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1st Brigade spent the remainder of the war at Dunkirk, alternately attacking and being attacked by the energetic German garrison. During that time the brigade was reinforced by French units formed from local FFI forces; on 15 October these were amalgamated into the 110th French Infantry Regiment of two battalions, and on 24 January 1945 the regiment was redesignated 51st French Infantry Regiment and expanded to four battalions. Various British and Canadian formations also supported the siege at one time or another.
In November the brigade passed from Canadian 1st Army back to direct control of Montgomery’s 21st Army Group. In the spring of 1945 the 1st Armoured Brigade was expanded to 5900 Czechoslovak officers and men, some of whom came from nationals recruited in liberated France, and some from countrymen forced to serve in the Wehrmacht and were then captured by the Allies.
The Dunkirk garrison did not surrender until 9 May 1945, at which time 15,500 German troops and three U-boats were taken by the Czechoslovaks.
Organization in September 1944: