Borne du Serment de Koufra War memorial

In the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert, a promise was forged. We stand before the Borne du Serment de Koufra War memorial. It commemorates a pivotal moment in World War II. Early in 1941, near the oasis of Koufra in Libya, a small, under-equipped force of Free French fighters, led by General Leclerc, embarked on a daring mission. Their objective was a fort held by the Italian army. Against all odds, Leclerc’s men prevailed. After fierce fighting, the Italians surrendered on March 2nd. Following this victory, General Leclerc gathered his troops. He made them swear a solemn oath. They would not lay down their arms until the French tricolor flag flew again over Strasbourg. The Borne du Serment de Koufra memorial marks this powerful pledge. This oath became a symbol of hope and resistance for the French people. Three years later, Leclerc’s armored division fought fiercely in Lorraine. They finally liberated Strasbourg on November 23, 1944. The Free French forces had grown. They were joined by soldiers from the Army of Africa, escapees from France via Spain, French North Africans, Spanish Republicans, and volunteers of all faiths and political beliefs. Together they formed the 2nd Armored Division (2e DB). The “Oath of Koufra” markers trace the path of the 2e DB. They mark the route of this division during the Liberation of France in 1944. The memorial project began in 2004. It started in Saint Martin de Varreville, in the Manche region. This is where the 2e DB landed at Utah Beach in August 1944. The Fondation Maréchal Leclerc de Hauteclocque then created the path of the 2e DB. The Borne du Serment de Koufra War memorial stands as a testament to their bravery and the enduring power of a promise made in the desert.