Armies of France Third Edition: French, Vichy & Free French Forces Explained

French commanders are getting their own dedicated army book for Bolt Action: Third Edition. Armies of France: Third Edition expands French forces far beyond the familiar battles of 1939–40, providing army lists for conventional French forces, the Vichy Armistice Army, and the Free French.

For the first time in Bolt Action, France receives an entire army book of its own. Alongside unit profiles and national special rules, the book includes historical background, artwork, photography, and hobby inspiration covering French forces throughout the Second World War.

It is also arriving alongside a significant expansion of Warlord Games' French miniature range, including new plastic Foreign Legion infantry, heavy weapons, artillery, and an all-plastic starter army.

If you're planning a French force, browse our Bolt Action collection for miniatures, starter armies, vehicles, books, and accessories.

Quick Summary: Armies of France Third Edition

• Dedicated French Army Book: France receives a complete Bolt Action Third Edition army book.
• Three Main Army Lists: French Army 1939–40, Vichy Armistice Army, and Free French.
• National Special Rules: Dedicated rules help distinguish French forces on the tabletop.
• Expanded Unit Selection: The book covers French forces across different periods and theatres of the war.
• Limited Resistance Representation: Some Resistance units appear within the Free French list, but this is not intended to replace a dedicated Partisan force.
• New French Plastics: The book is accompanied by Foreign Legion infantry, heavy weapons, French 75 artillery, and the Hold the Line! starter army.
• Special Miniature: Marie-Pierre Kœnig accompanies the special book-and-miniature release.

What Is Armies of France: Third Edition?

Armies of France is the dedicated French faction book for Bolt Action: Third Edition.

It contains the army lists, unit profiles, national special rules, and background information needed to build French forces for the current edition of Bolt Action.

The important change is its scope.

France's involvement in the Second World War did not end with the German victory in 1940. French forces subsequently fought under very different political and military circumstances across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Armies of France reflects this by dividing the faction into three major forces.

1. French Army 1939–40

The first army list represents the conventional French Army during the opening stages of the Second World War and the Battle of France.

This is likely to be the most immediately recognizable French force for many Bolt Action players.

The French entered the war with enormous reserves of manpower and significant quantities of artillery, armour, and other military equipment. On the tabletop, this period provides access to many of the units and vehicles traditionally associated with Bolt Action France.

What Does a 1939–40 French Army Look Like?

A French early-war collection can include:

• Regular French infantry
• Fortress troops
• Chasseurs à pied
• Engineers
• Colonial infantry
• Machine gun teams
• Mortars
• Artillery
• Anti-tank weapons
• French armoured vehicles

The existing plastic French infantry kit is particularly useful because different head, weapon, and equipment options allow the same core sprue to represent several of these troop types.

French Armour in Bolt Action

French armour is one of the most visually distinctive parts of an early-war collection.

Vehicles such as the Char B1 bis and Somua S35 immediately establish the army as a Battle of France force and give players something very different from the German, American, British, and Soviet vehicles commonly encountered on Bolt Action tables.

An early-war army can therefore be developed in several directions. You might build around a large infantry formation supported by artillery, add a small armoured component, or lean more heavily into French tanks.

2. Vichy French Armistice Army

The second major list represents forces of Vichy France following the 1940 armistice.

This opens up a very different part of the Second World War for Bolt Action players.

Vichy forces were involved in fighting in several theatres and at different points came into conflict with Allied forces, including other French troops.

For historical gamers, this creates opportunities to build scenarios outside the much more commonly represented campaigns of northwestern Europe.

Why Build a Vichy French Army?

A Vichy force is particularly interesting for players who enjoy less frequently represented Second World War campaigns.

It also provides another use for French miniatures beyond the Battle of France. Rather than treating 1940 as the endpoint of a French collection, players can use the wider range of units to explore later campaigns.

This can be particularly appealing for narrative campaigns and historically themed games.

3. Free French Forces

The third major army list covers the Free French.

These forces continued fighting alongside the Allies and provide French players with a path into later stages of the war.

The Free French list is particularly notable in 2026 because Warlord is supporting it with a completely new plastic French Foreign Legion kit.

New Plastic French Foreign Legion

The new French Foreign Legion Infantry Platoon contains 30 plastic infantry and represents Legionnaires serving with the Free French in North Africa.

The models have a distinctive appearance, combining British-supplied uniform elements with French weaponry.

The sprues also include additional equipment and the famous white kepi associated with the Foreign Legion.

For hobbyists, this creates an opportunity to build a French force that looks dramatically different from the greatcoat-wearing infantry associated with the Battle of France.

Free French in North Africa

North Africa provides one of the most interesting settings for a Free French collection.

The desert environment also gives painters an opportunity to create a very different visual theme.

Dusty uniforms, weathered equipment, dry earth, rocks, sand, and sparse vegetation can create a striking army that stands apart from forces based around European fields and ruined villages.

The new Foreign Legion plastics make this style of force considerably easier to represent with dedicated models.

