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France has a long tradition of military service, producing a wealth of draft, enlistment, and service records invaluable to genealogists. Beginning with the French Revolution, conscription became systematic, with military draft lists (listes de recrutement) created for all eligible men. These records often include birth details, physical descriptions, residences, occupations, and sometimes notes about family. Service records (feuilles de services) and pension files add layers of information, detailing military careers, battles fought, injuries, and awards. The Napoleonic era, the Franco-Prussian War, and the World Wars generated particularly rich sets of documents. Additionally, exemptions and deferments were meticulously recorded, providing further personal context. For anyone tracing French ancestors, these military records offer not only vital statistics but also a deeper understanding of their ancestors' lives and the historical forces that shaped them.
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Military
Draft, Enlistment & Service
- France, Military Death Index, 1914-1961 5,332,259 records
- France, Military Enlistees and Conscripts of Nord 1,050,192 records
- France, World War II Prisoners of War 957,825 records
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