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French legion graves
Dear All,
Recently I discovered this very interesting grave picture of french volunteers buried among the German soldiers. I am trying to figure out the location as well as the date of the photo. Moreover any useful info on the French volunteers in Russia is welcome, as i cannot find much info about it.
Here is what I was able to gather so far. As it is clear from the picture they are buried along the soldiers of the 488 infantry regiment Lexikon der Wehrmacht - IR488 that fought in the 268 infantry division around Tula being part of the XXIV Corps 268th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The photo must be taken before October 1942, as the regiment was renamed thereafter.
The french volunteers fought around Moscow during the operation "Typhoon" (according to wiki starting in December). Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lexikon der Wehrmacht - IR638
My take is that the picture is taken somewhere around Moscow (direction west-south west) in October (you see some of the first snow). So the LVF must have fought directly at the arrival ans suffered losses.
Alternatively, the picture can be taken in spring 1942 after the Moscow counteroffensive. However, it is not likely as Germans lost territory where LVF was fighting, but it could be also a hospital graveyard in the rear.
I also checked the names on the graves on grabensuchen.de and was not able to find:
-Johann Schnegg
-Mathias Wolf
-Michael Stoger
-Fernand Combalugier
-Jean Touret
All the other names I was not able to read (any help on reading the names, dates, regiments will be much appreciated!!!!).
Thanks a lot in advance!
Regards,
Evgeni
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03-10-2013 09:53 AM
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Re: French legion graves
An interesting photo Evgeni with the Tricolour painted on the grave markers, i must admit i don't know much about the History of the early French volunteers and it's a shame that the dates just can't be made out.
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
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Re: French legion graves
Hello,
The third french name visible on the photo is "Louis Pradère".
Thanks
The sacrifice of life is a huge sacrifice, there is only one that is more terrible, the sacrifice of honor
In Memoriam :
Laurent Huart (1964-2008)
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Re: French legion graves
Thanks! Is there any database on the French soldiers fallen in WO2?
by
JPhilip
Hello,
The third french name visible on the photo is "Louis Pradère".
Thanks
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Re: French legion graves
Perhaps you can search with the German names...
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Re: French legion graves
Tried that already, no result, so looking for other sources or more names atm.
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Re: French legion graves
Unusual that none of the names can be found in the database , a few Johann Schnegg but none that fit the time scale !!
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
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Re: French legion graves
Exactly! Maybe it can be found in WAST, as I only checked the grabenshuchen.de, though I doubt it.
by
Paul E
Unusual that none of the names can be found in the database , a few Johann Schnegg but none that fit the time scale !!
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Re: French legion graves
Due to circumstances would not a lot of these men served under a 'Nomme de Guerre' and therefore might be harder or maybe impossible to trace effectively?
Just a thought.
Regards, Ned. (My Nomme de Guerre...)
'I do not think we can hope for any better thing now.
We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker of course, and the end cannot be far.
It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more. R. SCOTT.
Last Entry - For God's sake look after our people.'
In memory of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans. South Pole Expedition, 30th March 1912.
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Re: French legion graves
Also possible!
by
big ned
Due to circumstances would not a lot of these men served under a 'Nomme de Guerre' and therefore might be harder or maybe impossible to trace effectively?
Just a thought.
Regards, Ned. (My Nomme de Guerre...
)
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