1939-1954 Legion Memoirs

[Peter Lyderik]

detvarsådet

[hannibal]

Hi Peter!

Before I start can we make some "rules"? First when writing which campaigns did the author take part can we also write next approximate date when the legionnaire was serving in the Legion. Secondly I suggest we divide the memoires par nationality. Can you make small flag icons, load them on this forum and then below we will make a list for every country? I would like that very much. I mean Leslie Aparvary doesn't tell me much, although form his surname I would presume the legionnaire was a Hungarian.

We will need flag icons for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, USA, Brasil and United Kingdom. I have titles from these countries. Here are the Flag icons. Can you load them on this website?

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Below every flag we will make a list. Sounds this OK to you?

I suggest we also include WW2 and Indochina memoires from Scandinavian countries again, thus to make the list really complete. Do you agree with me?

I will start with my titles later. Got to go out right now as I am working on a new garage. :D

[Peter Lyderik]

approximate date when the legionnaire was serving in the Legion Yes, if known.

About the flags. Can't download anything from the flag site, so the titles I post will be under countries names, Germany, England, etc.

Scandinavian titles too, fine with me.

[hannibal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

UNITED KINGDOM

* Tomorrow to Be Brave: A Memoir of the Only Woman Ever to Serve in the French Foreign Legion by Susan Travers, 2001. (WW 2 and Indochina)

* I Was Winston Churchill's Bodyguard by Edmund Murray, 1987. (WW 2, French Indochina 1945)

* In order to die by Henry Ainley, 1955. (Indochina)

* French legionnaire by Alfred Perrot-White, 1953. (WW2)

* Nothing to lose. Five years in the Foreign Legion from Sidi-Bel-Abbas to Dien Bien Phu by Colin John, 1956. (Indochina)

* Strange company by Adrian John Liddell Hart, 1953. (Indochina)

* Scum of the Earth by Arthur Koestler, 1941. (WW2 - French Campaign 1940)

* Far to go by Brian Stuart, 1947. (WW 2)

* Escape from the Legion by Ted Harris, 1945. (WW 2)

* Bid the Soldiers Shoot by John Lodwick, 1958 (WW2 - French Campaign 1940)



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HUNGARY

* A Legionnaire's Journey by Leslie Aparvary, 1989. (Indochina)

* Légionnaire en avant! by Janos Kemencei, 1985. (Indochina)

* A Thousand Shall Fall by János Békessy (alias Hans Habe or Jean Békessy), 1941. (WW2 - the author served in the 21eme Regiment de Marche des Volontaires Etrangers during French campaign 1940)



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GERMANY

* Vom Legionär zum Vietnamoi. Erlebnisbericht des Ehemaligen Legionär 51484 by Werner Stage, 1955. (Indochina)

* Verkaufte Jahre. Ein Deutscher Fremdenlegionär berichtet über seine Erlebnissein Indochina und Nordafrika by Hans E. Bauer, 1957. (Indochina)

* Nein Hitler! by Pierre Dezon, 1975. (WW2)

* Freiwillige in den Tod. Ein Deutscher erlebt die Dschungelhölle von Indochina by Albert Verbeet, 1955. (Indochina)

* Verwirklichte Wünsche Verwünschte Wirklichkeit by Josef Amann, 1994. (Indochina)

* Legion Etrangere. Tatsachenbericht nach Erlebnissen und Dokumenten von Rückkehrern aus Vietnam by Günther Halle, 1953 (WW2 and Indochina)

* Legio Patria Nostra. Das Buch der Fremdenlegion by Willy Theisinger (Indochina)

* Einmal Legionär: Was ich in der Legion gelernt habe by Philipp Rosenthal, 1981. (WW2)

* Brennend heißer Wüstensand. Ein Fremdenlegionär kehrt heim. Die Lebensgeschichte des Adolf Karos by Wolfgang Zöller, 1986. (Indochina)

* Flugsand by Ernst Neubach, 1945. (WW2)

* Autoportrait by Hans Hartung, 1976. (WW2)

