsmachern-Hömburg-Bidingen – Bolchen – Falkenberg – Altdorf – Saaralben – Albcabshnitt – Örmingen – Enchenberg – Philippsburg – Langensullzbach – Sulz – Bischweiller – as well as to these localities themselves, with the exception of Bischweiler, is only permitted by dispensation of a district commissioner. Violations of the above instructions are punishable by law.

Supplied until July 13, 1940.

Very soon after his return home, he prepared the family’s departure from Barr for the free zone, as for Frédéric it was inconceivable that they would have to live under the Nazi yoke (he had certainly anticipated a possible expulsion due to his strong Francophilia). On September 1, 1940, the entire Reinhardt family left Barr by private car, on the pretext of a trip to Lyon to buy corks for Willm’s wine bottles. To make it look like a short stay, there was no heavy luggage, so Frédéric’s wife dressed Marlène with twice as many clothes on her.

After being turned away for the first time, Frédéric and his family found a second crossing point and managed to cross the demarcation line unharmed. The real destination of their journey was the town of Pertuis in the Vaucluse region, as Frédéric’s younger brother (Robert) was able to take them in through his in-laws who lived there.

He was demobilized on September 5, 1940 by the Nîmes demobilization center, where he stopped before joining his brother in Pertuis.

They spent a month looking for a farm to buy, and found one in l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in the Vaucluse in early October 1940.

As a reminder, the Vaucluse department was the destination of Alsatians expelled from the Bruche valley by the Nazis, and a number of them passed through and stayed at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, in their large house.

Their daughter Marlène, much later, told her son Jean-François about Canon Bornert of Molsheim (later arrested and deported to Dachau) and Molsheim deputy mayor Henri Meck, both of whom had been expelled by the German authorities.

We don’t know if Frédéric Reinhardt was active in the Resistance in Vaucluse, but in July 1943, the Vichy militia suddenly arrived at his home to arrest him!… for the record, a few years ago, one of his grandsons met a former Resistance fighter in Fontaine de Vaucluse, who told him that when the Resistance fighters saw this fellow (Frédéric) with his German accent come ashore, they wondered if they weren’t going to “shoot” him!

Luckily, he wasn’t there that day, but he had to go into hiding and start a clandestine life. He spent some time in the surrounding hills, and came in the night to see his daughter and his wife. Frédéric left Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for Allanche, and after his departure his ailing wife went to the Charentes region, where Frédéric’s older sister was staying. Marlène, barely 13 at the time, remained alone in the big house for some time, with just Alphonse Hornecker and his family living in a house next to the farm. The Hornecker family had been expelled in 1940 (Alphonse had spoken ill of the Nazi regime in a bistro in 1940) and were originally from Urmatt. Alphonse worked on the farm in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and the farm was subsequently occupied by the German army.

His daughter “Méjélé” joins him in Allanche in the Cantal (a young man sent by Frédéric to pick up his daughter and take her by train to her father. The journey ended on foot in 20 cm of snow), but following a denunciation they had to leave in a hurry and headed for Grenoble. In Grenoble, Frédéric had false papers made to leave France, while his wife (who had joined them) and daughter took refuge with a friend, Madame Ferber, who lived in Gap, where they remained in hiding until her liberation on August 20, 1944, before returning to their home in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in September 1944.

Having escaped from France on April 24, 1944, Frédéric crossed the Pyrenees near Mont Louis, where the brother of a dentist friend in Strasbourg, Monsieur Wennigger, owned a house that could serve as a base camp for his departure. He had difficulty crossing the Pyrenees on foot, due to the heavy snowfalls (and the cold), which in some places reached up to his waist. He managed to cross the passes and arrived in Girona, where he was imprisoned (like so many other brave Frenchmen in Spanish jails). Almost certainly because of his age, 40, he was released very quickly compared with the younger men, most of whom spent months there before being able to reach North Africa…

In Spain, he left Girona for Barcelona, where he stayed at the Grand Hôtel des 4 Nations, before crossing the Mediterranean to North Africa…

…where he joined the French commandos on June 5, 1944.

The 2nd Commando de France was formed on June 6, 1944 exclusively from volunteers who had escaped from France.

Parachuted and trained in the Staouéli and Sidi-ferruch region under the command of Captains Tersarkissof and Villaumé.

He was promoted to staff sergeant on July 1, 1944.

Frédéric Reinhard officially obtained his US Para brevet on August 25, 1944, and his certificate was signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Gambiez, commander of the Bataillon de Choc and Commandos de France.

To this end, on June 21 and 22, 1944, he made the 4 jumps required by automatic opening regulations.

On September 24, 1944, Frédéric Reinhardt sent a message (which cost him 8 francs) through the Red Cross to his wife and daughter to give them news of him.:

“My dears. I have been in Africa since May 27, 1944 and am doing very well. I hope you are both in good health and that you have returned to Isle. I have enlisted for the duration of the war and hope to come to France soon to see you again. How are things at Sorguette? Have you heard from Barr? Bon baisers”

On October 2, 1944, “Fred” wrote a letter from Algiers to his wife and daughter, expressing concern that he had not heard from them, nor had he received a reply to his first 2 letters. In it we learn that he did cross the Spanish border, but with great difficulty. He arrived in Casablanca on May 27, 1944, where he immediately enlisted in the Bataillons de Choc, which a few days later became the Commandos de France. According to him, he was assigned to the 1st group of the Commandos de France, 2nd Commando, 4th platoon. He talks about all the courses he took: runner, parachutist, scout, killer, close combat, German weapons, German anti-tank gun, explosives…and all the training for elite troops. He can’t wait to begin the fight against the Nazi occupiers…

“We’ve been ready for action for 2 months and we’re still here. We are constantly on alert and never leave…I can’t wait to get to France to meet you at Sorguette and I hope to see you there…”.

One senses the man’s determination to liberate his homeland, whatever the cost: “Despite very hard training with men aged between 19 and 25 (he’s 43), I’ve held out for all the reports, but I feel I’m growing old normally. I don’t regret being in this elite corps and I’ve done everything to be ready for the rematch, and if we couldn’t do anything, it’s not our fault. We were promised that we would be the first to be parachuted into France…we were ready for anything and we were forgotten”.

He also asks for news of his dear Berthe and his little “Méjélé”, asking several questions: “…how did you live in Gap?…did the Germans bother you after I left? did you suffer from the fighting to liberate the region? when did you return to Sorguette? is there any damage? how are our family and friends…? He ends his letter with “a big kiss to you both and see you soon, your dad”.

NB: his grandson Jean-François, having spoken with some of his companions, remembers him as a character who marked them, Monsieur Jourquin repeating to him several times “your grandfather was somebody”! He also told him that during the umpteenth delayed departure to liberate France, Frédéric had angrily stabbed his commando dagger into the ship’s rail, loudly expressing his displeasure.

The 2nd Commando de France landed with the cruiser “Montcalm” at Toulon on October 10, 1944.

The Commando de France fought its first battle on November 3 and 4, 1944 at Haut-du-tôt and suffered its first casualties (24 men killed, most of them from the 1st Commando, and around a hundred wounded).

On November 9, 1944 “Fred writes in a letter to his daughter ”…it’s already pretty cold here and today there’s snow…we’re off the line after 5 days of very hard fighting. The worst part was the artillery and mortar bombardment in preparation for the enemy’s counter-attack…despite everything, we had to stay put and take it…We had 25% casualties in killed and wounded…our battalion behaved very well despite the fact that many of them were in the fire for the first time. …the rain didn’t stop for days, sleeping and living outside without a roof isn’t very enviable…lots of kisses to your darling mom, always be good my dear little one and help her while you can”.

