65 - Memorabilia of François de La Rocque: Battalion Commander’s kepi, in horizon blue cloth, with braiding, bow, faux chin strap, and gold buttons; varnished visor; gray canvas inner lining with a tan leather band, embossed with the initials “FLR” (minor wear and scuffs); 2 tricolor armbands with Croix de Feu insignia; Croix de Feu lapel badge; National Volunteers badge; badge of the Flying Propaganda Teams of the French Social Party; business card, printed “Lt. Colonel, de la Roque” and handwritten “with my warmest regards.”

Memorabilia of François de La Rocque: Battalion Commander’s kepi, in horizon blue cloth, with braiding, bow, faux chin strap, and gold buttons; varnished visor; gray canvas inner lining with a tan leather band, embossed with the initials “FLR” (minor wear and scuffs); 2 tricolor armbands with Croix de Feu insignia; Croix de Feu lapel badge; National Volunteers badge; badge of the Flying Propaganda Teams of the French Social Party; business card, printed “Lt. Colonel, de la Roque” and handwritten “with my warmest regards.” Provenance: a former subordinate during World War I, who followed him to the Croix de Fer and then to the PSF, and subsequently passed down through the family. Note: François de La Rocque (known as de Séverac) (1885–1946) Born into a Legitimist family, he entered Saint-Cyr in 1905 and served on the Moroccan frontier under General Lyautey from 1910 to 1916. He returned to France to fight on the front lines and was seriously wounded. Declared unfit for duty, he requested to return to the front. In 1918, at age 33, he became the youngest battalion commander. From 1919 to 1927, he was assigned to Marshal Foch’s General Staff, serving in Poland and then in Morocco. In 1928, he left the Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel, joined the leadership of the Croix-de-Feu, and in 1931 became its leader, a position he held until the organization’s dissolution in 1936. From 1929 to 1936, his movement grew from 2,000 to 300,000 members. The Front Populaire dissolved the Croix-de-Feu upon its formation. After the defeat of 1940, he advocated resistance against the occupying forces. He joined the active resistance in 1941; in 1943, he was arrested, along with many other leaders of his party. After six months in prison in France, he was deported to Bohemia, then to Austria. He was liberated on May 7, 1945, by the Americans. In France, he was held in administrative detention until the end of 1945. He died as a result of injuries sustained during World War I and the aftereffects of his deportation.