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I~ENCH
ARMY
1939-45 (I)
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1\'\ Sl \I'\ER FR \'\(:OIS \ \l \ ILLIER \111-.:1 ( II \1'1'1.1 ,I.
SERIES EDITOR: LEE JOHNSON
THE FRENCH ARMY 1939·45 (1) THE ARMY OF 1939-40 & VICHY FRANCE
TEXT BY
IAN SUMNER AND FRANCOIS VAUVILLIER COLOUR PLATES
MIKE CHAPPELL
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F".. publ_Md In GrH1Ilnla" in 1998 by Osprey F\.eI'II'l"..g EI.... COU~. Chapel Witt ~. 0Xl0
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TITLE PAGE ThIs Mor!I' : ••
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• French unit. ... -.an a typk:al--F '''' _ • reduced ...,ifoml whleh c:onalsts of. ~ ~ worn 0"' the reg...... tion 1 ~ttem ienelr. Just ....... 8t the wrist.. The gkwfl ara Idlakl wool, 8tld U. -.pon .. the FM2:4/20.
THE FRENCH ARMY 1939-45 (1) THE ARMY OF 1939-40 AND VICHY FRANCE
T 'The strongest anny In the world •••• Euetty 20 v-_ aft...
the end of the First World War, on" NO\Iember 1938, the 46 8 Regiment d'lnlanterle parade down the Champ. EtyHes, wearing the H120/35 piped uniform, capot. eolLt... WOfn open, and the f1... t IUue 1$3$pattern equipment. " - . the helmets _ still the cWcI Ul15 Adrian type,
re~l"ted in
khaki.
At the head 0' the I"81lOment rnan;h the adjwIants and $OU$-//eule".."ts...e.rirtg the 1932-pattem m,snte.... All ranb
display the regimental
~ •.
he French Arlll}' of 1939 \\rJ,S cOllsidcrcd b)' cUlllcmpOl
wcre dctcllnincd thai the nalion ~holllcl never :lg-din endure such a bloodbath. They had al-.o to e\"ol\·c a s(rate~· thaI lOOk. ;ICCOUI11 of a predicted shonage of manpower, Ihe -.o
3
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-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Accompanied by hiS staff and the Mini.t... of War, Jean Fabry, o.ner-I Gametin (right foreground), named commandef'.ln-chlef in H135, attenda the major manoeuvres in September of that year. The khaki uniform worn by generals was the ........ that worn by other
offIcen, pC89t tor the
1l.'Pl. the
butt-. the ......... stars wom on
tne alee¥e, and the absence of collar patches. In addition, the ~
taIM on t n e . . -
went .... bloldeted In gold.
thinking, and from 1930 to 1936 absorbed. the bulk of the counuy's mi1ilar" spending, Ilo\\(.., \cr. such a largely defensive strdtL"b,,)' did not necessarily impl)' a tom1h pas~ive outlook. TIle \Iaginot Line only cove~ the Franco-Cerman border, pl;ncipally for reasons of cost. TIle High l.ommand thought it prcferable to move the defensi\-e line further north. to the Bclgian-Gennan frontier, this would shorten ils length and \.,'ollkl include Belgium (an ally until 1936) in the overall plan, Most imponamJy, any war, and the destruction that would follow in its wake, would take place far frolll French tcrritory. From the late 1920s it became clear that the mech,misation of al least part of the Arm}' was vilal. It wa.~ only in the second half of the 1930s, howe\'er, that French rearmament lx"gan in earnest. follO\\ing parliamentary appnwal in September" 1936 for the 14 million FF Daladier Programme. Unfortunately, this period was also one of grcat sodalulll'cst in France and it was not until the second half of 1938 that pro1 • Higher Formations, duction lines finally hcgan 10 work at full capacity. Maw-June 1940 In the cvent even this could do llotllill!{ to ahcr the outcome ofa 'lightning war' h'I."I::d on novel tactical thinking, against which the only sllu;ess!i.11 counter C"'I""""~_ o->IIlc... . would be natlll,ll geographical fealllres: the balTier of the English Channel or the enormous spaces of __ cc~ ..... - . . _ - . ............. 0.) the Russian steppes. It was Francc's misforrunc to havc neither. DlM(""*"""",, _ .. 000....,.--..1 The operations of 1940, lip 10 Dunkirk, arc DIf"( """"'"""'" _~ summarised in G:l.Inpaign 3 Fraila' 1940. The -... DIIlI-
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aaow RIGHT The end of Alpine
THE ORGANISATION OF THE ARMY IN 1939-40
In the ~ i s , September ta38. Carrying their mountain PKb. and with 8 jonquil ~ sW on their ......... tn.~ofthe f f. B8ta1f1on de Cha-.s Alplmo mereh p " t - ' the t>ead of the bettallon, together with their superb St Bem8nI dogs. The chaMeun' blue uniform Is .. pet' regulation, 8nd conskte of 8 bluish iron grey manoeIM"8S
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yellow and II"-'~'The equipment of the $ki-SCOUtS does not Include braces or the donal C8r1r!dge pouch.
Armies, Corps and Infantry Divisions
2 • Infantry units. May-June 1940 ~'*"""u~
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Each Army. llumbered from I to 9. plus the Army of the Alps, had only a small uumber of troops directly uudcr its command (se\'cral !
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General Gamelin \\~dS the commander-in-ehief, ",hilst the main front, the north-casl. was under the command of General Georges. Thc French had mobilised thrcc Ann)' Groups (GA) tllere, numbered from I to 3 (see Table 1 pp. 7-9). GA I, under General Billone. cont:lint:1! fivc armies, including the British E.xpcdition:ll)· Force (BEF), and formed lhc Allied left wing, with the objccti\'e of helping Belgium and the ~ethcrlallds. General Prctelat's GA2 (three armies) ....'as srrwlg out along Ihe Maginot Line, while General Besson's GA3 (two armies) was intended 10 deter any German attack through S\\iuerland.
