French Soldier Serving in Wehrmacht

[Edelweisse]

Hi Folks:

Years ago, I bought this French WWII soldier's medal grouping.....I have limited French language knowledge....any help would be appreciated....he served in French army...captured in Dunkirk (?)...POW and then served in Wehrmacht in Russia...and then re-patriated...I think???

[panzer1432]

Really cool !!

[H.W Plainview]

hi !

very nice indeed, it says he was Corporal in 1939 at 405 DCA (anti aircraft) in north Dunkirk. He was POW and enrolled in wehrmacht in January 1944. He fought in Belgium, Russia and (surrender to Russian?) to come back in August 1945.

[Lionel H.]

Not very rare, but nevertheless scarce to find because few Families are parting with..... Perhaps "Edelweisse" don't know : the Alsace and part of the Lorraine Regions were considered by NS-Germany to be part of the Reich, young people born there were obliged to serve in the german Army (1942-1945).

they were called "Malgré-Nous" ("despite ourselves").

Approx 134.000 served during WW2, and approx 30% were KIA. This last percentage is subject to debate.

Note the special case of the Guys born in 1926, 50% were forced to serve in the Waffen-SS.

THis was after the war a difficult subject in eastern France, especially because some of them were implicated in the Oradour sur Glane slaughter. The Bordeaux trial in 1952, were the Alsatians finally walked free of the court, was the culmination of this painful story.

[jujuy]

more deserted that surrendered. It says "it went to russians". If he was released in august 1945, most surely a deserter (from the wehrmacht)

hi !

very nice indeed, it says he was Corporal in 1939 at 405 DCA (anti aircraft) in north Dunkirk. He was POW and enrolled in wehrmacht in January 1944. He fought in Belgium, Russia and (surrender to Russian?) to come back in August 1945.

[Edelweisse]

Thank you for the info sharing ....yes I’m aware that the eastern part of France was controlled by Germany Franco-Prussian war 1870-71 etc.... I lived and worked in Germany 15 yrs. Again THANKS