On November 19 and 20, 1944, they took Essert against 2 German companies: in eight hours of fierce fighting, 18 commandos were killed. The fighting continued unabated with the liberation of Belfort, where they were among the first to enter on November 20, 1944.

On Saturday November 25, 1944 “Fred writes in a letter to his dear little Méjélé ”…We were engaged and had fierce fighting with the Boche. We took Belfort after infiltrating the village of Essert, 3 km away. All night and morning we had to endure German counter-attacks, and street fighting lasted until 3pm. At that point, our tanks were able to arrive and we rammed into Belfort, which we liberated at around 6am. The people were overjoyed! From there we liberated other villages and hamlets. Last night was the first time we’d slept under a roof, but morale was still superb. Yesterday I was on patrol and we were in Alsace”.

During the Alsace campaign, the French commandos fought in Masevaux between November 25 and 28 (16 killed). On November 26, 1944, the day Masevaux was liberated, Frédéric Reinhardt was one of the first French soldiers to enter the town, according to Mr. Gebel, owner of the “L’Aigle d’Or” hotel-restaurant in the town center: “On November 26, 1944, Mr. Reinhardt visited me at the cellar. He was the first French soldier we’d seen in over 4 years. We toasted with one of my bottles of Gewürztraminer that I had hidden from the Germans”.

November 30, 1944 “Fred writes a letter in Masevaux libérée: ”…For the last two days we have been in reserve…we have spent 15 days which were not very restful…we had a fierce battle at Essert which is the key to Belfort…. despite our losses, we took and held the village against an enemy that was far superior in numbers…we killed many of them…the fight lasted from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., when our tanks arrived, having been stopped by the anti-tank ditches, and with which we returned to Belfort… 3h to cover 2.5kms…our section was the first to enter Belfort…from there we returned to the enemy rear towards Rougemont…finally the big day arrived with the entry of our troops into Alsace…we were still the first in Masevaux…what a joy for the population. We’re now in reserve, and it’s about time, because out of 31, we’re still 10… Backing down is a word that doesn’t exist for us, and we proved it at very critical moments… We were congratulated by our General de Lattre and by the great Charles”.

On the very day he wrote this letter, Frédéric and his comrades went to the Hundsruck pass in the Thann sector (68), at an altitude of 748 meters, to dislodge the German troops.

On Saturday December 2, Frédéric Reinhardt stepped on two mines while trying to rescue one of his men seriously wounded by a mine. He was wounded in the legs and head during a patrol with Aspirant Pérard (1 platoon) in front of Willer-sur-Thur and Bitschwiller-les-Thann (68) at around 7pm.

“On December 5, 1944, Fred wrote about what had happened to him: “I’m in hospital in Besançon. During a patrol on December 2, I received some mine shrapnel in my leg. I was lucky, others escaped with one or two missing feet.”

Back at the Thannerhubel, he was quickly treated by Bordaguibel and Deficis, then transported to the Masevaux girls’ school, which had been transformed into an advanced first-aid post. He was evacuated from the Masevaux hospital at around 9am on December 3, followed by Rougemont and Lure, arriving in Besançon at 6pm for surgery at 9pm. On December 4, a splinter was extracted from his left eye, and on December 5, X-rays were taken of his feet, thighs and knees: 9 splinters in the right thigh and 1 in the left; left knees, 6 splinters; right foot, small splinters plus a sprain; multiple splinters in the right face, chin and hand. On December 7, his right foot was cast at the Ruty barracks in Besançon. On the 10th, he left at 4pm by medical train and arrived at the supplementary hospital of the Dijon major seminary. He was then transferred to Lyon and Marseille, where he hoped to spend Christmas 1944 with his family, as he wrote in one of his letters. Thereafter, he spent most of his convalescence at home in Sorguette, and made regular visits to the Avignon hospital until May 12, 1945. Barely “back on his feet”, we learn from a press article in the Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (DNA) of 26/11/1969 that in May 1945, “a gentleman in civilian clothes, hobbling, helped by a cane, got out of a car on the Place Clémenceau…it was Mr. Reinhardt!” who apparently chose to return to Masevaux for one of his first trips.

For his action in combat he was awarded the following citation

“Section leader, escapee from France, volunteer for the commandos. He distinguished himself on November 19 and 20, 1944 at Essert(90) and on November 25 and 26, 1944 at Masevaux(68) both by his drive and courage and by his great physical stamina. During a patrol in enemy lines near Willer-sur-Thur(68) on December 2, 1944, was wounded by a mine while going to the aid of one of his men who was seriously wounded”. This citation includes the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945.

At the end of January 1945, the remainder of the Commando team continued to fight at Durrenentzen (44 killed) against the formidable Gebirgjäger of the 136th Regiment of the 2nd Gebirgs Division, an elite unit of German mountain troops, and several armoured vehicles.

After the reduction of the Colmar pocket on February 9, 1945, the survivors of the Commando de France were rested at Orschwihr (68) until March 31, 1945, before taking part in the German campaign. The 2nd French Commando was the first to cross the Rhine in early April 1945. It took part in all the battles: Karlsruhe(03-04-1945), Pforzheim(5 to 8-04-45), Langen Brand(14-04-1945), Black Forest, Pfollingen, Walvies. It ended its victorious journey in Austria at Bregenz, Rankweil and finally on May 8, 1945 at the summit of Vorarlberg, where they planted the flag bearing their colors.

The joy of Victory over the Nazis is overshadowed by the many comrades who are missing or wounded: 134 killed (including 102 during the Vosges and Alsace campaigns), 21 missing and 393 wounded.

Frédéric Reinhardt was demobilized on June 26, 1945, when he joined his wife and daughter, to be reunited once again at their farm “La Sorguette” in Isle-sur-Sorgue.

In July 1946, we meet up with his godson Roland (who, like 100,000 Alsatians and 30,000 Moselle residents, was forcibly drafted into the German army after August 25, 1942), who “disembarks” in Sorguette at the home of his uncle (with his consent) Frédéric Reinhardt, whom he affectionately called “Uncle Fred” after resigning from a stable civil service post in Strasbourg. Frédéric Reinhardt came to pick him up at Avignon station, welcoming him warmly, but as usual, he didn’t wait long to “curb” his godson’s enthusiasm, reminding him that he wasn’t coming for a vacation, but to work hard until he could find a solution for his professional future. Roland describes his dear Uncle Fred as follows :

“Anyone who didn’t know him can’t imagine the kind of man he was: physically handsome, with a strong character, a tireless worker, a family man, demanding of himself and others, but with his heart on his sleeve when it came to helping others or bailing out a friend, in short, a heart of gold hidden beneath a hard shell and, at heart, a great sentimentalist who avoided flaunting his reactions, very loyal in friendship and woe betide those who failed him. Not only did he always put his ideas into practice when he felt it was his duty to his family, his work and his country, he was always first to the task, setting a good example and sparing no effort to bring to fruition the projects he tirelessly concocted. For me, he will always remain a role model in every respect”.

Frédéric and his nephew broke down with their new car (the previous one having been stolen) on the N7 at the entrance to Orange, on their way to visit a supplier. As luck would have it, while waiting for a garage to help them out, Frédéric thought he recognized the Peugeot that had been stolen from him. Without saying a word, once he’d been helped out, Frédéric returned home to pick up the revolver he’d carried during his enlistment in the French army, and his friend Mr. Aymard, the garage owner, before returning to Orange to take a closer look at the vehicle, which bore a striking resemblance to his own. After a thorough examination by Mr. Aymard and his confirmation, Frédéric locked himself in the mechanic’s office to have a heated discussion with him (gun in hand), who had no choice but to admit his crime. Under guard (Roland and M Aymard), Frédéric went to the gendarmerie to lodge a complaint, but curiously, the maréchaussée tried to play down the affair. But “Uncle Fred” wasn’t one to be dissuaded so easily… the investigation would prove him right, as it was a gang of criminals specializing in car thefts, under cover of one of the gendarmes. That’s how he got his first car and…a fine and a few days’ suspended prison sentence for carrying a prohibited weapon of war, which was immediately amnestied because of his record of service during the Second World War.