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TIIC basic pawil ill the ham!s ()ftllc Iligh Command was the infanu-y
division (01), which contained around !'iOO oOlccn and 17,000 mcn of all arlllS. Dc~pitc dillcrcnces of name, all infamry divIsiolls had. in theo!')·. the S.'IIIC basic structure. with three regiment,> (or nine batlalions) of illt~lIltry: all ~Illti-I:lnl:. company (with 12 x 25mm anti-lank guns) cr('wed bl' the infanuy: one pioneer company: two artillery reg· imcnL" (live groups, of which two \\'ere heavy, see Anillcrv p.IS); an allli·talll.. b<.U1ell' (t-'ight 47n1ln \\'eapons): a reconllaiss;.lllce group (see Ca\~lln p.13); two comp;lIlies of engineers; twO signals companies; two tr.mspol"l comp.-mies; a medic'll group: and a supply group. Ilo\\e\·er. ccrtain di\isions of the n Rcscl,c had only olle rq;imcm of artitlel) (four grollllS. only one of which was he'1\1'), and laboured under shortages of equipmenl, notahl)' in anti-tallk wcapons. Three 'liglu infanllY divisions' (OLI). with ani}' six hatlaliOIlS and a single artillery group each, werc lonu(x1 for the Non\'a}' Expedition. All lhe new infantll' formations created al thc eml of May 1940 \"illl the debris of u'oops pllshed back at Sedan or evacualed frolll Dunkirk ",ere also ofthi~ typc, with the addition ofa second 75rnm artillcl'Y !;"I"OUP and a reconnaissance squadron. Infantry
6
The campaign of t939..40 WilS the last to employ the French inf:lllllY on a gr=lfId scale. \~t the lorces deployed were no more thall a shadow of Ihose mobilised for the previous I\'ar: on 10 i\'lay 1940 only 215 metropolitan infantry regiments of vilrioll~ types tool:. the Held, compared \Iith the 350 mobilised in AUb'l.t"t 1914. J::ach infantry regiment was similar in strcngth. cont.aining around 80 officers and 3.000 men in three b.,t1alions. The rt-ogilllenlS. howe\'er, fell into a lIumber of diffcrent categories. The peacetimc army consisted of 64 !inc rcgiments: 24 so-called 'normal' regiments, ..erving in infantry divisions, 20 motoriscd regimenLS in the DIMs, eighl classed as Alpine troops, and 12 'Fonrcss Infantt")" Regiments (RlF) serving in Ihe Magillot Line. There were also three tUm.i-brigcuhs of Alpine Fortress inf.lIItn (scn~n independelll battalions in total) lacing hal}'.
The a e RegIment de Tlratlleurll Marol:ilinll, ltatloned at Verdun, retvmi"'ll from , .... ~w, 25 May
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THEATRE D'Ol'tRAnoNS DU SUD-£ST lTOSEI. GerwraI OIly n_8ClC~~
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of a funher 8!) regimcnts and demi-brigades as Type A resen'es, which took up \', included in the Alpine Fortress ballalions. The metropolitan infatllry lllobilisc..'1:1 in 1939-40
"The co&o!.lr party of 11~
Regiment d'tnf.nte,ie de Forteresse, Stra'bourg HI3;. Unlike line Rl', RtF, Included two or th,ee m.chlne gun b.ttlllion, (four in the 1SSt!j as well a, <;t;)mpagl1les d'equlpages et d'oullrllgllS, who manned the posts of the Mllglnot Line. Battalions comprised th,ee machine ;un companies (elthough only two In tome RIFs) and a mixed Infantry/hea\/)' weapons company. (Coli. P. BrMegnler)
(di\ided into fOlll' machine gun platoons with four machine guns each, and a platoon mannin~ twO 25mm anti-tank guns and two 81mm mortars). The regimcnt also inc1ud<:
11
OPPOSITE Weighing 30 ton nell, de Gaulle promoted the ide'l of an 'clitc army', a InIly mobile armoured with 60mm llrmour and two guns force, of six 'linc divisions' and onc 'Ught division' (Iikc that reccntly (1!Smm In the hull, 47mm anti·tank crealed .....ithin the cavalry), s, since it contradiCled its Europe In 111311-40. EJlactty 403 ...mples (B 1 anet B 1bls) had been esscllliall)' defensivc policy. Nor, for political reasons, did it wish to sec an built by mld-.June HMO, army of profe'l..~i()nal soldiers. Further, ....,hen in 1936 it was decided in principle to creatc two armoured divisions as a counterauack and breakthrough force onl), their 5 - Infantry Tank units, 1939·1940 formation ....'as postponed due to a lack of equipmellt (Ilot:lbl>' of the Char B). Not only in ~.f1.d'U~ January 19-10 "'ere tile I re and ZC OCR finally ..__ Q
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NCO' and cha..euno of the 48 e Batalllon de Chars de combat, which was equipped with Renault R3511 and the new R4011(wlth AMX tracks), at the encl of .June 11140, A wide range of uniforms Is on view here, Including a meehanic's overall suit on the left, and, In the cent.., a Mrgent-clMlf _arlng the 11135-pattem leather jacket, complete with collar patches (wtllch was unulluaf) and the
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badee of the DCR (which was even more unusual!), The br;ioid on the tank l~. small dart< blue berel was a popula., If _regu"lion, addllion, (eo-. Henri GalIot)
•
Al the request of the High Command, French indllstq' COlllinued to concentrate on p"oducing tanks for this role. manufacturing 1,650 Renaull R35/40s (0 replace the ageing FT lIlodel. Cavalry
