Last Stand at Marchelepot ETO (id:#66196)

(Internet: David Craig ID: DC3)   [next]   [previous]

Marchelepot, France 1940-06-05 (12 others)

Overview:

After the outbreak of war in 1939, the French government formed three regiments of foreign volunteers, the regiments de marche des volontaires etrangers, (RMVE). Although associated with the Foreign Legion, they were technically separate units and included large numbers of Spanish exiles. Poorly equipped and hastily trained, little was expected of the RMVE. But the conduct of the 22e upheld the finest traditions of the legion with which it was loosely linked. From March 22 to 25 it fought valiantly on the Somme front, and on June 5 it held the fortified village of Marchelepot against a full-scale combined arms assault by the 4th Panzer Division. But after sustaining casualties of more than fifty percent, and critically short on ammunition, the 22e faced a second German attack the next day.

Defender: French (Remnants of the 22e RMVE)  

Errata (source)