Circassian Tactical Group and Circassian Squadron in the Second World War

After the capitulation of France under the attack of Nazi Germany in 1940, 8 squadrons of the Circassian group of “Special Forces Levant” were part of the French army of the “truce” period, in other words, the armed forces of the Vichy government. The group was commanded by Colonel Philibert Kolle, who enjoyed great respect among the Circassian soldiers and commanders. According to other data, there were 15 Circassian squadrons, including. three motorized. After the capitulation of France under the attack of Nazi Germany in 1940, 8 squadrons of the Circassian group of “Special Forces Levant” were part of the French army of the “truce” period, in other words, the armed forces of the Vichy government. The group was commanded by Colonel Philibert Kolle, who enjoyed great respect among the Circassian soldiers and commanders. According to other data, there were 15 Circassian squadrons, including. three motorized. On the eve of the summer offensive of the Allied forces against the "Vichis" in Syria and Lebanon in 1941, Colonel Collet defected to the side of General de Gaulle and the "Fighting France". Together with 19 French officers and 300 soldiers, he crossed the border of Palestine and joined the forces of the anti-Hitler coalition. In the ranks of his squad there were many Circassian fighters, various sources call the number from 100 to 200 people. After Collet’s transition to the “Fighting France” side, the Circassian tactical group, which was part of the “special troops...