What About the French Resistance?

Armies of France does include some French Resistance units within the Free French army list, but there is an important limitation.

The book is not intended to provide a complete representation of irregular Resistance cells conducting direct-action operations.

Warlord has indicated that an expanded Partisan army list is planned separately.

Players specifically interested in building a full Resistance or partisan force should therefore treat the Resistance options in Armies of France as part of the Free French list rather than a replacement for a dedicated partisan army.

National Special Rules

As with the other dedicated Third Edition army books, Armies of France includes National Special Rules designed to give the faction its own tabletop identity.

These rules work alongside the individual unit entries and army-building options contained in the book.

For existing French players moving into the new book, these rules and updated unit entries will be among the most important sections to examine when rebuilding existing army lists for Third Edition.

New Plastic French Heavy Weapons

Armies of France is being supported by more than infantry.

Warlord is introducing a new plastic French heavy weapons kit containing several important support weapon options.

The sprue includes:

• Hotchkiss M1914 medium machine gun
• Medium mortar
• Two light mortar configurations

The crew frame has been designed to work with Warlord's existing plastic French infantry.

Components can also be combined with the new Foreign Legion plastics, creating additional opportunities for conversions and customized support teams.

The French 75 Goes Plastic

The Canon de 75 modèle 1897, commonly known as the French 75, is also joining the range as a new plastic artillery kit.

This famous artillery piece remained an important part of French forces long after its introduction before the First World War.

Warlord's plastic version includes three wheel variants, giving hobbyists additional modelling options.

For infantry-heavy French forces, the French 75 is also an extremely appropriate visual centrepiece for the army's supporting artillery.

Hold the Line! French Starter Army

The French release wave also introduces the Hold the Line! French Starter Army.

This is an all-plastic starter designed around a French defensive formation from 1939–40.

One of its most interesting features is the absence of vehicles. Instead, the box emphasizes a larger infantry core supported by heavy weapons and artillery.

This gives the starter army a noticeably different character from boxes built around a mixture of infantry and a major armoured vehicle.

For a player interested specifically in early-war France, it provides a direct route into the faction.

Marie-Pierre Kœnig Special Miniature

The special figure accompanying Armies of France represents Marie-Pierre Kœnig.

Kœnig is particularly associated with the Free French defence of Bir Hakeim in 1942.

Warlord's miniature depicts him moving between positions during the fighting and is intended to work as a Platoon or Company Commander in a French force.

It's an appropriate choice for a book that extends French armies well beyond the events of 1940 and gives the Free French a much larger presence within Bolt Action.

Which French Army Should You Build?

Choose 1939–40 France If...

You want the classic French Bolt Action experience with Adrian helmets, early-war infantry, French artillery, and distinctive vehicles such as the Char B1 bis and Somua S35.

Choose Vichy France If...

You are interested in less commonly represented campaigns and want to explore the complicated military history of French forces following the 1940 armistice.

Choose Free French If...

You want a French force that continues deeper into the Second World War, particularly if the North African campaigns or the new French Foreign Legion plastics appeal to you.

Can One French Collection Cover Multiple Armies?

Potentially, and this is one of the interesting aspects of the expanded French range.

Some miniatures and equipment can be useful across more than one type of French force, while other units are closely associated with particular periods or formations.

Players who enjoy collecting historically appropriate forces can therefore begin with one period and gradually expand into another while reusing appropriate parts of their existing collection.

Exactly what can be shared will depend on the units, equipment, and historical theme you choose.

What Existing French Players Need to Know

If you already have a French Bolt Action army, Armies of France doesn't mean starting again.

Your existing infantry, vehicles, artillery, and support models can form the foundation of your Third Edition collection.

The new book provides the dedicated army rules and unit entries, while the 2026 plastic releases give you additional ways to expand the force.

Existing early-war collectors may find the new plastic heavy weapons and French 75 particularly useful, while players looking for an entirely new direction can use the Foreign Legion plastics to begin exploring Free French forces.

Is Armies of France Worth Getting for a New Player?

If you plan to build France as a significant Bolt Action army, Armies of France is the key dedicated faction book for Third Edition.

The biggest advantage is breadth. You aren't limited to one interpretation of a French army.

A new collection can focus on the Battle of France, explore Vichy forces, or follow the Free French into later campaigns.

Combined with the expanding plastic range, France now offers considerably more variety than players might expect if they primarily associate the faction with the campaign of 1940.

France Is Becoming a Much Bigger Bolt Action Faction

Armies of France: Third Edition represents more than a routine army-book update.

Giving France a dedicated book allows Bolt Action to represent three distinct French forces while the accompanying miniature releases significantly expand the plastic range.

For early-war players, the traditional French Army remains central. Vichy forces provide access to less commonly represented campaigns, while the Free French and new Foreign Legion plastics extend the faction into completely different theatres and periods.

Whether you're returning to an existing French collection or starting from scratch, the new book provides far more room to decide exactly what kind of French army you want to build.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Armies of France Third Edition