Free French Forces High Command Leaders WWII – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

English Translation & Set Overview

• English Translation / Set Title: WWII Free French Forces High Command – 4-Figure General Set

• Historical Era: World War II (1940–1945)

• Faction: Free France (France Libre) / French Armed Forces

This collector’s set brings together the four most prominent and legendary generals of the Free French Forces, showcasing the diverse uniform standards of the era—from formal high command dress to American-supplied armored gear and North African desert attire.

Detailed Character Identification, Description, and Historical Background

1. General Charles de Gaulle (The Leader of Free France)

• Character Identification: Standing as the focal point of the group, de Gaulle is instantly recognizable by his red-topped Képi and formal khaki service tunic, embodying the absolute authority of the French government-in-exile.

• Detailed Description: Utilizing highly detailed 360-degree UV printing, this figure wears a high-ranking French Képi featuring a bright red flat top and a black band adorned with intricate gold oak leaf embroidery. He is outfitted in a formal khaki military tunic with a black tie. A crucial historical detail is printed on his lower sleeves: two silver stars, accurately reflecting his permanent rank of Général de brigade (Brigadier General). He wears a brown leather Sam Browne belt with a cross-strap, matching khaki breeches, and highly polished black leather riding boots.

• Historical Background: Refusing to accept the French surrender to Nazi Germany in June 1940, Charles de Gaulle fled to London and broadcasted his famous “Appeal of 18 June,” urging the French to continue fighting. He became the undisputed political and military leader of Free France, rallying resistance fighters and colonial troops until he triumphantly led the Liberation of Paris in 1944.

2. Major General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque (Commander, 2nd Armored Division)

• Character Identification: Leclerc is easily identified by his pragmatic, American-supplied combat uniform—a stark contrast to the formal French tunics of his peers.

• Detailed Description: He wears a standard khaki French Képi, uniquely displaying three silver stars to denote his rank as a Major General. His torso features an olive green US-style zip-up Tanker Jacket worn over a shirt and tie. His left chest prominently displays the blue shield and red Cross of Lorraine patch of the 2nd Armored Division (2e DB), while his right chest bears printed paratrooper wings and ribbon bars. He wears khaki combat trousers tucked into black officer’s boots.

• Historical Background: Leclerc was a man of intense action who swore the famous Oath of Kufra in 1941, vowing not to stop fighting until the French flag flew over Strasbourg again. Commanding the American-equipped 2nd Armored Division, his forces spearheaded the Liberation of Paris and pushed all the way into Germany, fulfilling his oath.

3. Army General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (Commander, French First Army)

• Character Identification: A highly decorated field commander, de Lattre is distinguished by his top-tier five-star rank insignia and the specific unit patch on his shoulder.

• Detailed Description: The figure wears a khaki Képi adorned with five silver stars, indicating his supreme rank as a Général d’armée (Army General). He wears a crisp, tailored khaki field tunic with four pleated pockets and a brown web belt. The standout detail is the “Rhin et Danube” shield patch printed on his left sleeve, marking his command of the French First Army. He finishes the uniform with matching trousers and black riding boots.

• Historical Background: After escaping a Vichy French prison in 1943, de Lattre joined de Gaulle and was given command of the French First Army. Landing in southern France during Operation Dragoon, his troops fiercely fought their way up the Rhone valley, crossed the Rhine, and invaded Germany. He represented France by signing the formal German instrument of surrender in Berlin on May 8, 1945.

4. Brigadier General Marie-Pierre Kœnig (Hero of Bir Hakeim)

• Character Identification: Kœnig is depicted in a rugged, hot-weather uniform, perfectly suited for the grueling North African campaigns where he made his name.

• Detailed Description: He wears a khaki Képi featuring two silver stars (Brigadier General). His torso is outfitted in a short-sleeved desert khaki tunic designed for extreme heat, displaying military ribbon bars on the chest. His left sleeve features a distinct purple diamond patch bearing the Cross of Lorraine. His lower half includes desert khaki trousers and printed canvas gaiters (leggings) wrapped over brown combat boots to keep the desert sand out.

• Historical Background: Kœnig became a legend during the Battle of Bir Hakeim (1942) in Libya. Commanding the 1st Free French Brigade, he led a heavily outnumbered force in a 16-day defensive stand against Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps. This heroic resistance gave the British Eighth Army vital time to regroup, ultimately changing the tide of the North African theater and proving the formidable fighting spirit of the Free French.