* La France que je cherchais. Les impressions d'un Russe engagé volontaire en France by Joseph Ratz, 1945. (WW2)

* L'officier de Magdebourg by Marc Toledano, 1984. (WW2)

* The Survivor: The Story of Eddy Hukov by John Ehle and Eddy Hukov, 1958. (Indochina)

* The Last Adventurer by Rolf Steiner, 1976. (Indochina)



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SWITZERLAND

*Aus der Hölle von Indochina ins Gefängnis. Aus dem Tagebuch eines Schweizer Legionärs by Bruno Noli, 1955. (Indochina)

* In der Hölle der Fremdenlegion. Tatsachenbericht by Walter Widmer, 1955 (WW2 and Indochina)

* Stationen meines Lebens. Erfahrungen eines Fremdenlegionärs by August Pressler, 1990. (WW2)

* Das Leben eines Fremdenlegionärs: ein Schweizer erzählt wahrbeitsgetru seine Erlebnisse in Indochina und Algerie by Ernst Speck, 1960. (Indochina)

* Fremdenlegionär 000/518: Entführung aus der Fremdenlegion by Franz Rispy, 1956. (Indochina)

* Le Bourlingueur by Marius Lottaz, 1983. (WW2 and Indochina)

* So erlebte ich Vietnam by Willy Angst, 1966. (Indochina)


To continue....

[hannibal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

FINLAND

* Viidakkosota by Simo Simola, 1955. (Indochina)

* Valmis Tuskaan ja Kuolemaan by Harry Lehtonen, 2004. (Indochina)

* Raft of Despair by Ensio Tiira, 1954. (Indochina)



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DENMARK

* Sahara, Narvik, Brest by Svend R. Christensen, 1942. (WW2)

* Bag fjendens linier by Sjak Svendstorp, 2002. (Indochina)

* Helvede tur/retur by Jack Hansen, 1956 (Indochina)



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AUSTRIA

* Umbruch-Österreicher: über die Hitler-Jugend zur Fremdenlegion 1931 - 1957 by Leo Raslag, 2005. (Indochina)

* Vietnam, mon amour. Ein Wiener Jude im Dienst von Ho Chi Minh by Ernst Frey, 2001 (WW2 and Indochina)

* Vom Fremdenlegionär zum Botschafter beim Hl.Stuhl. Erinnerungen 1939 - 1975 by Hans Reichmann, 1982. (Indochina)

* Sur le chemin des étoiles à la Légion Etrangère by Hugo Geoffrey, 1997. (WW2)



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

* Yankee fighter: the story of an American in the French Foreign Legion by John F. Hasey, 1954. (WW2)

* American Guerilla: Fighting Behind the Enemy Lines by Capitaine Douglas M. Smith with Cecil Carnes, 1943. (WW2 - North Africa)

To continue...

[Rapace]

Guys: when you've come up with a 'finished' product, let me or Joe know, so that we can put it in a 'sticky'.

[hannibal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Czech Republic

* S cudzineckou legiou na Narvik by František Tunák, 1941. (WW2)

* Moje matka cizinecká legie by Karel Hora, 1993. (WW2 and Indochina)

*S cizineckou legií proti Rommelovi: Válečný deník českého důstojníka cizinecké legie by Otto Wagner, 1970. (WW2)

* Češi v cizinecké legii by Otto Janka, 2000. (general book: WW2 and Indochina)

* Válčil jsem v poušti by Richard Zdráhala, 1990. (WW2)

* Zbylo nás devět by Jiří Osolsobě, 1989. (WW2)

* Život v odboji: Autentické svědectví o osudech čs.vojáků za druhé světové války by Josef Beneš, 1999. (WW2)

* Osud byl mým přítelem: Podle rukopisné pozůstalosti by Miroslav Vild, 1988. (WW2)

* Nebyli jsme svatí...: Vzpomínky příslušníka československé zahraniční armády na válečná léta 1939-1945 by Blahoslav-Cyril Zavadil, 1996. (WW2)