Tlte fast, heavily armoured 20 tonne Som_ 535, was the bKkbone of the French c:n"alry meo;hanised dMston". 430 $omu;I had ~ built up
to June
11140. ThIs one, deslroYi!d In Noo1hem France, belortgeel to 18e Dragoons (1 re DLMI (Call. p, Bouchery)
Like its comemporaries in other armies, the French camlq of 1939-40 was a comhination of the tradilional and mooelll, some with wholly mechanised formations, while olhers remained horsed. During the 19205 Lhere were five cavalry divisions, composed of lhree brigades (six regimellts) and a J'l.-gimcnt of horse anilleq', Two or three squadrons of While arrnoured Clrs, d,lling from 1918. formed the onl}' mechanised clement; as an infantry componenL the dh~si()n illcluded a group of chassellr cyclists. from 1929, the artillery \\~IS lIlolorised, the cyclists \\'erc transformed into a 1Il0toriscd b
13
twO squadrons used motorcycle combinations). Thc drag-oon mOlor regimcnt of thcse divisions was a powerful ullil uf threc ballaliolls (e'lch comprisilll-\" one :.qlladroll of A:'I'IR35s, olle Wilh motorcycle cOlnbinalions, aud lhree 011 six·wheel Lam)' S20TL or Lorr.tine 1..28 c.miers), The aniller}' regimen .. equipped wilh tractors, w·.lS Ihree groups slrong (armed with 24x75mm, and 12xI05C..35). In September 1939, there were Ihus five cavalry divisions in the field (J re, and ge DC plus lhe 1re and OUt). In February 1940, hO\':ever, the three DCs were trnnsfonned into fi"e light divisions (DL), which only one month lalel; on 5 March 1940, \,'ere renamed light Ld''
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_ring, u wa. otten Hen at this time, the peacetime piped jK.ket with tin button•• The saddlery.nd harness is complete with Hl25-pIIttem saddle·bags and. modified 1918-pattem banctoIIer. The ..bre I. earried VClrtlc:ally on the light .Ide In Iradltionlll fa.hlon, although, eec:oralng 10 the Febroary 1938 regulation., It lIoould have been cenied dIagonally on the left side, a. in the African cavalry regIments. (Colt Paul Rlngenbach)
ABOVE 0Pf'0SITE These Renault AMR35. crewmen belong to the 1er ROP (dnIgons portellI. from PontoiM. TheIr red·brown uniform 1_ Ptate E1) Includes the light khlokl chkh
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mil':cd horse/motor, cOlllaining one horsed scluadroll (two in the Cilst-' of GRCAs). one motorcycle squadron and olle lorried heav), .....eapons squadron. Those auached to motoriscd formaliolls, howcvcr. had no horsed e1emcnt, l)lll included instc;:ld. in the GROlm. tWO armoured car squadrons (with 16 6 - CavalrY' units, 1939-1940 AJVlOs and 16 AMRs). Outside France, the regimenlS of chasseuY5 _ _irlI, 11>0 ...,."._ d'AJrique. composed of French personnel. were right in the middle of their mechanisation pro~'IO'V~~iII~'"" M•• r<>p<>Iit.n c•••1ry gramme when war broke out. with the result that oc ~>!O'l' Ienl '" """".......) HH~"
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was drawn either b)' horses or b)' heavy trdcIOI'S. wilh all that implies ill tcnns of mobility and vulAAlJ'{. ...-, ;/j_ ncrability 1.0 air attack - there "'ere only a fcw. :JIl'3!!>:',~.3IIl'3lI3._ improvised, self-propelled weaporlS. _ _.. 1l....... : l7().37,\lro·_fVI RAL\If t'W"'* ..... "'"' ....roo; An int:.n 111' divisioll noftllally comprised onc M*_ ""110<)o Ilg'...... Groupo 'ld artillcry (lhrcc groups of 36 FWi-oo.-.'...-.oo /'owo ....._ "' 155CS). In addition to the divisional artillelY, and 12"m= ":'~""9&_(lIl.." the corps artillel)' mcntiollt.-d above. many reg=211 _:">0( "'" 2!i>."'" :No< >'
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Engineers, Transport. Services
(NIl: Pcrsonnel of the supporting serviccs continued to wC
performed the usual tasks of construction and demolition. Army Corps and DLMs also included a bridging train of one company; the Army Corps also had a park squadron. Umil 1942, signals wcre still the responsihiliry of the ellbrincers. Each 01. DUo" and C.,orps included onc telt:gr.lph and one radio compan}'; OLe.. ami DCR" had only one mixed lelcgraph/radio company. There were few transport unilS at the di\'isional or COIl'S IC\'cl (onc horsed company and one mOlorised company per di\ision or corps, IWO mOlorised companies for mechanised form:uions). bUI there were a large number of motorised units a\
sa
ReMrYlsts of the and 38e CUnI. with their commandeered ~uft van, 1t39~, All _ _ aring the seven-button 1920 vant.,se, with the collar unhool
..lope"" In red·bro'll'n or khaki canvas. Engineer units whose numbet" ended In an eight were always signals units, henc:e the T liar tranmllsskmaJ on the mudguard.
omc:el'll and cavalry troopef'S, belonglng largely to the 1S8 Dragons Motons6s. Thken aftel'" mobilisation In 1939, this photo shows an inte<'eStlng varlet)' of uniforms among the oMeara and, partlcularly, among the men:
on the len, a corporalln horizon blue, wearing a 1920·pattem vareuse with, on its sleeve, a patch commemorating a disbanded regiment. On the right,
one trooper wears a khaki 1920135 WlflW8e with sky blue piping and tin buttons, while the
olhe!' wears a lfllllNlSll with khaki buttons taken from reserve stocks.
