Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is a lovely USGI bring back armband from WWII France, most likely received from a member of the French Resistance during the German occupation. It is a F.F.I. marked Tri-Color armband with an embroidered "Cross of Lorraine" marking and a stitched French flag made of different materials. .

The armband measures approximately 14 1/2" x 4 3/8", and is made of cotton with the Cross of Lorraine and F.F.I. embroidered with black string. Below this is a 3-piece French flag made from three different kinds of materials including silk. The button is still retained which allows for its closure.

A great WWII French resistance armband, ready to add to your WWII collection!

The FFI or French Forces of the Interior (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur) refers to French resistance fighters in the later stages of World War II. Charles de Gaulle used it as a formal name for the resistance fighters. The change in designation of these groups to FFI occurred as France's status changed from that of an occupied nation to one of a nation being liberated by the Allied armies. As regions of France were liberated, the FFI were more formally organized into light infantry units and served as a valuable manpower addition to regular Free French forces. In this role, the FFI units manned less active areas of the front lines, allowing regular French army units to practice economy of force measures and mass their troops in decisive areas of the front. Finally, from October 1944 and with the greater part of France liberated, the FFI units were amalgamated into the French regular forces continuing the fight on the Western Front, thus ending the era of the French irregulars in World War II.

Due to lack of uniforms and equipment FFI fighters created armbands many with the Lorraine cross, colors of the French Flag and FFI in order to properly identify themselves to the various allied fighters moving throughout their country.