PEOPLE OF WW2 COLLECTION

A figure of Captaine de Frigate Philippe Kieffer in 1944

Creator of Fusiliers-Marins Commandos in 1941 who later in 1942 were involved with the raid on Dieppe.

In 1943, the French Commando had grown to two troops, and was regularly used for night raids on the shores of France and the Netherlands during the preparations for the invasion of Normandy. In 1944, the 177 men of the 1er BFM Commando were integrated into the British No. 4 Commando under Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson, part of the 1st Special Service Brigade under Brigadier Lord Lovat.

Since Luxembourg did not have its own units, some Luxembourgish volunteers were incorporated in the 1er BFM Commando and took part in the landings and battles of Normandy

On 6 June 1944, at 0731, the Bérets verts (Green berets) landed in Ouistreham, Benouville, Amfreville and Bavent, designated as Sword Beach. Kieffer, recently promoted to capitaine de corvette (OF-3), led his men personally.

The unit suffered 21 killed and 93 wounded; Kieffer himself was almost immediately wounded twice, hit by shrapnel in the leg, but refused evacuation for two days.

Kieffer rejoined his unit on 14 June, in time to take part in the breakthrough towards the Seine and Honfleur.

Along with two of his men, he was among the first members of the Free French Forces to enter Paris. His 18-year-old son, who had recently joined the Maquis, was killed by German troops near Paris at nearly the same time.

2 Versions included:

1 with and 1 without a base.

The base is also included as an option