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The Czechoslovak colony was created in France in July?1914, thanks to Czech-Parisian associations, in order to raise volunteers for French Foreign Legion and to fight against Austria-Hungary. Principally formed by artisans and workers, who had a strong national identity, living in the Parisian district of Palais-Royal, the colony organized itself in the course of?1915. Accepted by French authorities as a representative Czech association, the colony nevertheless lost however its political role in?1915-1916 in favour of Masaryk's Czechoslovak National Council, but kept its consular prerogative, acting as a friendly society and developing a strong propaganda. Between the two world wars, the commemoration of this action brought the colony a high prestige among the French public and the Czechoslovaks living in France.