French troops injured in Syria during the Allied invasion sailing back to France on September 27, 1951

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In June-July 1941, the British Army, along with General Charles de Gaulle's troops invaded Syria through Iraq and Palestine, with the aim of breaking the control of Vichy France over Syria and Lebanon. The military campaign lasted until July 12, when Vichy's forces surrendered, signing the Convention of Acre. Vichy lost a total of 6,000 men and 37,736 prisoners of war. Remaining French troops who were based in Syria were given a choice of either joining the Free French Army of de Gaulle, or being re-patriated into Metropolitan France. Over 5,000 chose to join de Gaulle's Army.