After tidying up one of his cupboards in 1946… Frédéric set up a fish farm on his farm in 1947, which is still run today by one of his grandsons, Michael Meyer (the 3rd generation).

Until his death, Frédéric remained very close to the commune of Haut-du-Tôt, especially with the children of the village school, whom he visited regularly and to whom he sent a coli filled with sweets and fruit jellies every year, much to the children’s delight.

Sadly, he died suddenly on March 5, 1964 following a minor operation, at the age of 63, while still in good health and active in his profession. Having spent his entire childhood in Ingwiller, he is buried there in accordance with his last wishes. His beloved wife Berthe joined him in 1976.

His decorations:

His daughter Marlène has the joy of having eight children who still live in Provence, except for Jean-François who chose to go the other way round and return to Frédéric’s native land to live in Alsace.

Frédéric and Berthe have 8 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, and the family continues to grow with new births.

The Musée Mémorial des combats de la poche de Colmar sincerely thanks Mr and Mrs MEYER Jean-Francois for donating his grandfather’s personal belongings, which today enable us to pay tribute to Frédéric Reinhardt and his Commandos de France comrades to whom we owe our Freedom!!!

LET’S NOT FORGET THEM!

…Sunday, October 27, 2024…

On Sunday October 27, 2024, we inaugurated the Frédéric Reinhardt showcase in the presence of descendants and family members, with the QR code dedicated to him by Jean-François Meyer, his grandson.

Our sincere thanks go to the brothers and sisters of the Meyer family for donating all of Frédéric Reinhardt’s artefacts and documents (“Marlène”, Frédéric Reinhardt’s daughter, is their mother and it was she who carefully preserved all of her father’s belongings throughout her life).

We’re delighted to have been able to inaugurate the showcase dedicated to him, which enables us to pay tribute to him and all his comrades in arms.

We ended the afternoon with a visit to the Musée Mémorial, recalling the tragic story of the liberation battles in the Poche de Colmar, and thinking fondly of all our liberators.

We would also like to thank Henri Simorre for his help and his keen eye for the subject.

To find out more about the history of shocks, we suggest you visit our forum : https://1erbataillondechoc.forumactif.com/

In addition…

NB concerning Alphonse Hornecker: he had a good friend who used to come to his farm in Isle sur Sorgue in the 50s… Albert Camus, who regularly came to Isle sur Sorgue to see the poet René Char, and who used to come and eat the omelette au lard at Alphonse’s house, as the latter welcomed him in a relaxed manner! At the time, Alphonse’s family no longer lived next door to Frédéric and Berthe’s, so Albert Camus was unfortunately never seen at Sorguette. Source: Jean-François Meyer.

sources :

Reinhardt-Meyer archives.

Bas-Rhin departmental archives

Lee William WHITESCARVER was born on february 27, 1919, in Grand Island, Nebraska to Harry and Martha Whitescarver.

He attended schools in Pasadena, California and graduated high school in 1936.

A great-grandfather (Hermann Whistescarver) was born 12-26-1742 in Niederndorf, Germany.

Lee reported for duty in 1944 during world war II, as a rifleman in the US ARMY the 26 june 1944.

The Private 1st Class Lee W. Whitescarver, serial number 39591590.

He served with the 28th Infantry Division, 112th Infantry Regiment, III Batalion, Company K from August 1943 to december 1945.

The 28 ID US is the oldest American unit (created 1879). Its emblem is a red keystone symbolizing the state of Pennsylvania from which the division originates (Pennsylvania National Guard), hence its nickname “Keystone Division”, but also nicknamed by the Germans “Bloody Bucket Division” during the fighting in Hurtgen Forest.

Its motto is “Roll on”.

The 28th IDUS landed in Normandy on July 22, 1944, fighting in the ST Lô sector as part of Operation Cobra. On August 25, it crossed the Seine and entered Paris on the 29th. At the beginning of September, it crossed the Meuse, crossed the Belgian border, reached Luxembourg and on 9/11/1944 entered Germany, where it was given the task of securing the Hurtgen forest sector. It received the full force of the Ardennes counter-offensive. Because of the losses it suffered, it had to be withdrawn from the front. In January 1945, it was back in Alsace, where it played a major role in reducing the Colmar pocket from February 1 to 13, 1945. It continued to fight during the German campaign, ending its tour at Kaiserlautern.

Company K of the 3rd Battalion of the 28th IDUS arrived in Verdun on January 12, 1945. On the 17th, it left Verdun and took the train to Saint-Dié in the Vosges.
From January 20 to 31, 1945, it was in the Kayssersberg – Bennwihr sector.
On February 2, Compagnie K headed for Niedermorschwihr (through minefields and slippery roads), which it liberated after a short engagement in which it took 25 prisoners but suffered 8 casualties.
On February 3, it began its attack on Turckheim, but came under fire as it approached. Captain THOMAS was killed by sniper fire. German counter-attacks and mortar fire cost them 3 more dead and 21 wounded, but the company held on to its positions.
On February 4, 1945, Company K liberated and cleansed Turckheim before being relieved by French troops in the evening.
It joined the rest of the Battalion at Ingersheim, from where it set off the following day to take the villages of Zimmerbach and Walbach.
It remained in the Forge sector until February 13, marking the end of the fighting in the Colmar pocket.

Rich, his son, tells us about his father :

“His regiment was active in Normandy, Northern France, Belgium, Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes) to the Rhine River. At one point the 28th became part of geenral George Patton’s third army. Dad never talk much about the war, but he had some entertaining stories of ‘Ole Blood & Guts” Patton (“our blood his guts”).

After VE Day, Sgt Whitescarver was stationed at the 28th Infantry HQ Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Dad was just one of a few who could type so he was assigned to the research staff to create their historical&pictorial hardback album of the 28th’s role in wwII.”

Lee ended the war with the rank of staff/sergeant.

Lee, a self-taught painter, began painting homes after the war in the Pasadena area. Painting homes became a true love of his, and he had a real talent at painting and was considered a true craftsman by his customers and competitors. By 1955 Lee had expanded his painting business into one o the most successful and largest painting and contracting operations in eastern Los Angeles County. In 1956 Lee, Ethel, Rich(Skip) and Cynthia moved into one of several new homes Lee had just built in Glendora, California.

Then on March 28,1967 Lee and Ethel opened up village Color Center Inc. The store was a new concept, a specialty home decorating and paint store, and proved to be very successful. Soon afterwards it became the store competitors copied. Lee retired in 1981 and moved to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, because as he said “I never thawed out after that cold winter of 1944 in Belgium during the war”.

Lee was a loving and caring husband, father “great papa” to his grand children. A true friend to the many people who passed throught his life.He will be truly missed by those who knew him. Lee his survived by his wife Ethel and his son Richard (Skip) of Twin Falls, daughter Cynthia of Glendora, California, 4 grand daughters and one great grand daughter.

Lee died May 24, 2002 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Dear Mr. Whitescarver, we sincerely thank you and your comrades of the 28th DIUS for your unfailing commitment and your participation in the liberation of our country.

We will not forget you!