* Černá je řeka legionářů: Voják a později seržant a rotmistr Cizinecké legie. Účastník války o Francouz. Indočínu 1949-1954 by Otto Janka & Jan Ryšavý, 1995. (Indochina)

* Red Sky at Night. The Story of Jo Capka by Josef Čapka, 1958. (WW2)



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SWEDEN

* Vi som intog Narvik by Sture Ronnö, 1972. (WW2)

* Skjuta eller dö: Med Franska Främlingslegionen i Afrika och Indokina by Bengt Korch, 1954. (Indochina)

* Beredskapsminnen från Övre Norrland 1939-1944 by Assar Tano and others (WW2)

* Jag var främlingslegionär by Harry Forsberg, 1942. (WW2)



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SLOVENIA

* Spomini Slovenca v tujski legiji by Rajko Cibic, 1998. (WW2 and Indochina)

* Vojakovi spomini by Stojan Cirk, 1975. (WW2)

* Dolga vojna pot savinjskega splavarja: Od mobiliziranca v nemško vojsko do De Gaullovega vojaka by Alojz Jeraj, 2002 (WW2 - six page long personal account)



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BRASIL

* Tempos de Inquietude e de Sonho by Raul Soares da Silveira, 2004. (WW2)


To continue....

[hannibal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

ITALY

* Legione è il mio nome by Giuseppe Bottai, 1950. (WW2)

* Cafard: Dalla legione straniera by Massimo Andreatini, 1952. (Indochina)

* Ce soir nous monterons tous au Paradis by Gustavo Camerini, 2002. (WW2)

* Matricule 80546, journal d'un légionnaire by Jean Rossi, 2004. (WW2)

* La Légion marche sur Rome by Giulio Cesare (alias Silvagni), 1961. (WW2)

* Des hommes simplement by Nello Bardi, 1991. (Indochina)



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BELGIUM

* L'héroïque épopée by René Mittenaere, 1967. (WW2)

* Les Belges et la légion étrangère by Guy Weber, 1984. (WW2 and Indochina)

* En 1940, je n'avais pas 18 ans by André Elen, 1989. (WW2)



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THE NETHERLANDS

* Legionnair, van Marokko's vagevuur naar de hel van Indo-China by Ernst Wilhelm Lamberty, 1954. (WW2 and Indochina)

* A Lamb to Slaughter by Jan Montyn, 1985. (Indochina)



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POLAND

* Ucieklem z Legii Cudzoziemskiej by Tadeusz Klimaszewski, 1954. (Indochina)


To continue....

[hannibal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

LUXEMBOURG

* Ein Luxemburger Fremdenlegionär, 1939-1940 by Jean-Pierre Schlesser - In the Collection ”Les Amis de l’historie”, 1964. (WW 2)



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SPAIN

* Ces hommes de la Légion... qui meurent pour la gloire by Antonio Ysquierdo, 1993. (WW2 and Indochina)

* Comme si c'etait fini by Léon Arega, 1946. (WW2 - The author served with the 22ème Régiment de Marche des Volontaires Etrangers during the France Campaign 1940)



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RUSSIA

* My father's son by Dimitri Drobatschewsky, 2003 (WW2)


To continue...

[Peter Lyderik]

Added his name. No info about where in France he served.

[The Dude]

Interesting that a Liddell Hart was in the FFL. There is a Liddell Hart who wrote a defining history of the Second World War and is a prominent military historian of the period...

[Peter Lyderik]

I have no more titles to add to this list.