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT 1939-40 The major simplifications in uniform brought about by the First \Vorld \Val' (sec l\lAA.. 286) diminated virtually all the old distinctions characteristic or the different branches of the French Army. With the exception of African and Colonial troops. all Army personnel received clothing that belonged to OTIC of jusI two basic categories. Non-mounted troops (whether on foot or carried in vehicles) received a greatcoat (mpate) , trousers (jmntawn-culolte) and puttees; troops mounted on horseback. got another type of greatcoat (man/eau) , brceches (cutolle) and leggings. The tunic (vareuse), identical for all branches, was altcred in 1919, with a stand-and-fall collar replacing the upright collar. All items of clothing were slightly modified and redesigned from 1920 onwards: notably, the varellSe now had seven buttons down the Iront instead of fivc, and the capote lost thc bUltons on the pocket flaps. Every soldier in the Army received clothing for three different orders of dress during his lime with the colours. One, either brand new or well maintained in a smart condition, was reserved for walking-out on Sundays, inspections, parades, and for the formal departure to the front. The other £\','0 ordcrs of dress were barracks dress ami training order, neither of \·:hich were carried on campaign. Reservists called up at mobilisation - who formcd most of the Army - were to be provided with new clothing- from reserve magazines: in 1939, their uniform was khaki serge with half~ball buttons painted in mall dark khaki. Other Ranks' Uniforms
18
During the 1920s, only African and Colonial troops wore khaki. The decision to standardise Army uniforms on this coloUl~ in a shade known
as 'American khaki', was actually made in the , I - Khaki ORs walkl"g·out dress 1935-39 autumn of 1921. but, bccaLl~ afthc huge stoek of hori£on blue uniforms, it \\';.L~ aUOlher 15 rears am",' before khaki items wcrc widely disuibutcd to mct,~ ~ !lIO./fun r.--.. ropolitan troops. In Ihe crucial ycar of 1935 the ,n~ international simalion finally forced changes A/r1clWl iglllnlfnIIY lCfnb8c. L¥>n f'
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given a bener fit around the chesL None of lhe 1938-pauem il.ellls had been disuibuLt.'d by tile olubreak of war, although the new trousers were \\idely issut.'d from the bt.-ginning of 1940 (even to mounted lroops), since lhose of the old ",altern quickly wore OUL The trousers apan, 'hese new pallem<; did little LO affc..'Ctthe silhouette of the French soldier, who in May
dlatlncttYe plplng. Two _ar the 1935·~twm shirl and tie, elearly v1slb'a hare, tt.anb 10 the ....-al of the I~ buIIon and the eonsequent lowering of the eGtl.,. opening. (Col. EI1e MIquetonI
,.
The final changes to the French Infantry uniform appear In these two official photographs. On the left, barracks dress, with the 1935·pllttem khaki shirt, dark khaki tie, 1938 'golf' trousel'S
and 1918-pa"em aide-cap, unchanged since the last war. On the right, the 1938 single-
breasted capote, 1940-pattern lace-up leather infantry leggings, 1935 mod. 31 equipment and the MAS36 rifle. The back view of this equipment can De seen on p.34.
20
l!HO, mumed in his heavy, hot coal, looked ready to fight the Greal War once again. In general terms. the French uniform of 1939-40 can be considered old-fashioned and ill-adapted lO modern warhlfC. The only exceptions were in two specialised areas of dress: motorcyclists' clothing (sec Plate (3) and, particularly, mountain clothing (sec Plates FI and F'2), where significant and ground-breaking advances had been made. Just before the war, Captain Pourchier, commandant of the I\Iounmin \Varfare School (Fro/.P de HaUff Alonfagne) in ChalTlonix until 1939, had perfected an entirely new uniform, based on the layering system. According to the air temperature, the individual soldier was free to put on or take ofT one of a number of lightweight items of clothing. The cajJote and vorellSf were abandoned in favour of a number of woollen pullovers, with and without sleeves, worn in their turn underneath a canvas anorak (hlol1son de skieur) with chest pockets, which was 1O be the principal uniform of the mountain soldier (see Plate Fl). For greater warmth, the indi~ vidual soldier could also wear additional items ofwaml clothing on top of the anorak during operations at altitude (items Cllt short enough to allow free movemetll - see Plate F2). For walking-out, he could wear the tr
Officers and senior NCOs, who hought their own uniform, were permitted to wear the new khaki uniforms from December 1925. This explains why, in so many inter-war photos, officers appear in khaki service dress while the men are still clad in horizon blue. Officers had two basic uniforms - full dress and senTice dress. For full dress, alld for walking-out, officers wore a long tunic with an upright collar. and trousers whicb, from May 1931, were in their pre--1914 colours (sec Plate AI). Service dress consisted of a kJlaki vareuse with fOllr pockets and, under English illtlucnce, fawn breeches (see Plate E.2). The varewe had a pointed col1ar, introduced in 1929. Although this was replaced in May 1938 by an opell collar, revealing a shin and tie (see Plate G2), both types were seen in 1939-40. In the field, the vmeuse was usually worn under a manteau (sec Plate Bl).
Dcspiu: these gelleral regulations, the tradiLions of individual armsof-service crealed a sllrprisillJ.{ llumocr of exceptions. After the general introduction of khaki. the ehasscurs managed to retain their tITlditional dark blue uniform, evell ill the field (see Plate B3). The heavily braided pre-1914 uniform of Africall troops was reintroduced in iu entirety in November 1927 (sec Plate A3), although only for parades and \\rcasted IlIlIic (/}{/1t'I01) \\'ilh an upright collar. and trousers with scarlel piping (infallll)') or a wide scal'lCI double stripe and piping (anillcr)'). On Glmpaih'll, how~'er, all these ilcms were replaced by khaki.
LEFT Wearing their characteristic Nun, Morocean ~his had • full dr'e'Ss uniform that w.s quite different from that of their Algerian .nd Tw1i$i.n courtterparU 1_ Plate CI, Their bu~, although ldentlc.alln cut, WIIS dark blue from June 1924 onw.rds. In FebNar)l1931 the uniform worn only briefly in 1913 wn ,...... trodU<:ed as f\lll d ....: It consisted of. gano....e jacket of Eurvpe... cut with nine button. and a tum-dowTl collar, and wide sky blue trousers wfttt separate
'Cl9"
RIGHT The colour party of the , er Zouaves, early 1939. The sous-lieutenllnt carrying the colOlJr wears the t,peelal 1931pattem ZOlJave uniform _. black tunic without &i)llulett••, and with rank distinctions In iHongated Austrian Itnots, The others .re in 'oriental' tufl d...... Re-introduced in 1921, Jt was vio1uall, identical 10 thai worn at aN lime' prior to 1914.
