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Portraits of Commandos

The Free French commandos constituted a community of volunteers whose often little-known stories reflected the diversity of France at war.

Sailors, soldiers, rich or poor, French or foreign, career military or committed civilians, all joined the unit created by Philippe Kieffer to liberate their country in the way they deemed most effective.

Their individual trajectories — sometimes brief, sometimes long and complex — shed irreplaceable light on the history of the 1st BFMC.

This section brings together their biographical notes, in order to restore each one to their place in the unit and to give full human depth to the collective history of the Commando.

First initial of the last name

Landing

Campaign

Normandy

-

Département

Normandy

-

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Ashes scattered off Colleville-Montgomery (14 – Calvados).

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Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the cemetery of Illats, locality of Saint-Roch (33 - Gironde)

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-

-

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the Pollet Cemetery in Dieppe (76 - Seine-Maritime) - Plot 1525

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-

-

Département

-

-

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery - Surrey - England – Plot 29, Row F, Grave 40

SEE MORE

Normandy

-

Département

Normandy

-

Campagnes
Raids

Dieppe - Group 1

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the British Military Cemetery at Hermanville-sur-Mer (14 - Calvados)

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Normandy

-

Département

Normandy

-

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried at Guénange cemetery (57 – Moselle).

SEE MORE

-

-

Département

-

-

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the Northern Cemetery of Rouen (76 - Seine-Maritime)

SEE MORE

Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried at Chiswick Old Cemetery in Hounslow, London – United Kingdom – Location W4 2PH.

SEE MORE

-

-

Département

-

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the municipal cemetery of Sampigny (55 - Meuse)

SEE MORE

Normandy

Flushing

Département

Normandy

Netherlands

Campagnes
Raids

Lieu de séputlure

Buried in the municipal cemetery of Ploudalmézeau (29 - Finistère) - North-West Section, Row 8, Plot No. 4–5

SEE MORE

Name

Landing

Campaign

Raids

Burial place

  • Page 12
Normandy
-
Landing
Normandy
-
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Ashes scattered off Colleville-Montgomery (14 – Calvados).

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in the cemetery of Illats, locality of Saint-Roch (33 - Gironde)

SEE MORE
-
-
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in the Pollet Cemetery in Dieppe (76 - Seine-Maritime) - Plot 1525

SEE MORE
-
-
Landing
-
-
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery - Surrey - England – Plot 29, Row F, Grave 40

SEE MORE
Normandy
-
Landing
Normandy
-
Campaign
Raids
Dieppe - Group 1
Burial place

Buried in the British Military Cemetery at Hermanville-sur-Mer (14 - Calvados)

SEE MORE
Normandy
-
Landing
Normandy
-
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried at Guénange cemetery (57 – Moselle).

SEE MORE
-
-
Landing
-
-
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in the Northern Cemetery of Rouen (76 - Seine-Maritime)

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried at Chiswick Old Cemetery in Hounslow, London – United Kingdom – Location W4 2PH.

SEE MORE
-
-
Landing
-
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in the municipal cemetery of Sampigny (55 - Meuse)

SEE MORE
Normandy
Flushing
Landing
Normandy
Netherlands
Campaign
Raids
Burial place

Buried in the municipal cemetery of Ploudalmézeau (29 - Finistère) - North-West Section, Row 8, Plot No. 4–5

SEE MORE
  • Page 12

Call for Testimonies

The Association des Familles de Commandos de la France Libre works to restore the full history of these men, beyond just June 6, 1944. Testimonies and family archives help keep alive the memory of all the men who served in the unit between 1942 and 1945.

If you have stories, documents, or memories to share, please contact us. Your contribution is invaluable in preserving their legacy.

June 6, 1964 - Ouistreham

Family Kieffer Collection ©

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