Opposed to the idea of an armistice, de Gaulle fled to Britain and from there broadcast the Appeal of 18 June Appel du 18 juin exhorting the French people to resist the Nazis and join the Free French Forces. On 13 July , "Free France" was officially renamed Fighting France France combattante to mark the struggle against the Axis both externally and within occupied France.
Exile officially ended after the reconquest of North Africa, when the Free French government relocated from London to Algiers. The AFL participated in the Normandy landings and the invasion of southern France , ultimately leading the liberation of Paris in August , which ushered in the provisional government on French soil. The AFL took part in the Allied advance through France and subsequent invasion of Germany , and by end of the war totaled over 1.
The provisional government ruled France until the establishment of the Fourth Republic in October , having preempted the country's occupation by Allied forces and secured its status as a major power. Historically, an individual became "Free French" by enlisting in the military units organised by the CFN or by employment by the civilian arm of the Committee.
In many sources, Free French describes any French individual or unit that fought against Axis forces after the June armistice. Postwar, to settle disputes over the Free French heritage, the French government issued an official definition of the term. The Dunkirk evacuation was only made possible by the resistance of these troops, particularly the French army divisions at Lille.
Contrary to what is often assumed, French morale was higher in June than May and they easily repulsed an attack in the south by Fascist Italy. A defensive line was re-established along the Somme but much of the armour was lost in Northern France; they were also crippled by shortages of aircraft, the vast majority incurred when airfields were over-run, rather than air combat.
