Dictionary of Georgian National Biography

AMILAKHVARI, DIMITRI (1906–1942). Lieutenant colonel of the French Foreign Legion and a hero of the French resistance during World War II. Amilakhvari was born into a noble family, the son of Prince Giorgi Amilakhvari and grandson of General Ivane Amilakhvari. After the Soviet invasion of 1921, his family emigrated to Istanbul and later to France. He graduated from the St. Cyr Military Academy in 1926 and served with the Foreign Legion in North Africa from 1926–1939, rising to the rank of captain. In 1940, he joined the 13th Demi-brigade of legionaries (13e DBLE) and distinguished himself in actions at Bjervick and Narvik in Norway in May 1940.

After the fall of France, Amilakhvari joined the Free French forces in England and took part in the Eritrean and Syrian campaigns. In 1941, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was appointed commander of the 13th Demi-brigade. The following year, Amilakhvari fought in Libya, where he distinguished himself at Bir-Hakim (26 May–10 June 1942); General Charles de Gaulle named him and his legionnaires the “honour of France” for their heroic defense of the Allied positions. However, Amilakhvari was mortally wounded during the battle of El-Alamein on 24 September 1942 and was buried in the desert under a simple white cross. The 1956 class of the St. Cyr Military Academy was dedicated to his name