We thank Rich Whitescarver and his wife for sharing his family history and donating his father’s garrison cap.

Raymond Louis Léon LUQUET was born on June 2, 1923 in RABAT, Morocco.

He joined Chantier de Jeunesse n°101 on January 29, 1943.

He joined the 1st Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains (1 RTM) on

April 12, 1943, where he was assigned to the Compagnie Spéciale de

Headquarters on 11/5/43 at Staouéli in Algeria.

He transferred to the Bataillon de Choc on May 28, 1943 (reg. no. 141) and was assigned to the 2nd Company.

On September 13, 1943, he embarked at ALGER and landed at Ajaccio in Corsica the following day, where he fought with the 2nd Cie.

He was appointed Corporal on July 1, 1944.

Captain Lefort’s 2nd Cie landed on the island of Elba at 1am on June 17, 44, providing cover between San Piero in Campo and Fontana. It was during this fighting that hunter Raymond Luquet earned his first commendation, in the Division Order:

“F.M. marksman with great composure and a remarkable eye. Unable to cock his weapon as he advanced through crops, he fired his F.M. at enemies he spotted some 200 meters away. He shot down one of them, causing the others to scatter”.

This citation includes the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with silver star.

Back in Corsica, he and his unit prepared for the Provence landings. The Bataillon de Choc was not part of the 1st wave, with the exception of the 30-strong CORLEY- MUELLE section parachuted over the Drôme on July 31 and August 1, and the 10 Chocs parachuted over LE MUY on August 15, along with over 5,000 Anglo-American paratroopers.

The Battalion landed in Provence on August 19 and fought its way into Toulon. Corporal Raymond LUQUET is cited in the Brigade Order:

“F.M. sniper, who protected the progress of his group in front of the Toulon Arsenal on August 22, 1944, under precise and terribly violent enemy fire. Also protected the withdrawal by voluntarily remaining last on the ground beaten by enemy automatic weapons”.

This citation includes the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with bronze star.

Then came the climb up the Rhône valley towards Dijon (September 1944), and the hard fighting in the Vosges in October 1944.

On November 1, 1943, he was appointed Master Corporal.

On November 20, 1944, he fought in Belfort, before the tough Alsace campaign, where he took command of his group following the death of his Sergeant-Chef, and led his men into battle, including Jebsheim (68), where on January 30, 1945, the battalion lost 32 men in a single morning (including 6 officers) and a hundred more wounded (including 10 officers).

On February 1, the Bataillon de Choc had to relieve the Commando de France at Durrenentzen (68), which had suffered heavy losses the previous day in its attempt to take the village (53 dead and a very large number wounded).

The Battalion succeeded in taking the village at the cost of a further 10 dead and several wounded, including Raymond who was seriously wounded during the assault on an enemy barricade. He was evacuated to a military field hospital at the rear of the front (Saint Dié?).

He was commended in the Division Order and awarded the Silver Star Croix de Guerre.

He rejoined the Shock Battalion in Germany on May 2, 1945, just before crossing the Austrian border, where he ended the war on May 8, 45 with his comrades in Dalaas, celebrating the end of the fighting: immense joy at being alive, but also immense sadness for all the lost comrades who are no longer with us…

On July 1, 1945, he receives his Sergeant’s stripes.

The remnants of the 6 Shock Battalions of the 1st French Army form the 1st Regiment of Airborne Shock Infantry (1 R.I.C.A.P.) and return to France at the PALU camp in Bordeaux.

Sergeant LUQUET embarked in Marseille on November 2, 1945 and landed in Morocco on November 4. He returned home to the Moroccan capital, Rabat, on December 10, 1945.

He returned to service in Algeria a few years later.

He died on September 27, 2011 in Evian-les-Bains (74).

His decorations :

La Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 avec 3 étoiles,

La Médaille des blessés avec un étoile,

La médaille Commémorative 1939-1945 avec agrafes Italie France Allemagne,

La médaille Commémorative A.F.N avec agrafes Maroc et Algérie.

Henri WAJNGLAS est né le 24 avril 1922 à Paris dans le 12ème Arrondissement.

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, he learned the trade of upholsterer-decorator.

On July 6, 1942, he was drafted into the “chantiers de jeunesse n°11” (youth work camps), where he remained until June 19, 1943.

He escaped from France to go directly to North Africa, crossing the Franco-Spanish border on July 14, 1943, the national holiday.

He was interned in Spanish jails the following day, and not released until November 16, 1943.

He landed in Casablanca on November 23, 1943, where he joined the Air personnel depot at base 209.

He joined the 1st RCP on February 18, 1944.

He took part in the Italian campaign from March 31 to September 4, 1944.

He obtained his parachute licence n°1944 on May 1, 1944 in Sicily.

On September 6, 1944, he touched down in France at Valence-Chabeuil in the Drôme region (26).

With the 1st company of the 1st RCP, he took part in the terrible campaigns in the Vosges (October 1944) and Alsace (December-February 1945).

He was demobilized and discharged from the army on August 16, 1945.

Returning to civilian life, he and his wife founded VAINGLAS (now VAINGLAS INTERNATIONAL) in 1960, specializing in upholstery and decoration.

He died on May 29, 2003 in Boissise-le-Roi (77) at the age of 81.

With this portrait, we pay tribute to him and his comrades-in-arms.

2-star Mle 1935 French motorized helmet worn by General De Vernejoul, along with his canvas bag, compass, map reader and map holder used during the fighting in the Colmar pocket (donated by the De Vernejoul family).

My name is Jacques, Jean-François, Henri de Vernejoul.

I was born on May 13, 1889 in Montcaret, Dordogne, the son of Jean-François, Edgar, a pastor, and Lucy-Fanny-Delphine Laurens.

With a bachelor’s degree in Latin and science, I passed the Saint-Cyr entrance exam in 1910.

Before entering the school I had to do a year’s military service.

On 10/13/1910, I was drafted into the 19th Carcassone dragoon regiment as a second-class cavalryman.

I was promoted to the rank of brigadier on February 13, 1911, then maréchal des logis on September 14 of the same year.

On October 11, 1911, I entered the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cy as a midshipman, graduating 2 years later ranked 74th out of 249 students.

NB: his captain already noted his “great qualities as an instructor and leader”, and described him as “very military, very conscientious, worthy of all confidence” and as an “elegant, skilful and fine horseman.”

On July 10, 1913, I was promoted to second lieutenant and posted to the 19th Dragoon Regiment in Carcassonne. From October 1913 to August 1914, I attended the École d’Application de Cavalerie in Saumur (9th out of 68 student second lieutenants, with honors). On graduating, I joined the 4th Hussar Regiment in Reims.

Mobilized with this same regiment, I took part in the battle of Charleroi (21-23/08/14), the battle of Guise (29/8/14), the battle between Béthune and Lens, and the battle between Hazebrouck and Estaires in October 1914, where I distinguished myself by leading a reconnaissance in the Estaires sector, earning my first citation on October 24, 1914, which read as follows: “Led a reconnaissance on Estaires with energy and composure, and also showed the best spirit of solidarity and sacrifice by holding out under heavy artillery fire and at a spotted position where he lost two horses out of four, in order not to draw fire on lines of French dragoons coming up to his level. “

In 1915 I was promoted to Lieutenant and left the cavalry to join the 6th Battalion of Alpine Chasseurs, with whom I took part in the Battle of the Linen in the Vosges.

NB: On July 25, 1917, he was cited in the Brigade Order: “Caught under a violent and sudden barrage in the support line with his platoon at work, managed under a very violent bombardment to reunite his platoon and move it to its combat positions, demonstrating the utmost calm and composure despite the shock of a shell which threw him to the ground and partially covered him.