[Denny]

Hi hannibal,
I read Otto Wagner's "S Cizineckou Legii Proti Rommelovi". I used to have this book, but I lost it when we left Czechoslovakia. A very well written, interesting story. The author had a high regard to the French Foreign Legion and this was actually the first time I thought of the Legion not as a people escaping law, but a regular soldiers, tougher ones. Is it still available in Czech bookstores?
Thanks,
Denny

[hannibal]

I read Otto Wagner's "S Cizineckou Legii Proti Rommelovi". I used to have this book, but I lost it when we left Czechoslovakia. A very well written, interesting story. The author had a high regard to the French Foreign Legion and this was actually the first time I thought of the Legion not as a people escaping law, but a regular soldiers, tougher ones. Is it still available in Czech bookstores?
Denny: Occasionally you can still find a copy of this book on sale on a book market or antique bookshops, but very rarely. But you can always borrow it from almost any library in Czech Republic. Try this website - [Only registered and activated users can see links] In June 2005 I saw they had a copy of Otto Wagner's memoires on sale for about 150 - Kč. Let me look quickly... Yep, it is still here.

************************************************** *****
Jméno: S cizineckou legií proti Rommelovi, autor Otto Wagner
Vydal <X-Egem> v roce <1995>, stav: <Velmi dobrý>
Požadovaná cena: 150,- Kč, poslední nabídka: zatím žádná
[ Nabídnout koupi ] [ Kontakt na majitele knihy ]
Položka přidána: 20.6. 2005 20:43:44
************************************************** *****

Go for, Denny! :D

I also recommend Válčil jsem v poušti by Richard Zdráhala. I believe he had fought at Bir Hakeim with capitaine Otto Wagner.

By the way for those who don't know who Denny and I are talking about -> Capitaine Otto Wagner was a real WW2 hero and recipient of almost all French highest decorations for bravery, including the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and Compagnon de la Libération. Here is his short biography taken from the Ordre de la Libération ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) website.

OTTO WAGNER

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De nationalité tchécoslovaque, Otto Wagner est né le 28 mars 1902 à Prague. Son père, professeur, est mort en 1919.

Bachelier, Otto Wagner intègre l'Ecole spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr à titre d'étranger en 1923 (promotion Chevalier Bayard).

Retourné dans son pays, il sert dans l'armée comme sous-lieutenant, lieutenant puis capitaine.

Il quitte la Tchécoslovaquie occupée en 1939 et, via la Pologne, rejoint la France où il est admis à servir dans l'armée à titre d'étranger avec le grade de capitaine.

En octobre 1939 il prend le commandement d'une Compagnie du 2e RI à Agde.

En juin 1940, il prend part à la campagne de France au sein de l'armée tchèque. Pour sa conduite au combat il est décoré de la Croix de Guerre. Après l'Armistice, il est embarqué avec le restant des unités tchécoslovaques vers la Grande-Bretagne.

Il demande à être affecté dans les Forces françaises libres et esrt interné par les Tchèques jusqu'en avril 1941, date à laquelle il s'engage dans les FFL et est affecté au Bataillon de Chasseurs de Camberley.

En mai 1941, il est dirigé vers l'Afrique et, en Syrie, incorporé au 2e Bataillon de la 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13e DBLE) ; il participe, comme commandant de compagnie, à la campagne de Libye.

Otto Wagner s'illustre à Bir-Hakeim (juin 1942) où il tient en échec l'ennemi pendant toute la durée des combats en lui infligeant de lourdes pertes.

Il est grièvement blessé le 24 octobre 1942 à El Alamein lors de l'attaque de la position de Nagrala.

Convalescent, il est rapatrié à Londres en mars 1943 et promu au grade de chef de bataillon. Affecté à la Compagnie Portée du Groupe Motorisé, après un passage au centre d'instruction de Camberley, il est affecté au commandement du 3e Bataillon de Légion Etrangère en janvier 1944.

Affecté à la Direction technique des Services séciaux en mai 1944.

En décembre 1944, il est affecté, sous les ordres du général de Larminat, à l'EM du commandement des Forces françaises de l'Ouest. Il prend part à la libération des poches de l'Atlantique et en avril 1945, il entraîne à l'assaut de la position de Royan un bataillon du 6e Régiment d'Infanterie atteignant tous ses objectifs malgré une vive résistance de l'ennemi.

