The huge Hochwald fortress was one of the most important ones in the Maginot line, comprising 11 battle bloks, 9 casemates and a crew of 1071 officers and men. This photo depicts Sous-Lieutenant Coquard, the commander of Block 1, standing at his comand post, allegedly preparing a test firing of its 135mm, date unknown.

Hochwald Fortress

French troops on their way to the fighting lines in Tunisia shake hands with American soldiers at the rail station in Oran, Algeria, North Africa, on December 2, 1942. 

Oran, Algeria

A Spitfire VC of Free French Air Force’s GC II/7 “Provence” taking off from Taher Airfield, Costantina area, Algeria, February 1944. Formed at Bône, Algeria, on September 1943, the “Provence” on December of the same year was embedded on the British Royal Air Force as No 328 Squadron Coastal Command missions over the Western Mediterranean. Victor Sierra