Black Lion Decals 72040 AFV's of the French Colonies - World War II

Before 1940, the armoured units in the French African colonies (like the regiments of the Chasseurs d’Afrique) received not only vehicles from the motherland, but also used vehicles designed for use in the hot African climate. After the surrender of France in 1940, the French armies in Africa and the Middle East remained intact though loyal to the Vichy regime. After the British, Free French and American interventions in Syria, Morocco and Algeria, the Vichy troops partly returned to France and partly joined the Free French. In that period, evacuated vehicles from French origin, like the Somua S-35 were used, as well as improvised vehicles like the Dodge-White and the Dodge Tanaké. When the French ´Armee d´Afrique´ crossed the Mediterreanean sea to fight in Italy and Southern France, they were mainly equipped with American vehicles. This decal set covers the pre-war period and the early war period during the Vichy rule over the North African colonies.