![]() In order to give a certain distinction and prestige to France’s modest contribution, General Monclar temporarily gave up his four stars for the five braids of lieutenant-colonel, and was made head of French Land Forces Command (EMFTF), which had overall responsibility for the UN French Battalion. It was intended that losses should be replaced with reinforcement detachments, of which a total of 16 were formed between 19. In September and October 1950, it was set up in Auvour, near Le Mans, from reservists from all arms: infantry, cavalry, artillery, sappers, etc. The United Nations French Battalion (BF/ONU) was born. The French Army, which faced a severe shortage of troops, was initially opposed to providing regular officers and troops for the Korean theatre of operations. ![]() For political reasons (France was, after all, a permanent member of the Security Council and meant to have its voice heard on the big international issues), the French authorities finally agreed, on 25 August 1950, to put together a battalion of volunteers, mostly made up of reservists. © ECPADĮngaged in Indochina and having to fulfil its obligations in the European theatre as well as maintain security in its North African territories, France could only agree to a limited contribution for Korea, and initially refused to send in troops on the ground. Volunteers board the Athos in the port of Marseille, A multinational force was therefore set up, under the aegis of the UN, tasked with restoring South Korean sovereignty by force. The United States approached the United Nations and, on 27 June, the UN secretary-general, Trygve Lie, issued an appeal to Member States to enforce international law. But he was not banking on the response from part of the international community. ![]() Kim Il Sung, the North Korean leader responsible for triggering of the conflict, hoped to crush the ill-equipped and poorly trained South Korean army in no time. Historical article “ La Guerre de Corée soixante ans après : entre histoire et mémoire” (in French) - © ECPAD: Photo gallery - Video - Brochure - Latest news: UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea website - Interactive map of the Korean WarĪt dawn on 25 June 1950, after a short artillery preparation, the North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel, bringing to a head several years of tensions between the two Koreas and marking the start of the Korean War. ![]()
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