During World War II, Allied French-speaking servicemembers utilized their bilingual abilities throughout Europe, with some of those French-speaking servicemembers coming from south Louisiana and the Canadian maritime provinces.
Cajuns and Acadians grew up speaking French as their native language and learned English later on in school. Although many were ridiculed, their ability to speak French proved invaluable to the Allied efforts overseas. These home-grown interpreters—often nicknamed “Frenchies”—provided valuable liaison between their units and the local French-speaking population, especially those in the French Resistance.
Join The National WWII Museum and the Consulate General of Canada as we salute the last living French-speaking World War II veterans from Canada and south Louisiana.