21
Headgear The item of headgear that most symbolises the K«>i"'P' _-of·""""" French Army is the kepi. It was first issued in its -~ ""~ • - METROPOllT... N TROOPS modern form (a nat-topped rigid cylinder around _"''''_'kce,'' ..... _'''~''''''''ow'OI,..,m ••''')'-.-,~ 10CIn high) as the oflicers· 1919-pattern. Colours """rcc>oW'"M """rr' ~ ~ C-"'r>oc\'_" ,*"",-...' diJfered according to the ann-of-senice of the '"" ~ ~~ T.-..,o ~~ wearer (see Table [I). The unit number or a ~lo;tl"',"''',. hom" ......'" -~ branch device was usually, bm not always (again ~LQ;>orl l,""","~ -~ depelldilll{ 011 the anll-of~service), displayed 011 0Jff'«<.->d..-.;p, ~~ ,the fi·onl. For otlicers and adjudants. an Austrian Cur",,.,,. ~-~ gw,...,. knot on the top of the ki:pi. and lines of thin ~tCI'''cky' ~~ ~tubular braid around the crown indicated rank. ~~ (IlO",""" >" ~.~ ~~ ~~ From 1920, re-enlisting 2\TCOs received an ~~ F~l<9<>'''''"' l~~ ~oHicers' paltern ki:pi, but with(llIl thc knot or ~~ ~~ braid. From 1926 the kepi was aUlhorised for suc~"'''''"''-'''''''''' ~~ ~cessive ranks, until by 1930 it was prescribed for II - METROPOLlT"'N SERVICES all, except in ulliL~ lhal had their own traditional _"''''''"'''__ ~'' __''''''''''''''''''' ''"'''''''I head-dress. croooOO ~~ Except for generals, who had a khaki pill tern crITOO'l_ ~~ O~.m""""" D'<" _"" ......v-. -~ M the kepi was worn only by French officers and "'_....(O""'_~. -~ """'' ' _~"»lo<""," i\'COs, while ORs were issued with the beret or the ,,",,, ~chidlia instead of the bonnet de pulice (see Table 111). ~~ i"",.",~A.m-"" The principal headgear wom with campaih'11 ~~ ~dress was the steel helmet - in 1939 the pattern 11I_ COlONI"'L TROOPS "'NO SERVICES most frequently seen was the M1926. The direct -':ryiaotllory "'"'-.... ~olJo Il"'" ,"*",,,,,,,,,,--,,,,, descendant of the hunolls "'" "...., dirt.........",. ~ """ "'-l< ~'_~·n""',_T_'''''''''''~en''' .... _'n.'''" or mllilUm ...,..- _..-._,"""""""""'''''' ,, '"''' .,."~""""~.,--"'" ... ""'~"-,~" ,, ...,""""' ......... "'.~-steel and, on -',~" , "".,.''''''.,..,..''_.l'''''''.... _""-', ''''_,''"'d the front, a •. """"",,,,,,,,,,""HCCcd •. ."<'1 ... _ ....."" _ _ " ......... = __ badge to , .. .., to. ,,,,,, ____,CE:J<-...""' -_,.""". ""'''''''... '''''<70'''''"'''"'7'--.·000, indicate the ,~"'~"""~ . , ~.,,~-"' "'""""",~, _'_~,_"'"" """,", arm-of--service of Ihe wearer (see Table III Caporal-chef radio operator, 24e RI from Paris, In the piped .walklng-out dress and 1935-pattem kepi with the number and \-lA/\ 286 embroidered In gold wire, and gold chln-atrap. Tlle specialisation p.20). I'\'lotorised badge (TSF = fe/agraphia san. fiI, or wlrel"s) is sewn over the troops wore either diagonal gold braid which is part of the rank bad9'8 in this order of the 1935-patlern dress. Metal regimental badges, here on the chest, had become helmet, which incommon In many units from the 19305 onwards. (Coli. Eric Lef~vre)
II - Kepis, braid (metal} and buttons
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The 1936·pilttern helmet for anti-aircraft unlta, here being worn by a youn9 brlgadier-c:hef. featured a nat brow band and c:r,rt-outs around the ••no to ac:c:ornmodat. the headphon. . of the sound cktec:tion equipment.
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eluded a padded brow band but no Ci·esl (see Plates EI to £3), or the earlier models \\';lh a nat band and a slllall crest. Finally, 'Ulti-aircrafl artiller}' and the cre-.\'$ of me inf.Ulll1's Oedikon machine gUlls R-cei,'ed (he 1936-pauern helmet. which wa.~ b.'l.S<.'ignia of the j:'rench ArIIl)· were lhe collar patches wom on tHln'USl', lOpot~, IlUI1ItUlli and all spc.:cialist prOtecti,·c clothing which dearly identiJicd the ann-of-senice of lile .....earer. This S) tern of idemificatioll dated back to December 1914. when lile standard horizon blue uniform succeeded a whole \-arietyof older pauem •and continued to develop until 1910. Each ann-of-5Cn;ce had its own background colour (excepl in the infanu,'. where it matched the colour of the garment); lhe diITerent brdnches were lhen idemified by lhe colour of the sUlilaches (lhe distinction of combm_am units) arranged in chevrons. The number of the unit and/or its ornamental device lay in the centre of the patch (see Tabl(~ TV).
n.a 6ght khaki chkIN c:over . . . worn throug'-rt 1939 and 1940. '" ragments that did not have this item it was ret)lac:ed by • rotted-up cllec:he, wnktl len t .... top of ttle red ctlilc:hI.tJ vlsible.
23
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Wilh few exceptions. lhe S)'SlCIIl of rank badges in force for G.IIllpaign dress in 1939-40 had hardly challged fmm lhal used during lhe Gre
24
.... _
!he ...... of fI**rI c:It oc:vpr rr.... (lour ~ ..., ~ 6'. . . . (live ~ were "'" C3'OOUd
1921. The
rankgiJnlnlc:lt~d''''''''' (SIo; SIa'3l_~.
1: Colonel, 1er Regiment de Dragons Portes, 1938 2: Sapper, 172e Regiment d'in/anterie de Forteresse, Strasbourg, 1939 3: Bri9adier, Algerian spahis, full dress, Oran, 1939
3
A
1: Chef de bataillon, 92 e RI, campaign dress, 1939-40 2: Patrol member, light campaign order, spring 1940 3: Chasseur iJ pied, campaign dress, 1939-40
B
,
1: Tirailleur algerien, campaign dress, spring 1940 2: Moroccan groupe franc, winter 1939-40 3: Tirailleur senegala;s, garrison dress, 1939-40
3
c
1: Trooper, 6. Rjgimenl clto Dragon*, dismo...ted c:ombal order, 19J9..
artil~an, win'...