I took part in the great offensive of the summer of 1918, during which I was wounded in the right thigh by 2 bullets on July 12 at the Anchin farm in the Somme, just as I was getting up to take stock of the situation.

On August 9, 1918, I was cited in the Army Order: “Officer of great valour and unfailing bravery, commanding a front-line attack company, was seriously wounded while leading his men in an assault on enemy positions, always remaining on his feet despite violent machine-gun fire, thus giving the finest example of courage. Two previous commendations.

On November 4, 1918, back at the front, I was again seriously wounded by a bullet to the left shoulder as I led my men over the Sambre canal.

NB : surmontant sa douleur, il reste à son poste, inspirant confiance à tous par son calme, mais au moment où il retraverse le canal, une autre balle lui brise le bras droit. Évacué, il recevra la croix de chevalier de la Légion d’honneur le 7 juillet 1919 (rang du 8 novembre 1918) avec la citation suivante : « Officier d’élite, remarquable par son dévouement. Le 4 novembre 1918, au canal de la Sambre, a pris, sous un intense bombardement et sous un feu violent de mitrailleuse, le commandement du restant de deux compagnies qui venaient de perdre leur chef et s’est présenté pour entrainer ses chasseurs sur une passerelle violemment battue. Atteint une première fois, a continué sa marche et a reçu une deuxième blessure. Une blessure antérieure. Trois citations. »

Le 25 décembre 1918, j’obtiens une citation à l’ordre de la brigade : « Pendant une année d’opérations décisives et interrompues du bois Sénécat au canal de la Sambre par Moreuil et Vauxaillon s’est montré en toutes circonstances le premier chasseur de sa compagnie. »

Je termine la première guerre avec 5 citations et trois blessures de guerre.

Malgré ce « beau palmarès », je n’obtiens pas le grade de capitaine auquel je pouvais prétendre pour mes faits d’armes comme commandant de compagnie, et pour lequel j’avais été proposé plusieurs fois.

NB : cet « oubli » ne sera pas sans conséquences sur son avancement futur et les emplois occupés.

Le 16 janvier 1920, après plusieurs mois passés à l’hôpital, je retrouve le 4ème régiment de Hussards.

Le 1er septembre 1921 je me marie avec Thérèse Thierry-Mieg (originaire de Thann en alsace) avec qui nous aurons 6 enfants.

Promu capitaine le 23 décembre 1921, affecté au 14e régiment de Dragons le 19 janvier 1922, j’entre à l’École d’Application de Cavalerie de Saumur le 7 août pour y suivre le cours des lieutenants d’instruction, et où j’obtiens la mention Très bien. Je reste à ma sortie à l’Ecole d’Application de Cavalerie comme instructeur d’équitation.

Volontaire pour servir au Maroc, j’embarque le 20 juin 1925 et rejoint le 1er escadron du Maroc du 7ème régiment de Spahis. Placé à la tête de cette unité, je participe aux opérations les plus dures de la guerre du Rif et me distingue notamment à la prise d’Amerghou en août 1925 et lors de l’attaque de l’Adjer-Abbès en septembre.

NB : Il obtient une citation à l’ordre de la 3e Division d’Infanterie de Marche du Maroc et la Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieurs le 15 janvier 1926 : « Officier de toute valeur, a su par son entrain et son sang-froid obtenir le maximum de tout son escadron en opérations depuis trois mois. S’est particulièrement distingué à la prise de l’Amerghou le 8 août et à l’attaque de l’Adjer-Abbès le 5 septembre 1925. »

Le 8 février 1926, mon escadron étant rapatrié en Algérie, et en raison de mes connaissances en matière équine, j’occupe le poste de capitaine acheteur au dépôt de remonte et d’étalons de Mazagan (96 kms de Casablanca).

Rapatrié le 21 juin 1927, je suis affecté comme instructeur d’équitation à l’École d’Application de Cavalerie de Saumur (pendant 5 ans), où je forme toute une génération d’officiers. Par la même occasion je participe en tant qu’écuyer du Cadre noir à de nombreux concours hippiques pendant cette période.

En 1933 j’obtiens le 4ème prix de dressage lors de l’épreuve internationale qui se déroule à Vienne en Autriche.

NB : Il n’en néglige pas pour autant le remplacement du cheval par le moteur et se montre un fervent soutien du général Flavigny grand l’artisan de la mécanisation de la cavalerie française. En avril-mai 1933, je suis le cours de franchissement du grade de chef d’escadrons.

Promu chef d’escadrons le 24 septembre 1933, je prends le 6 juin 1934 le commandement du 5ème groupe d’automitrailleuses. Du 10 avril au 6 mai 1935 je suis le cours des commandants de formations motorisées.

Pressenti pour prendre part aux Olympiades de Berlin je ne suis finalement pas sélectionné.

Je suis nommé au grade d’Officier de la Légion d’Honneur le 19 décembre 1934.

Le 15 octobre 1936, je suis muté en tant que commandant en second au 8ème régiment de cuirassiers à Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Le général Altmayer, inspecteur général de la cavalerie, note à mon propos en octobre 1938 : « Toujours excellent. Véritable chef d’unité mécanique et motorisée. » La même année, je suis le cours des officiers supérieurs à Saumur.

Promu Lieutenant-colonel le 24 mars 1939, je passe au 1er régiment de hussards, à Angers, comme commandant en second. Du 14 au 27 mai, je suis le cours des commandants de groupement d’artillerie à Mailly(71).

Le 2 septembre 1939, je suis mobilisé à la tête du 7ème Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d’Infanterie (1ère DIM). Après avoir stationné dans la région Sud-Est de Cambrai, puis à Bohain et Premont dans l’Aisne, le 7ème GRDI fait mouvement sur Sézanne le 1er octobre 1939, puis sur la région de Lassigny le 5 novembre 1939. Dans cette période, je m’attache à former mes hommes aux terribles combats qui se préparent.

NB : pendant cette période il est reconnu comme un chef à la fois ferme et bienveillant.

Affecté le 14 novembre 1939 au centre d’organisation mécanique de la cavalerie (COMC) de Fontevrault, je reçois le 1er janvier 1940 le commandement du 1er régiment de cuirassiers et qui avec le 2^ème régiment de cuirassiers de mon ami le Lieutenant-colonel Touzet du Vigier (futur Général Commandant la 1^ère DB) nous formons la 5e Brigade Légère Mécanique (BLM) du général de Lafont, intégrée à la 3e Division Légère Mécanique (DLM) du général Langlois.

NB : Henri de Vernejoul apporte dans ses nouvelles fonctions toutes ses qualités d’organisateur, d’instructeur et de chef qui lui ont été reconnues partout où il a servi. En quelques semaines, malgré la jeunesse et le manque d’expérience de ses cadres, il réussit à former des escadrons de combat prêts pour la bataille au point de vue technique, tactique et moral.

Le 10 mai 1940, après un séjour de 6 semaines au camp de Sissonne j’entre en Belgique avec le reste de la 3e DLM (corps de cavalerie Prioux) dans le cadre de la manœuvre Dyle. Le 13 mai, dans le secteur de Jauches (au Nord-Est de Gembloux), les chars du régiment livrent leur première bataille. Je lance sur le flanc de la IVe Panzerdivision trois pelotons de Somua. En quelques minutes, nos chars français détruisent un grand nombre de panzers. Mais cette victoire est sans lendemain, car l’irruption des forces motorisées allemandes à Sedan oblige le commandement français à ordonner l’évacuation de la Belgique. Le 1er régiment de cuirassiers se replie avec le reste de la 3e DLM. NB : dans les circonstances les plus difficiles, de Vernejoul maintient ses unités au plus haut degré d’agressivité luttant et contre-attaquant sans répit en particulier aux Quatre-Bras près d’Arras et vers Armentières.

