Page "First Army (France)" Paragraph 7

The First Army was mainly composed of North African units ( Maghrebis and French Pied-noirs soldiers ) from the Army of Africa which already played a major role in the liberation of Corsica ( September-October 1943 ) and the Italian Campaign ( 1943 – 44 ) in which around 130, 000 of their force's men engaged.

During the French and German campaigns of 1944-45 these units formed the core of the First Army which comprised about 260, 000 men ( including 50 % Maghrebis ), and eventually more than 320, 000 men during its offensive advances in Germany and in Austria,