Family Kieffer Collection ©
Who are we ?
Welcome to the website of the Association des Familles de Commandos de la France Libre (AFCFL-CK), which brings together descendants of the Free French Commandos and sympathetic members.
The AFCFL-CK is a non-profit association (under the French 1901 law) dedicated to promoting, honoring, and preserving the memory of all the fighters who made a personal commitment between 1942 and 1945 as part of the Fusiliers Marins and Commandos of Free France (1st Company, later the 1st Battalion of Fusiliers-Marins Commandos), integrated into British commandos (No. 2, No. 10, and No. 4). In this capacity, some participated in combined operations such as Dieppe, reconnaissance raids on the coasts of occupied Europe, Colleville-sur-Orne, Ouistreham, Amfreville, Bois de Bavent, Ferme de l’Épine, Flushing, the liberation of Walcheren Island, and raids in the Netherlands.
Our Values
Preserve, honour, recognize, and pass on the memory of the Free French Commandos to pay tribute to these volunteer fighters who helped restore our freedom while unknowingly making history.
Memory
Preserve their stories
Commitment
Unite new generations
Transmission
Share their story
Family Kieffer Collection ©
Family Kieffer Collection ©
The Myth of the 177
The image of the "177 Frenchmen of D-Day" has become inseparable from the 1st BFMC. While this number is accurate for June 6, 1944, it obscures a much broader reality: as demonstrated by the work of Benjamin Massieu, more than 400 Frenchmen wore the green beret between 1942 and 1945. The 177 represent only the unit at a specific moment in time—the men present and operational on the morning of the landings.
Why Does This Myth Persist?
Within the vast Allied operation, the image of 177 Free Frenchmen landing on Sword Beach is simple, striking, and immediately evocative. However, this focus overshadows all those who were part of the unit before D-Day: volunteers trained as early as 1942, men transferred to other units, the wounded, the sick, those discharged, and those who died during the 1943–1944 raids—all of whom contributed to this chapter of history.
It also excludes the reinforcements who arrived after June 6, particularly those who joined the battalion in the Netherlands in December 1944. Although they did not land in Normandy, these men are fully part of the operational and human history of the 1st BFMC.
Why Focus Only on the 177?
Because June 6 provides a clear, well-documented figure that has been strongly emphasized in commemorations. This number has become a stable memorial reference, sometimes at the expense of the true diversity of the more than 400 French commandos who served from 1942 to 1945.
For this reason, the Association des Familles de Commandos de la France Libre has made it its mission to restore the full history of these men, by recalling the names, journeys, and commitments of all who served in the unit—not just those already known to the public. By reintegrating all 400 commandos into the collective memory, the Association helps restore the unit’s true human and historical dimension
The highlights of our commemorative presence
84th anniversary of Operation Jubilee
19/08/2026
Dieppe
On August 19, 2026, ceremonies marking the 84th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid paid tribute to the Allied servicemen who took part in Operation Jubilee. At the Canada Square in Dieppe, the tribute recalled the sacrifice of the Canadian soldiers during the assault.
In Varengeville-sur-Mer, the ceremony highlighted the actions of British No. 4 Commando, which successfully neutralized the German battery.
In Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer, the tribute also recalled the involvement of the French commandos. Frenchmen François Baloche**, René Taverne and Noël Rabouhans** took part in the operations conducted in this sector alongside the Allied forces.
Their commitment bears witness to French participation in the fighting and to the determination to continue the struggle against the occupying forces.
In Berneval-le-Grand, the ceremony paid tribute to the men who fought against the German battery. It notably commemorated the death of Serge Moutailler, who took part in these particularly difficult operations.
These individual stories give a human face to the sacrifice of the men who fought on August 19, 1942. In 2026, this tribute recalls the courage of these men and the price paid for freedom.
It also highlights the bonds of friendship that today unite France, Canada and the United Kingdom around this shared memory.
They support us
Mme Corinne FÉRET
Senator from Calvados (Normandie)
I fully support this association, whose work actively contributes to the duty of collective remembrance. Its actions not only honor these heroes but, above all, ensure that their legacy is permanently inscribed in our present. For younger generations, this historical transmission is essential; it transforms memory into a tool for shaping the future.
Our Partners