Embarqué à Dunkerque le 1er juin avec tous ses équipages démontés, il parvient par son exemple personnel, et malgré les exemples déprimants des arrières du champ de bataille, à conserver à ses équipages toute leur vigueur morale.

Le 3 juin 1940 je reviens en France et refuse d’abandonner la lutte.

Je reforme en Normandie, avec les restes de mon régiment, une troupe improvisée de combattants à pied autour de laquelle se regroupent peu à peu des éléments variés : infanterie, section d’artillerie, groupe franc de cavalerie. Toujours dans le cadre de la 5e BLM, désormais commandée par le Lieutenant-colonel Touzet du Vigier, je poursuis le combat avec cette unité, que nous arrivons à transformer en un bloc cohérent. Nous nous replions vers la Loire où j’organise la défense sur un front de 40 km entre Candes et Savonnières (Indre-et-Loire). Pendant 3 jours et 2 nuits, du 18 au 20 juin 1940, nous bloquons l’avance de forces allemandes bien supérieures aux notres sur le fleuve, au pont (encore intact) de Port-Boulet à l’Est de Saumur. Nous nous replions par la suite sur la Clain, sur la Charente puis vers Nontron (Dordogne), où nous nous trouvons lorsque l’armistice est signé.

NB : pour son action en mai et juin 1940, de Vernejoul sera fait commandeur de la Légion d’honneur le 23 août 1940, avec la citation suivante : « Splendide chef de corps, donnant à tous l’exemple des plus rares vertus militaires. Tous les chars de son régiment de combat détruits par le feu, a refusé d’abandonner la lutte et a transformé spontanément ses équipages en combattants à pied. Avec des effectifs très réduits, autour desquels, grâce à son énergie, des formations très variées sont venues s’amalgamer peu à peu, a organisé et conduit la défense de la Loire sur un front de 40 kilomètres, de Candes à Savonnière. A réussi à interdire le passage du fleuve à des forces très supérieures au pont de Port-Boulet, pendant trois jours et trois nuits (18, 19 et 20 juin 1940). »

Il est également compris dans la citation à l’ordre de l’armée de la 5e BLM (1er et 2e cuirassiers) en date du 9 juin 1940 : « Unité de nouvelle formation, instruite par des chefs éminents : le général de Lafont, le colonel du Vigier (2e RC), le lieutenant-colonel de Vernejoul (1er RC) qui surent lui communiquer leur esprit du devoir et leur foi. Après une marche à l’ennemi, longue et rapide, mettant déjà à l’épreuve l’énergie des équipages de chars, ces unités sont entrées d’emblée avec un allant magnifique dans la fournaise du combat sous les ordres de ces mêmes chefs qui les avaient instruites, luttant victorieusement contre les unités mécaniques allemandes, arrêtant leurs attaques et les contre-attaquant sans arrêt, permettant ainsi à la DLM, du 10 au 13 mai 1940, de remplir sa mission. Employés ensuite, du 14 au 23 mai, soit dans le cadre de grandes unités attaquées par des engins blindés, soit dans le cadre de la DLM, ces régiments ont affirmé la même ardeur et le même mépris du danger. La 5e BLM (1er et 2e cuirassiers) peut être citée en exemple de ce que peut faire une troupe instruite, disciplinée, ayant l’esprit de camaraderie, de devoir et de sacrifice. »

Maintenu dans les cadres de l’armée d’armistice, je reçois le 7 août 1940 le commandement du 11ème régiment de Dragons. Le 1er septembre 1940, je passe à la tête du 12ème régiment de cuirassiers, à Orange et suis promu colonel le 25 mars 1941.

Le 9 mai 1941, je pars pour le Maroc où je dois prendre le commandement du 1er Régiment de Chasseurs d’Afrique, à Rabat, en remplacement du colonel Dor de Lastours.

Le 24 juillet 1942, je suis nommé adjoint au général Leyer, commandant de la cavalerie du Maroc.

Dans la nuit du 8 novembre 1942, alors que les troupes américaines commencent à débarquer à Casablanca, je suis appelé au téléphone par le général Noguès, résident général et commandant en chef des troupes du Maroc, qui m’apprend qu’il est bloqué par des éléments rebelles du RICM du colonel Magnan, agissant sur ordre du général Béthouart. Aussitôt, je préviens le commandant du 1er RCA, qui parlemente et finit par libérer la résidence. Peu après, le 1er RCA et le 1er Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains sont engagés contre les Américains débarqués dans la zone de Port-Lyautey. Des combats meurtriers nous opposent aux Américains pendant 2 jours (le 1er RCA perd une dizaine de chars).

NB : Les Américains, qui manquent d’être rejetés à la mer, menacent de bombarder Casablanca lorsque le cessez-le-feu intervient, sur ordre de Darlan qui a pris entre-temps le commandement des forces françaises d’Afrique du Nord (10 novembre). Le 12 novembre, il succède au général Leyer à la tête de la cavalerie du Maroc. Il est promu général de brigade à titre temporaire le 24 décembre 1942.

Le 1er mai 1943, je suis placé à la tête de la 2ème Division Blindée créée à Rabat. Cette division prend le numéro 5 le 1er juin 1943, le numéro 2 ayant finalement été attribué à la division blindée commandée par le général Leclerc. En septembre 1943, la division s’équipe avec le matériel livré par les Américains et débarqué à Casablanca en avril et en mai, puis en septembre 1943.

Je suis prend en charge l’entraînement de ma Division blindée au Maroc et en Oranie. Après la réussite du Débarquement de provence le 15 août 1944 et 17 mois d’entraînement intensif, ma 5ème DB est prête au combat et quitte l’Oranie en septembre 1944. La division débarque en France, où elle est rattachée à la 1re Armée Française du général de Lattre. Le 2 octobre, elle est regroupée en Provence.

La 5e DB est transférée par voie ferrée dans le secteur de Vesoul, où elle se concentre à la fin du mois d’octobre 1944. A partir du 3 novembre, le Combat Command 6 (CC6) du colonel Tritschler est engagé dans la vallée du Bouchot dans le cadre des opérations de diversion menées par le 2ème Corps d’Armée français dans les Vosges et destinées à faciliter la percée du 1er Corps d’Armée français dans la trouée de Belfort. Ces combats, menés sur un terrain peu favorable, s’achèvent le 6 novembre 1944.

Le 14 novembre, les chars du général de Vernejoul participent aux opérations de la trouée de Belfort, contribuant de manière décisive à la rupture du front à Héricourt et à Montbéliard. La division est ensuite lancée dans le sud de l’Alsace où elle atteint la rivière Doller. Ses Combat Command 4 et 5 (CC4 et CC5) participent à la manœuvre de Burnhaupt (20 au 26 novembre) qui se solde par l’encerclement du LXIIIe corps d’armée allemand. Le 28 novembre, la division s’aligne sur la Doller, prête à foncer vers le nord à partir du Pont-d’Aspach, vers Colmar, afin de tendre la main à la 2e DB venue de Strasbourg (libérée le 23/11/1944). Mais, le 30 novembre, le général de Lattre commandant de la 1ère Armée française annule cette opération.

La Division se met alors sur la défensive avant d’être retirée du front…ce qui sera vivement dénoncé par le Général de Vernejoul. A la fin du mois de décembre, le CC5 est envoyé dans la région d’Obernai(67) afin de relever la 2e DB. Le 5 janvier 1945, il est mis à la disposition de la 3e Division d’Infanterie AlgérienneA afin de participer à la défense de Strasbourg, menacée par le retour offensif allemand lié à la bataille des Ardennes.