1939-
2
/ 3
D
1: Cavalry AfV crew, campaign dress 1939-40 2: Captain, Chars de combat, campaign drass 1939-40 3: Cavalry motorcyc~st, 11 8 ORCA, campaign drass 1939-40
3
2
E
1: Chasseur alpin, Norway Expedition, reduced campaign order, 1940
2: Legionnaire, 136 DBlE, Norway, 1940 3: Ski scout, Army of the Alps, 1939
' n ~
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F
2
,
2
j
1: Corpor1Ii, 24- Regiment Mixle d'lnfanterie COIorlWe. the Lrtant, lIMO 2:: L.ieutenant, Sill Regiment Etrenger d'1nf8tlterie. Tonkin, eampalgn dress, 1941 3: Sergeant, t 81" R~imenl de Zouaves, Ngiers. 1935-42
G
,-
-,-
---
1: Colonilll infantry, Madagascar, 1942
2: Adjutant-chef, cavalry, Southern Franc::e, 1942 3: Infantry, Vichy, Summer 1942
,
H
LEFT To keep the collar patches sale fTom the prying eyes of the 'flfth column', buUoned security patches were adopted In April 1939, altd added to aU garments canylng numbers. In the event, they we.. only supplied systematically on 1938·paUem garments. Oldlt" unlforma (like the 19ZO-paUem capote shown here) had the SKUrity patctNts added, rather haphazardly, at regimental level.
The rezza, the tu1t dress heacl-ttress of Moroccan troops, we. made from a c~. caretutly woultd over a skull cap, with ribbons IIOded lit the baM, alternately In ...... ita and In distinctive colo1.lra, to ide1'ltlfy com· panies and batt4llion$.
Plate 03) wa~ added hel1\'ccn corporal and sergtanl. A disLincLion was also made bctween those WlWllts/mOlfdlOlIx (Ies wgis who W(TC simply serving out their lime (one bar of mewllic braid. sec Plalc G3), and thosc who had re-cnlisted (two bars). A new rank of sf!lgelll-dlej/llInrkllnl lies iogis-c/IPfwas created, with three bars of melallic braid. On campaign dress, junior NCOs' badges were in a dark khaki-g-rccll wool (ill the Tallks ~l1ld the Legion. they wcre dark green). Tablc I shows the colottrs uf thc wool braid for \\'alking-olll dress, Tablc II the metallic braid, On colton, Gltwas and \cather uniforms, other than lilC standard sUlllmer tuHic, the rank badges appe;m;~d all a patch, buttoncd to the chest. Rank was also displared onlh(~ kepi, and on the bontlct dc pol icc in chevrons. In principle. no olher he;ldgc,,1' should have burnc a rank badge, (N,lt in tl\(= French Army 'olhel' ranks' incllldcd corporals and soldiers de Ire c1as~; only sergeants and alx)\'e \w:re non-cummissioned officers) Other imignia worn in the Army included the lanyard (fou"a~) introduced in April 1916 (see MAA 286), the specialisation badges and armlets hoth scwn OlltO the upper lell slceve. St."C
Field equipment
Despite a number' of tl"iab ill thc years before 1914, the infantr)'man's indi\'idual equipmelll unden"cnl no significalll changes througholll World War I. From lale 1914. the basic elements (waistbelt, canridge !Xluches and leather equipmcnt braces) were left natural, rather Ihan
This sold!ef", photogrlllphed In 1831, .....ed wIth the 42- A"'lment (latet" Bataitlon) de mltrlllltleurs matgaches. His paletot, with )onquil yellow bt"aid at collar and cuffs, Is of the Mmt: paUem aa that of S e ~ troops, but until u.n, the colour of the number altd anchor on the collar of Malll$llSY uniU wa. green_
33
In 1939, manv infantry regimentll _re stiil using old equipment. unchanged since the Fl.-I World War. Including tt.- woodenframed t893-pattem PK'k and the third dorlIalllnvllunition pouch. both clearly \risible here. leoll. P. Briltevnler)
ABOVE The t93S·pattern equipment ill lIho..... n he.. In combat order (i.•• vwlthoul: the 10_ packl. _ lOW' do.....n the
back to allow lhe MAS3l!l rifl. to be slung ac:!"OM the ..n-ld....... On the loett can be Hen the new ANP31 (AHP - appoereil nomlill de
prole<:tionJ.. with • rubber tube and filt... ..arried In a ~k, fotloW'lng British practice. "The APHP 31 ....... in unh.e,..al use It'I t939-40. Here the ANP 3t havtK"sack almollt complet.1y hldell the 1935-paUern wilter-
34
bottle, which had onlv one lIpout.
bl;lckcncd. while the tcxlile parL~ of the pack alld mher items were made from a p'cy-grcen C
used in olher coulllries since Ihe beginning of the celllury. MOSI parlicularly, this IlL"W equipmelll was inlended 10 be standard for every soldier. ilTcspeCli\'e of his role or weapon: Ihe side pOCkClS of lhe upper pack ,md Ihe oUlSide pockcL" of Ihe new ha\'ersack could accommodate packers of cartridges, machine g-un magatille~, grenades and all kinds of implements. Even so, although real progress h
For mOlllHain Iroops, Captain Pourchier adopted cquipmel1l based on difTerelll principles. The fronl cartridge pouches \,'ere wom on lhe waisd:>elt. without allY braces. A Bergen n1cksack ",'illl a detachable haversack \\~d.s attached 10 Ihe pouches by loops aU:lclwd 10 ils own straps, and a kit bag- (the mOlorised Iroop~" 1935-panern), always left in the rcar, contained any remaining clothes. In combat. only the detach:1b1c haversack was c
,I
v - Section
Thl, Q"i(:i,,1 photo ShoWlil .. number of ito.... from the 1MO pattern uniform "PK1flc: to s'l1$CCMIta and higtl ~ troot:*= Gaiters (heN, a prototype - as Issued, they would be Ionaer in the Ieg), doth alden trouaera and canvaa aoorak. The 1940 mountain l'\lc:kNek la that used on the Norway e.pedition, and featured two large poc:keb on the side and a detac:twIble h.aver1ae1t.
_. -- .. ..- --' ._.. - -' ._- .(groupe de combat)
1939·40
~.'
