The Joan of Arc Battalion was a military unit which fought on the side of the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. It was composed of volunteers from France, Belgium and Switzerland.
| Joan of Arc Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Bataillon Jeanne d'Arc | |
 | |
| Active | 1937–April 1939 |
| Country |  France,  Belgium and  Switzerland |
| Allegiance |  Nationalist faction |
| Type | Foreign volunteer |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | 500 men |
| Patron | Saint Joan of Arc |
| Engagements | Spanish Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Paul Lavigne-Delville Henri Bonneville de Marsangy † |
History
editThe Joan of Arc Battalion was formed in 1937 by Paul Lavigne-Delville, a French general and veteran of World War I.[1] The battalion was initially commanded by Captain Henri Bonneville de Marsangy until his death in 1937. Many members of the battalion were members of the Croix-de-Feu, the French Social Party, Action Française, and the French Popular Party.[2]
The Joan of Arc Battalion was a small unit because of the lack of propaganda and recruitment in France and the dispersion of French volunteers into other units.[3]
References
edit- ↑ François Gerber, Mitterrand, entre Cagoule et Francisque (1935-1945), L'Archipel, 2016. (ISBN 9782809820430)
- ↑ "La extrema derecha francesa en España: mitos y realidades de la bandera. Jeanne d'Arc (1936-1939). | CEPC". www.cepc.gob.es.
- ↑ Alain Sanders, ¡ Arriba España !, FeniXX réédition numérique, 1er janvier 1997 (ISBN 978-2-402-16073-5)