Le 17 janvier 1945, le général de Vernejoul est cité à l’ordre de la 1ère Armée française: « Officier Général ayant au plus haut degré le sens du devoir et de l’honneur. Par son expérience de l’arme blindée, son rayonnement personnel et sa foi patriotique, a su faire de la 5e DB une grande unité d’élite qui, engagée dès le 15 novembre dans les Vosges et en Alsace, a livré victorieusement les combats acharnés de Héricourt, Montbéliard, Belfort, Dannemarie, Thann et Kaysersberg, capturant à l’ennemi plusieurs milliers de prisonniers et un abondant matériel en lui infligeant des pertes sévères. Vivant au contact de ses troupes, partageant leur gloire et leurs fatigues, est pour tous un symbole et un exemple. Quatre fois blessé. Titulaire de huit citations. »

Du 20 janvier au 9 février 1945, la 5e DB, rattachée au 21e corps d’armée américain, participe aux combats de la réduction de la poche de Colmar. Le 2 février 1945, son CC4 du général Schlesser pénètre dans Colmar. Nommé gouverneur de Colmar, Henri de Vernejoul assure le nettoyage de l’agglomération. Jusqu’au 9 février, le reste de sa division réduit les derniers nids de résistance.

Photo prise à Colmar le 2 février 1945 avenue de la République.

De gauche à droite : le maire Edouard Richard (avec les lunettes et le béret) – le préfet Fonlupt-Espéraber – le général de Vernejoul – le général Schlesser du CC4.

Après les combats de Colmar, il reçoit la Bronze Star américaine pour services éminents rendus au combat du 26 au 30 janvier 1945 : « Le général de Vernejoul a dirigé les opérations de sa division blindée avec autant d’audace que de brillante intelligence tactique a l’appui de la 3e division d’infanterie américaine au Nord et à l’Est de la ville de Colmar. Appuyant invariablement l’infanterie de ses chars lorsqu’il le fallait, le général de Vernejoul a fait manœuvrer ses blindés fort habilement détruisant les points fortifiés de l’ennemi et ses arrière-gardes avec la plus grande rapidité. »

Il est également fait commandeur de la Legion of Merit pour « ses dons de chef et sa coopération de tout cœur avec les unités américaines, participant efficacement au succès de la campagne qui réduisit la poche de Colmar. Sa division traversa le canal de Colmar en étroite liaison avec les 3ème et 28ème divisions américaines et occupa la ville de Colmar. Grâce à son habileté tactique et sa dévotion tenace, à l’esprit du devoir, le général de Vernejoul contribua grandement au succès des opérations qui chassèrent l’ennemi de la Basse-Alsace à l’Ouest du Rhin. »

Après plusieurs semaines d’inaction, la 1ère Armée française repasse à l’offensive le 15 mars 1945 avec, pour objectif, le franchissement du Rhin et la conquête du Sud-Ouest de l’Allemagne. Le CC6 est engagé aux côtés de la 3e DIA lors de l’opération préliminaire sur la Lauter (15 au 18 mars), puis lors de l’assaut de la ligne Siegfried. Le 25 mars, il est promu général de Division.

La 5^ème Division Blindée franchit ensuite le Rhin à Mannheim. Le CC4 participe à la prise de Karlsruhe avec la 2e Division d’Infanterie Marocaine (4 avril) tandis que le CC5 atteint le Neckar. Avec la 1ère DB, la 5ème DB prend part à la manœuvre de Freudenstadt. Au cours de ces opérations, et pour la première fois de la campagne, le général de Vernejoul a ses trois Combat Command sous ses ordres directs. Parti de Pforzheim, il lance ses chars vers le sud en direction de la capitale du Wurtemberg, Stuttgart, dont il s’empare le 21 avril.

Le 16 mars 1945, la 5e division blindée est citée à l’ordre de l’armée : « Magnifique division blindée, animée du plus noble idéal et du plus pur esprit de devoir et de sacrifice. Sous les ordres d’un chef à l’âme haute, le général de Vernejoul, la 5e division blindée a combattu sans désemparer un ennemi ardent et tenace dans les terrains les plus difficiles pour lui arracher de haute lutte la terre sacrée d’Alsace. Engagée en division ou en groupements tactiques, seule ou en liaison intime avec les unités d’infanterie françaises et américaines, a contribué au succès de nos armes dans la trouée de Belfort, dans les Vosges et en Alsace, infligeant à l’ennemi des pertes très sévères, lui capturant plus de 6 000 prisonniers et un abondant matériel de guerre. S’est particulièrement distinguée à Montbéliard, Héricourt, Belfort, Dannemarie et à Thann lors de la course sur Mulhouse et au cours de la progression en Haute-Alsace, puis à Orbey, Kaysersberg, Kientzheim, Ensisheim lors de la première poussée sur Colmar. A pris enfin une part décisive à l’offensive sur Brisach et à la libération de Colmar, subissant sans faiblir les chocs les plus rudes, à la pointe du combat, ouvrant la voie à l’infanterie, se mêlant à elle pour repousser les ultimes assauts d’un ennemi acharné à défendre les derniers arpents d’une terre française qui a toujours été l’enjeu d’une lutte plusieurs fois séculaire. S’est montrée ainsi en toutes circonstances l’égale des plus belles unités qui ont fait l’honneur et la gloire de la cavalerie française. »

Mais, le 22 avril, à cause de divergences de vues avec le général de Lattre, il est obligé de céder le commandement de la 5ème DB au général Schlesser.

Le 15 novembre 1946, la 5e division blindée sera citée une seconde fois à l’ordre de l’armée : « Grande unité blindée qui, sous l’énergique conduite du général de Vernejoul, a été intimement mêlée à toutes les actions et à tous les succès du 2e corps d’armée. Dès le débouché de la forêt de Haguenau et au cours de la percée de la ligne Siegfried, le CC6 aux ordres du colonel Boutaud de Lavilléon appuie étroitement la 3e division d’infanterie algérienne. Disputant la priorité aux fantassins aux points de passage du Rhin, le CC4 aux ordres du général Schlesser et le CC5 aux ordres du colonel Mozat appuient et entraînent la 2e division d’infanterie marocaine et la 3e division d’infanterie algérienne. Le premier arrache Pforzheim à l’ennemi tandis que le second atteint le Neckar. Puis c’est l’audacieuse action du CC6 qui faisant tête de pont au Sud de l’Enz, oblige l’adversaire à concentrer ses efforts devant la porte qu’il a ouverte sur Stuttgart. Soudant en même temps son action à celle de la 2e division d’infanterie marocaine, en plein cœur de la forêt noire, le CC4 s’enfonce en coin dans les positions âprement défendues par la 257e division. Par la brèche ainsi ouverte, et suivi du CC5 qui se précipite droit au Sud sur les débouchés de Freudenstadt, le CC4 exploit d’un seul élan sur Colm, Negold et Horb. Toute la 5e division blindée dans la main de son chef, est alors découplée vers l’Est. Fonçant sans désemparer pendant 60 heures, elle enlève Tübingen et Reutlingen avec le CC5 et, prenant Stuttgart à revers, elle y pénètre au soir du 21 avril avec le CC4 et le CC6 qui entreprennent aussitôt le nettoyage de la ville. Le CC5, pointant vers le Sud, atteint Sigmaringen, ouvrant ainsi par le Nord la voie du Danube. Puis, tous moyens réunis, la 5e division blindée, sous l’ardente impulsion du général Schlesser, fonce en direction de la frontière autrichienne qu’elle atteint la première le 29 avril 1945. Continuant hardiment sa progression, nettoyant au passage les rives du lac de Constance, elle franchit et dépasse l’Arlberg le 7 mai 1945. Ce raid magnifique achève la désorganisation de l’ennemi après lui avoir enlevé douze mille prisonniers et un important matériel de guerre. La 5e division blindée s’est montrée fidèle aux plus vieilles traditions de la cavalerie française. »

Le 22 avril 1945, il prend le commandement de l’armée blindée et de la cavalerie de la 1ère armée française, poste secondaire qui consiste essentiellement à organiser l’instruction et à gérer le personnel. Il occupe ce poste d’abord auprès du général de Lattre puis auprès du général de Monsabert, commandant supérieur des troupes d’occupation en Allemagne. Il est promu général de division à titre temporaire le 8 mai 1945. Par arrêté du 1er septembre 1945, ses nominations de général de brigade à titre temporaire et de général de division à titre temporaire sont transformées de droit en nominations définitives.

