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The Villefranche-de-Rouergue uprising took place on September 17, 1943, when a defensive division composed of about 500-1000 Croats and Bosnian Muslims from Croatia rebelled. The division had been sent by force to France in 1943 by the Nazis to defend against the expected invasion. This was the first rebellion within the German army during World War II, and was highly regarded by the French citizens of Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
When the city was liberated in 1944, they decided to pay tribute to the troops by naming one of its streets Avenue des Croates. According to Louis Erignac, Villefranche-de-Rouergue was the first free city of occupied France.
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Croat SS soldiers
Germany
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