Démobilisé fin 1945, il retourne en Tchécoslovaquie et y est nommé colonel, commandant d'un régiment d'infanterie. En 1949 et 1950, Otto Wagner suit le cours des officiers généraux à l'Ecole de Guerre à Prague. En 1950, il est nommé commandant en second d'une division d'infanterie.

En 1951, il est limogé de l'armée tchécoslovaque, emprisonné et est obligé de travailler comme manoeuvre pour subsister.

Le colonel Otto Wagner est décédé le 20 mai 1974 à Jihlava. Ses obsèques ont eu lieu à Prague et, selon son désir, ses cendres ont été transférées au cimetière de la Légion Etrangère à Aubagne en France en 1976.

• Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
• Compagnon de la Libération - décret du 7 août 1945
• Croix de Guerre 39/45 (2 citations)
• Médaille Coloniale avec agrafe "Libye"
• Croix de Guerre Tchécoslovaque
• Médaille de la Bravoure Tchécoslovaque
• Médaille de la Résistance Tchécoslovaque

************************************************** ******

I have no more titles to add to this list.
What?!? So fast, Peter? ;) Yeah, I too only have two or three more books to add and then I am finished too. I also need to correct some mistakes. I don't know for that August pressler book, what exactly is about. One review says he fought in Indochina and another he fought in WW2. I think I will put Ww2, because it sounds more convincing and also provided some details about whereabouts was he serving...

Patrick: You said something about putting this thread under "sticky"? We didn't have that at the old Feldgrau forum, eh? Anyway now is the time. Please if you can, can you remove all interim messages and combine all my lists with flags into one whole message. I couldn't do that because this forum allows me only five images or icons per message/thread.

Update of new Legion Books:
- Spain (2)
- Italy (1)
- Germany (2)

[Denny]

Thank you hannibal,
for your information and an excellent post. Your knowledge about Legion history is stunning. May I ask you for a permission to include your list of Legion books on my website? It may be a good source of information for others too.
Thanks,
Denny

[hannibal]

Thank you hannibal, for your information and an excellent post.
You are welcome Denny. I reckon this is at least what i could do in return for your website and your son's photos. :D


Your knowledge about Legion history is stunning. May I ask you for a permission to include your list of Legion books on my website? It may be a good source of information for others too.
I have nothing against, but you need to ask Peter too. I would only ask you if you could wait a little bit longer as I think I still should have somewhere some extra titles. I am pretty sure that there should be some more books about Indochina.

Hey Peter, it has just crossed my mind: What about France? Willing to update this list with the memoires of French Legionnaires and Legion officers from WW2 and Indochina? I think they should deserve a place on this list too, don't you think so too?

Update of new Legion Books:
- Switzerland (1)
- Austria (1)

[Denny]

I have nothing against, but you need to ask Peter too.
Hi Peter,
may I please ask you for a permission to use the FFL book list on my website? I'll wait untill the complete list is finished.

I think it's worth to add in the United Kingdom section:
*Legionnaire My Five Years In the French Foreign Legion by Simon Murray, 1978, Sigdwick and Jackson Ltd, The New York Times Books Co.

Cheers,
Denny

[hannibal]

I think it's worth to add in the United Kingdom section: *Legionnaire My Five Years In the French Foreign Legion by Simon Murray, 1978, Sigdwick and Jackson Ltd, The New York Times Books Co.
Hehehe... Nice try, Denny! :D Check the title, please. Simon Murray did join the Legion in 1980s, while Peter and we decided to make here only a list of memoires for WW2 and Indochina War which are most interesting to us.

But don't give up. I can confirm that there is at least one other English Legion Book about WW2. ;)

As I said I would appreciate if you wait for a bit of time as I have found a couple of more Legion memoires. Actually I would appreciate here some help as for some I am certain that they are from WW2 or Indochina, but I do not know the nationality of the author: British or American, so I need to do some more digging up.

But will include new Czech Legion memoir from WW2. :)

[Peter Lyderik]

Denny,

Of cause you can post the book list on your site.


Hannibal,

Of cause there should also be French Legion officers' and French legionnaires' memoirs on the list.

