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Active Defense is a tactic used by theFrench Foreign Legion.

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Example

The French Foreign Legion applied this tactic at the Battle of Bir Hakeim aganst the Nazi and Italian forces during WWll. The FFL tried to stop the German and Italian forces in their advance to the Suize canal. The attacking German and Italian forces formed an incuracling band around Bir Hakeim, outnumbering the Franch forces 10 to 1. The German Commander, Rhonald, belived that the battle would be over in a day, but every time the Nazi's and Italians approached the French position, they assaulted with concentrated anti-tank and rifle fire, keeping the Axis at bay. The FFL also conducted nighttime raids on Axis supply lines, slowing the German and Italian advance, and forcing the Germans and Italians to change their formation to protect their supply lines. The Germans and Italians attempted to contain the Franch Legion for 2 weeks, a crucial 2 weeks for the Allied powers. At the end of the second week, the French forces were down on supplies, so they snuck out to fight another day. The FFL detected small gaps and hinges in the German and Italian lines and snuck through them at night to escape cotainment. Wiston Churchill later said that the Allies owed their survival to the resistance of the French Foreign Legion at the battle of Bir Hakeim. 

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