French Cameroon, Free French Cameroon

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French Cameroon, 1 franc, 1943.  Obverse.




French Cameroon, 1 franc, 1943.  Obverse.

French Cameroon issued only two denominations in 1943: 50 centimes and 1 franc.

Each came in two varieties.

The legend on one reads (in French) "Free French Cameroon".

The legend on the other reads (in French) "French Cameroon".


Does anybody know the stories behind these two different versions?

Both had the same size and weight, despite the images.

[Figleaf]

Does anybody know the stories behind these two different versions?

In 1940, Charles De Gaulle made a radioed appeal to the French to reject the armistice made by Pétain and to continue to resist by joining the France Libre movement. French Cameroun chose for De Gaulle already in 1940, as the local government feared the nazis would claim it as a former German colony. On June 3, 1943, De Gaulle's movement was merged with the Comité français de libération nationale (French committee for national liberation), headed by general Giraud. Eventually, De Gaulle headed the new organisation. On June 3, 1944, the organisation changed its name to Gouvernement provisoire de la République Française (provisional government of the French republic), claiming sovereignty over liberated French areas after the Normandy invasion.

The change in legends reflect the 1943 name change.

Peter

[<k>]

Thank you, Figleaf.