But would also start a new list of legion memoirs from 1955 to the present. And everybody are welcome to contribute.

[hannibal]

Of cause you can post the book list on your site.
Please wait Denny a bit longer. I still have some titles to add.

Of cause there should also be French Legion officers' and French legionnaires' memoirs on the list.
I agree. Shall you start? ;)

But would also start a new list of legion memoirs from 1955 to the present. And everybody are welcome to contribute.
Be my guest. I am afraid I won't be able to participate much in this section as I know very few of the Legion titles from post-1960.

[Denny]

Thanks Peter,
and sorry for my misunderstanding, the list of all titles would be huge.
Regards,
Denny

[Peter Lyderik]

Hannibal,

French Legion officers' and French legionnaires' memoirs will be your department, because I don't know of any titles.

Added three titles under England. How could we forget Arthur Koestler???

[hannibal]

French Legion officers' and French legionnaires' memoirs will be your department, because I don't know of any titles.
I am having here very hard times to believe that but (un)fortunately I only have two hands. :)

Added three titles under England. How could we forget Arthur Koestler???
Good new titles. I have completely frgotten about Arthur Koestler as well. I have heard for Brian Stuart's book but are you sure that he was an English? One of the reviews I have seen described him as an American, which is also the main reason why I haven't listed his book on this list yet.

Update of new Legion Books:
- United Kingdom (3)
- Hungary (1)
- Germany (1)
- United States of America (1)
- Switzerland (1)
- Austria (1)

[hannibal]

Update of new Legion Books:
- Germany (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
- Italy (1)
- Russia (1)

[Peter Lyderik]

About Brian Stuart.

It says London as printing place for his book in the reference material I have, that is why I guess he is English. What else did the reviews say about his book, if you remember?

[hannibal]

It says London as printing place for his book in the reference material I have, that is why I guess he is English. What else did the reviews say about his book, if you remember?

I don't remember any further details or else you can be sure I would write them here.

Anyway here are some other Legion titles that I have been able to find. For Constantine Joffe I do know that his memoires concern WW2. But I don't know his nationality. Don't know details for Polish memoires either. The books in between are for Scandinavian Books Update. This is most likely my last update of this list.

* Wladyslaw Jagniatkowski: POLAK W LEGII CUDZOZIEMSKIEJ, Warsaw: no date. Memoires of a Polish legionnaire. Campaigns: ? (Poland)

* Erik Soederquist: MED DOEDEN FOER OEGONEN: En Svensks Upplevelser i Franska Fraemlingslegionen. Stockholm: 1932 (Sweden)

* Daniel Bruun: ALGIER OG SAHARA. Copenhagen: 1893 (Denmark)

* Constantin Joffe: WE WERE FREE. NY: 1943. (WW2) - nationality: ?, campaigns: ? (?)

Update of new Legion Books:
- Czech Republic (1)
- Switzerland (1)
- Germany (2)
- United Kingdom (1)

By the way: Peter, I have got Pierre Sergent's book Les Marechaux... What do you want me to copy?

[Peter Lyderik]

Nothing, since I have the book. Thanks for the offer.

[hannibal]

Nothing, since I have the book. Thanks for the offer.
Aha, I see. No offense Peter but why are you then asking me about for the Legion casualties in French Indochina in 1940? This book has all the answers for you. Hell, they even give you the names of the legionnaires who were killed. The first to loose their lifes at Lang Son were a Lithuanian and Italian legionnaire, of which the lattest was, I think, killed by mistake by French bullets.

[Peter Lyderik]

I have never said my French was perfect, so you are more than welcome to point out chapter and page number for 1940 Tonkin and 1941 Thailand figthing.

[hannibal]

I have never said my French was perfect, so you are more than welcome to point out chapter and page number for 1940 Tonkin and 1941 Thailand figthing.
French - Japanese Campaign 1940: p. 151-177
French - Thailand Campaign 1941: p. 203-213

[Peter Lyderik]

Thanks a lot, Hannibal.