After the Torch landings and the massive desertion of French units in Northern Africa, French right-wing politicians asked for the establishment of a new unit to fight against the invaders following the model of the LVF on the Eastern Front. Even though recruitment in France started with a certain degree of success, indecision about the convenience of strongly opposing the Western Allies plagued the high command of Vichy France, and the formation of the volunteer nit advanced at snail's pace.

Furthermore, German authorities did not trust in the reliability of such a volunteer unit, and even though they accepted the presence of French volunteers in Tunisia by December 1942, they provided no transport to bring them there. Finally, by the start of 1943, the French volunteer unit was disbanded and all volunteers discharged.

Thus Laval's chimerical dream of a 10,000 men force fighting shoulder by shoulder with the Germans to defend Tunisia came to nothing.

Nevertheless, this inglorious outcome opened the door to a far more realistic project. A mission formed by French officers was sent to Tunisia in December 1942 to recruit French settlers and civil servants to form a small volunteer unit. The recruitment office was opened in Tunis on 1 January 1943.

The Germans, in great need of whatever help they could get to resist the Allied pressure, quickly accepted the formation of this new unit and authorized the use of French uniforms and weapons along with the German helmet to prevent costly mistakes.

By the start of March a company-sized unit was formed with 210 French volunteers, a hodge-podge of young and old men, both veteran and green. Captain Dupuis, a decorated veteran of both World Wars, commanded three fusilier platoons and a heavy platoon equipped with two 60mm mortars, two 47mm antitank guns, and three machine guns.

The unit was trained by Russian Front veterans in Bordj-Cedria, near Tunis. There the French soldiers realized the superiority of German training methods over their own, thus understanding some of the superiority of the Wehrmacht over French armed forces in 1940.

Having completed training, the unit made its oath on March 18th, swearing allegiance to Marshall Petain as the head of state and Hitler as military commander. The unit, known until now as the 'Legion Imperiale" by the military mission, also received its official name as the 'Legion des Volontaires Frangais en Tunisie" (Legion of French Volunteers in Tunisia). Nevertheless, it would be popularly known as the Phalange Africaine, the name used by French volunteers for the unit.

The Phalange Africaine was immediately sent to the front and attached to 334 Infantry Division's II/754 Infantry Battalion, entering the line of fire on April 9th. French volunteers received German greatcoats, to further prevent mistakes, and rifles, to make ammo supply easier. They were deployed northeast of Medjez-el-Bab, near the Medjerda River, facing the 1st British Division, with a corresponding boost to morale as no Allied French units were in front of the volunteers.

Artillery harassment started soon and the first mortal loss was suffered by the Phalange Africaine on April 14th. One day later, night patrols engaged British soldiers for the first time with success, and the first decorations were awarded.

From the 20th on, the sector defended by the 334 ID became hotter, and the Allies launched a big offensive on April 23rd. The 6th company was destroyed, and the 7th and the Phalange suffered serious losses defending Longstop Hill, so both were merged into a composite company.

In spite of heavy losses, the Phalange went on fighting as no reserves were available. It would have been annihilated if some nebelwerfers had not stopped an attack launched by British tanks on April 26th.

A strongly needed relief arrived on April 27th, and the remnant of the Phalange was withdrawn to rest and refit, but the German front collapsed by nightfall and a general fighting retreat took place. The agonizing fight reduced the Phalange to 89 men by May 1st; the last elements ceased resistance in Tunis one week later.

To Sicily

The military mission and Captain Dupuis were evacuated to Sicily while the men were discharged to prevent capture. In spite of this, the Allies captured most of the survivors, fourteen of them being immediately executed as traitors by Free-French forces. Nevertheless, a few of them managed to reach Europe and joined the LVF in Russia.

In three weeks of heavy combat the Phalange had suffered 6 KIA, 7 WIA, and 57 MIA (some 40-50 estimated dead). The Phalange Africaine performed far better than the LVF near Moscow, and its performance was comparable to that of any neighboring German unit.

This change may not be worth the trouble, but just for historical accuracy I'd say the Phalange Africaine portrayed in Tunisia is overrated. It looks like the existence of a battalion level HQ to command the unit misled Dean. I think it should be a 1-4-3 company (0-4-4 in move mode) instead of a 2-4-3 battalion. Optionally, it could also be permanently attached to 334 German Infantry Division (divisional stripe) earning the ability to spot for divisional artillery and use the organic truck but losing a little flexibility in its use to prevent extra supply expenditure.