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LEFT Parading throu,n a ....all town, aome of theae Intantrymen have been iaaued with 'lJOIt' trousers, the 1935 mod. 37 equipment, and the MAS36 rifle. In the first rank are the aection leaders (sergeantt); behind them are the FM24/29 gunners; the~ in turn are followed by their Number lWos, handt on hotsler.s - a pltto! was their ontw .eapon_
3.
Small arms With the accelerated distribution of the 7.5mm calibre FM24 - which beGune Ihe F:\124 29 after the illl.roductiOIl of lhe shonened 1929C cartridge - the c1iOicuh, of Cat11ing two calibres of ammunition wilhin each scclion (-.ee lhble 5) llldlill thal a replacemcl1l. for the older Bmm calibre lines ~camc a mallcr of urgency. After )cars of rnals, two new 7.5mm rines were adopted. QIIC W;L<; the 1907/15 M31, an cleganl Berthier modified to tho:: l\Lau!>C1" :.ystem. The other was tile famolls :\IA536, Wllich, clllirely new, simple and funclional, was where the fUlUre la)'. In fact, the MA5.% (produced at 2.~O,OOO lllltilJUllC 1910) was just one step towards a semi-;\lllomatic rille, th(' FA 1'\'IA540. which was intended La go into mass prodllction from 1\H 1. Tht' remaining small arms comprised, ,II best, the 1907/15 :\116 lilies .lIld 18921'\'116 carbines, which took fi\'e-round clips 011 the Bcrthier S)~tCIII. At lhe worsl, il wassdl1 p01>.'>iblc to lind 1886/93 Lebel rilles and. ill 10G.l1 defence unib, ILIUm Gr.lS 1874 weapons! 1-1,lIldguns wCl"e essentiall) those of the Crem \\'<11': the 8mlll 1892 ilild Ihe 5p."1nish Y2 revolvers. or Rum' and Sial' piMOls. which were abo Spanish made. -nLC new 7.65ml11 :ullomatics. the ~5A ann 355, wCI'e nOl, il has to be said. a pliolitr in re-annament. when there were so mall) mher prc..'SsinJ{ nceds. TIli" ",as also true for sub·machine guns: lhe French 7,651l11l1 to.l.\S.'18 had hardly Ix--gUIl produclion in :\Iay 19-10. Grou/H!S jrollr.5 used morc powcrflll weapons such as the 9rnm Erma-Vollmer (see 1~l;lle C2) (I1ld ~e\'el~1 Arncrical1 II .4311l1ll Tholll]l.'lOIlS, but few of the laller had been tlistribllled before the Armistice. Tile 8nll11 1914 pallel1l Hotchkiss hcitvy lllilchine gUll was supple!l1cllted b)' sc\'eral hundred Swiss Oerlikon (:A39 20111111 anti-aircraft IllaclLiJle guns. The t>Olllrn ;1l111 81rnm Br:llldt mortar, ,uld the 2Smm 1931 II000chkiss and 1937 PlIl.e;:llIx anli-lilnk gullS eompklccI lhe imelllUl) of infanu... lIea",- \\eapolI<;.
THE ARMY OF THE ARMISTICE 1940-42 .JUSl as at Ihe end of \\'orld \\'ar On(', when GCrIllilm was :1110\\'("(1 to main lain a IOO.l)()(}-man Rcichswehr. the Armistice 01 25 June 1910 allo\\'ed France a small lIlelrol>olilan defence force of the <;,an1(> size (8'1.000 for lhe Ann)'. 6.000 for the Game- ex~~lohilc Republican Guard. ami 10.000 for the :'\a\"l' and Air Force) with lht' "Ole purpo!IC of main,aining public order. Stationed in the Fn't" Zone - the MJulh of Frallf"c and Corsica - fhe Army of lhe Armistice was di\ioed into two /:,vlllx'j d,. dhtirlOlU' mill/aim, themsch'cs divided illlo four dil/i.rimu mililflirn (OM). which replaced Ihe old militar\' rt.l;"ions 01 lhe same number (~C T<'lble
8). EoICh 1):\1 had the S,une orgalliS a 1939 infalllr\' dhisioll. but wilh much reduced means: anli-lan" ,mel gas prolection equipmclll welt." haulIcd, and mechanis,1.tion reduccd lu a minimulll, 110wc"er, lht" ~lllallcr numocr of efleclives pprmiucd nearly a.ll 10 be armed \,'ith lIu: new MAS~6 rifle, whilsi the MAS:18 and Thumpson sub-madliuc gUllS wcre :d~o 1110rt' plentiful (theoretically, ,~ix per platoon), and tlit, 50111111 1937-pauertl g-renade launcher made iL~ first appe,H; amI one he.w}' weapons squadron armed with 12 Iiolchl..iss machine gilllS and rour 81 lUlU mortars, The artillery, meam,'hile, W'L" restricted 10 75mlll calibre "carom
ABOVE LEFT The Army of the Arml.tlce did It. utmo.t to keep up the tradition. ot the pr.......r ermy in diffICult political c:lrcum· stance•. The S&umur C.....lry $l;hoo', relocat.et to in the south-west of France .fter Its fierce fighttne on the River Loire In .lune t940, reeel¥ed tl'le stlJndenls of 2& disbanded ce....lry regiment. on HI .I.nuary
nrt>e.
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short-.leeved .nlrt, snort..nd plimllOlIs, wa. introduced for.1I renks In J.nu.ry 1~1, The .hirt .....s decoret.et with. tricolour shield, which bo... a b,..nch symbol, Amont this "roup, It Is pos.lbkI to make out the lightning ft••tNt. of the .111".1. end the "renads of the Inf.ntry.