Placé sur sa demande dans la deuxième section des officiers généraux le 15 avril 1946, au bénéfice de l’ordonnance sur le dégagement des cadres, il est élevé à la dignité de grand-officier de la Légion d’honneur le 7 mai 1946 avec 35 ans de services et 12 campagnes.

Retiré dans sa propriété de Chanteyrie à Nyons (Drôme), il se consacre à la culture des oliviers. En 1964, il fonde la confrérie des chevaliers de l’olivier qui se consacre à la reconquête du marché de l’olive par les producteurs des baronnies.

Le général de division de Vernejoul est décédé le 22 août 1969 à l’hôpital civil Édouard Herriot à Lyon (Rhône). Il est inhumé à Nyons.

Ses décorations :

Grand-officier de la Légion d’honneur,

Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (5 citations),

Croix de guerre 1939 (5 palmes),

Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieurs (1 citation),

Croix du Combattant,

Médaille coloniale avec agrafe de vermeil « Maroc 1925 »,

Médaille commémorative de la Grande guerre,

Médaille interalliée de la Victoire,

Médaille commémorative de la guerre de 1939-1945 avec agrafes « France », « Afrique », « Libération » et « Allemagne »,

Médaille des Blessés,

Commandeur de la Legion of Merit (États-Unis),

Bronze Star Medal (États-Unis),

Officier avec glaives de l’Ordre d’Orange-Nassau (Pays-Bas).

NB ; avec Armand Durlewanger, il a publié Autopsie d’une victoire morte : essai comparatif non conformiste de la bataille d’Alsace en novembre-décembre 1944, d’après l’étude d’archives françaises et allemandes, de témoignages et de rapports inédits (1970).

Képi et fanion de Commandement du Général de Vernejoul portant la devise de la 5ème Division Blindée “FRANCE D’ABORD” avec sa Croix de Guerre et ses 2 palmes.

Born in Brest on July 27, 1920, a native of the small village of Le Conquet, with a baccalaureate in philosophy, he joined the army in 1938.

Voluntary enlistment for: three years on: November 7, 1938A l’Intendance Militaire de Brest In the 24th Infantry Regiment

Appointed 1st class on January 28, 1940, then Corporal on April 16, 1940.

Assigned to the 3rd Corps Franc Motorisé on June 3, 1940, and to the 2nd Motorized Cuirassiers Regiment on June 19, 1940.

For his commitment to fire during the Battle of France, he was cited in the Regimental Order on June 25, 1940:

“Engaged in the battle as soon as the 3rd Groupe Franc Motorisé was formed, and separated from its leader following the Moray battle (June 15), it brought its personnel and all its equipment back to the Loire in good order. From June 18 until the armistice, continued to do his duty bravely in the ranks of the 2nd Cuirassiers”.

Pierre Lefranc – place and date unknown (source Lefranc family) :

He was then posted successively to the 93rd R.T.S, the 15th R.T.A and the 16th B.C.I.

From January 15, 1941 to July 24, 1941, he attended the preparatory platoon for the grandes écoles in Toulouse.

He was appointed Sergeant on May 15, 1941.

Volunteering for Syria, he was posted to the 7th Algerian Rifle Regiment (7ème RTA) at the end of the preparatory platoon at St Cyr.

He arrived in the Corps on September 8, 1941 with the 7th Cie, then the 9th Cie on November 1, 1941.
He re-enlisted for 1 year on Nov. 14, 1941, then for a further 2 years on October 20, 1942 at the Intendance de Sétif (Algeria).

With the 7th RTA, he was awarded a second citation on December 26, 1942, in the Divisional Order:

“At the head of a section of young soldiers who had never experienced fire, on December 3, 1942, spirited them into attacking and then assaulting a strongly held position”.
Croix de guerre 1939-1940 with Bronze Star.

On November 2, 1942, he was sent to the Ecole des Elèves-Aspirants at Cherchell-Médiouna, which trained some 5,000 officers and ranks for the reborn French army from 1942 to 1945.

Appointed “Aspirant d’active” on May 16, 1943, he was assigned to the Bataillon de Parachutistes n°1 (BCP n°1) and was posted to the 5th company on May 23, 1943.

He obtained his brevet Parachutiste d’Infanterie de l’Air on June 15, 1943 (n°1138).

He moved with the regiment from Fez to Oudja on October 7, 1943, for training at the 82nd US Airborne Training Center, from Oudja to Fondouk on December 19, 1943, and from Fondouk to Bordj Ménaiel on January 7, 1944.

On April 5, 1944, it flew from Maison Blanche to Trapani in Sicily. On July 8, 1944, the regiment reached Rome by rail, where it remained until September 5, when the 1st RCP landed in Valence-Chabeuil in the Drôme region of France.

It took part in the Vosges campaign, fighting in the Gehant forest, on the Col du Menil, and on coasts 1008 and 1111.

He was wounded for the first time on October 18, 1944, as recounted in the 5th Company (5ème Cie) logbook:

“At 5:30pm on October 18, 1944, the enemy harassed the 9th Cie sector. Aspirant Le Franc went out on patrol with his platoon, with the mission of assessing the size of the enemy elements. The night is very dark. Aspirant Le Franc is wounded at the start of the action. The patrol returned without result”.

Appointed Second Lieutenant, he joined the 5th Company of the 1st RCP on November 29, 1944.

On December 14, 1944, second lieutenant Le Franc lost his life at the age of 24:

For this last action, he received his third and final commendation; posthumously in the Air Force Order:

“Magnificent platoon leader, of unshakeable courage and tenacity. Never ceased to give of himself at the head of his platoon, paying with his person and always leading his men with an irresistible élan, of whom he had made a team to his devotion. He always kept his faith in victory intact, constantly demonstrating his desire to run into battle and communicating his magnificent fanaticism and cold resolve to those around him. Wounded in action on October 18, 1944, volunteered to return to his unit on December 12, 1944, while on convalescent leave. Died a glorious death on December 14, 1944 in Mayholz wood, while giving orders to maneuver the enemy resistance that was stopping the company”. This citation includes the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with palm.

Posthumous commendation in the Order of the Air Force, July 18, 1946 (source: Lefranc family).

Extract from the history of the 1st RCP – “PHASE OPERATIONNELLE EN ALSACE DU 1 AU 22 DEC 1944” :

Thanks to his little nephew and his family, we are able to present these rare and precious documents to you today.

We thank them warmly for sharing them with us, so that we can commemorate his memory and that of all those young men who gave their lives to liberate our country from the Nazi yoke.