Croix De Feu armband

**Aldo** · 01-10-2019, 11:04 PM

I picked up this interesting French armband as worn by the Croix De Feu , a Nationalist French League from the interwar period. The Croix De Feu were primarily WWI veterans who had been awarded the Croix de guerre between 1914-1918. I suppose they were similar in scope to the German Freikorps in that they demonstrated and fought against Socialism and Communism. This is generally not my area of collecting but I was drawn to the skull emblem and thought it would fit in nicely with my Totenkopf collection.

Compared with a German TK for size and detail

**Aldo** · 01-11-2019, 04:40 PM

Here is a period photograph of Colonel de la Rocque, leader of the Cross of Fire movement wearing the armband.

Credit: Bison GMIC forum

**AZPhil** · 01-11-2019, 05:40 PM

That is my first time seeing one. Your looks in very good condition.
Thanks for sharing and my learning experience.

Semper Fi
Phil

**CBH** · 01-11-2019, 06:35 PM

Another great items, and I too was unaware of it's existence.
Informative, post well done Al.

**Aldo** · 01-11-2019, 06:42 PM

by AZPhil

That is my first time seeing one. Your looks in very good condition.
Thanks for sharing and my learning experience.

Semper Fi
Phil

Thanks Phil, I was unaware of them until I saw one on a British website but it was pricey. Then I found this one on ebay for about a third of the price. Funny thing is that if I had seen the ebay one first I would have dismissed it as some type of fantasy item. They are not really rare just not as well known.

Regards, Al

**Aldo** · 01-11-2019, 06:43 PM

by CBH

Another great items, and I too was unaware of it's existence.
Informative, post well done Al.

Thanks Chris, if it's got a skull on it I'll seek it out eventually.

**CBH** · 01-11-2019, 06:51 PM

I haven't yet seen any British 17th Lancers motto's in your collection, they have lots of variations in design. I have a couple somewhere.
But all things in time.

**lebus12** · 01-11-2019, 06:56 PM

Nice, I have some, one of my friends was from the family of Colonel De la Rocque.

He was deported in Flossenburg.

**Aldo** · 01-11-2019, 07:13 PM

by CBH

I haven't yet seen any British 17th Lancers motto's in your collection, they have lots of variations in design. I have a couple somewhere.
But all things in time.

I have been looking at them and thought about branching out in that direction. Post yours if you find them, maybe it'll peak my interest like that beautiful Hussarn busby TK you have.