The French militia is created on January 30, 1943 by the Vichy government. The Germans then require the formation of a suplétive font, and Pierre Laval decides to transform the service of command légionary, which gathers the elements more the extremists of the legion, into a militia. This one receives the mission of contributing to the maintenance of law and order and of fighting against the enemies of the mode. The militia is chaired by Laval. The effective leader is Joseph Darnand, secretary-general. Its leaders, whose Joseph Darnand, were considered and punished with the Release in 1945 (executions, imprisonments).
The " franc-guards " are the militarized fraction of the Militia. As of the end of 1943, they fight against Resistance in connection with the national police force and the German forces.

The militiamans of which balances it significant is increased by premiums of " output ", pursue the Jews, the gaullists, the Communists and the resistant ones of any tendency. They torture and deliver their victims to the Germans, carry out summary executions.

The " militiamans " belong to the elite. Like the SS, they do not carry the luggage of the rabble; they are satisfied to cross the arms on the destiny of crowd. (Raffle of the old workings of Marseilles, one Sunday of January 1943)

In August 1944, approximately 6 000 militiamans take refuge in Germany with Darnand. The majority of them are integrated in brigade S.S. Charlemagne, composed of French volunteers.

LA DIVISION CHARLEMAGNE : replaced, in 1944, la Légion des Volontaires Français. This division gathered to 7.000 French voluntary combatants, engaged under the uniform Nazi to go to fight the Soviets in Russia. The majority of these French volunteers are killed by the Red Army in Poméranie, at the beginning of 1945. Some companies will still fight to defend Berlin against the allied attacks in spring 1945.

Emblème of division Charlemagne

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