37
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only: regimenL~ comprised three grOllps of three haneries of fOllr tubes each (in 101..,,136 x 75mm). One hanel)' \""'~ drawn by tractors, the rest b)' horses. Each D~I also included an engineer batlAlion (two companies and a half-eompany bridging train), a signals group, a transport group and a regiment of thc Garde. All other suppon services we"c ci\'ilianised, in order to release the maximum number of troops lor combat units. On 11 :'\'O\'Clllbcr 1942, when the Germans im'<'ded UIC Free Zone, the Army W;L~ confined to iLS barracks. ('...ener,;,1 de L.."lltrc de Tassignr, comnramling the I GC DM, tried to order his mcn into defensi\'e positions. hUI he was overruled hy the go\'ernrm;m, and the flllurc commander of lhe French Ann)' was thrown into prison. Wilh the exception of lhe Garde, the Anny \\';lS demohilised on 27 No\'ember 1942 but, in the spring of 19·13. the Utval gm'Crnmcnt nxciH~rl permission to recruit a single n..-gimellt of two infanuy b:malions and a mixed ca\'aII)-artil1el)~ngilleer sep..ices battalion. which took the dtle or It'r Regimellt de France. Overseas, Ihe situation of the Vichy forces was M)lllcwh:u difrerenl. Whih.l the Italians, in particular. pressed for lhe
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large-scak disanl1alllelll uf thc Armet" d'Afriqlle (arter iniTially imposing a limiT of :W,OOO l11en), the Germans were more flexible, paniclliarly arter the Free French reverse at Dakar in September 19<10, which demonstrated to them the willingness of Vichy troops [0 defend the colonial empire againsl all aggressors. whoever 'hey 1lI~IY lJc, After Dakar, the GermalH authorised an increase ill ~trcllgth, allowing 120,000 men, 120 annoured can and 102 tanks (largely Dis ami R35s) in Nonh Africa alone. On the Olher hand, the indi\idual weapons of troops in Africa, unlike tho'iC ;wdiklblc in FrdJlCc. were old (811111l, except for a small and insufficient qualltity of F~12l/29). MAS36s, sub-machine gun~ and grenade laullchers were almon IInl...no\,·n Illcrc. The Arnl\ in Nonh Afried was placed under the command of C'.encral Wl..'}"WlIId lrom OClolx-r 19--10 TO Non~mhcr 1911, and then under Gcm:ml Juill. hs organisation wa.s similar to thai of meu'ol)()lital1 unifS. but IX'CHlse of ilSdiSL'lnce from the mainland it "'as not a.s dosel) sllper"i~'d b\ the Gennan-halian Annistice O1mmis.'1ions. In Black AfricI, the example 01 French Equalorial AfriCI which rallied 10 the free French GIUSC althe end of August 19-10, ""as nOl followed c1"oC.:where, TIll' Gaullist failure before Dakar enabled tll<' \'ich)' gO\·crlllllclll 10 lighten its hold on French \\'e<;1 Aflica and to reinforce troops then:. illcn:asing numbers from 33,000 10 66,000 b)' DClobcr 1911. and L,\"('rl obtaining the release 01 a 'lCJuadron of 23 Illod<'nl SOIllU
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Near East local fOf'CH,
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SpecI.1 TI"OO9S of the LeYant, comprised units of.1l btanches, includIng tMghly
ellotlc COfnPKIIe. and aqlMdrons. ABOVE The MiNlmt Company of o..,..t the B.stllle 0 • ., PlII'lIde;ot Dam."'.... to:u, The French set"(leant wea... the unifoom of the ~hrs, whilst the tl'OOf)et"l_ar a mbl.... of local clothes and those 01 the Saharan Companies. In tOol t. colourful .nd
their unIforms remained unchanged. BELOW The eight squadrons of the Circa.sian Group of the Levant Special
Troops wo", uniform.
a Cossack·s!)'te full dress
39
• THE PLATES
The wearing of tenues nos. 1 and 2 was suspended for the duration of the war OIl 12 October 1939.
Al: Col~, l er Regiment de Drngons Portes, 1938 Colonel Keirne, commanding offICer 01 the RDp, garrisoned al Pontoise near Paris, is wearing the 1931 panem fuN dress (tenue no.l). The so-called 'town dress' (tenue de VIlle - t&flUe 00.2) included the same lM'lllorm Items but omitted the epaulettes and sabre, while medal ribbons '"..ere worn IflStead of the medals lhemsetves. The coIooei is wearing an offICerS' 1919-pattem kepi, identical to that worn with khaki uniforms, whICh bears five lines 01 silver tubular braid; he has a corresponcbng number of lines of flat braid on each cuff. The devices on the belt buckle, dlfferent lor each arm-of-servlce, depict, for the dragoons, crossed lances on a sunburst. The remainder of the unifOlTTl consists of the 1931-pattern lunique, in black cloth (the regulations stated dark blue, but this use of a darker cloth had been a custom in the French Atmy sioca the previous century), garance red trousers wrth a wide black stripe, and polished black boots with small spurs. All the metal is silver (for the cavalry) including the finial of the fourragere. The lalter, here in a non-regulation pattern, is in the red and greoo colours of the Croh( de Guerra 1914-18' pinned to It is the regimental badge. The co~el's deco~ rations commence with the most senior, the Legion d'Honneur. His sabre is the straight·bladed 1923-patlem lorcavalry officers.
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A2: sapper, 172" Regiment d'lnfanterie de Forteresse. StrasboUfg, 1939 Regarded as elite troops. in August 1935 lortress units received a khaki uniform, whose basic com~1S were distributed to all other metropolitan troops shortty afterwards. Magioot Line unrts were, however, distinguished by three particular features: a small dar1o; khaIu beret with a badge bearing the mono On ne passe pas (made famous at Verdun in 1916). a dar1o; khakI wool sash, and a shoulder title, worn 00 the left arm only. wrth the name 01 the unit's fortress zooe (see Table VI). This man wears summer full dress. complete with his specialisation badge, the regimental yellow and green fourragiKe (the colours 01 the Medal/Ie Militaire), and the white gauntlets that began to appear in the tetes de colonne and bands of many regiments of all arms-of-service in the pre-war period. A3: Brigadier, Algerian spahis, full dress, Oran, 1939 This man is wearing the traditional lull dress unlfonn, re-established in November 1927. The head-dress is the guennour, which consisted of three skull caps covered with a white c/1&che, all held by a Ioog camel-hair cord. The jacket and waistcoat are garance red wilh sky blue piping and black braid and soulaCOes. The fambo OIl the jacket was coloured according to the regiment's recruiting area (garance for AlgI91'S, while for Omn ~ shown here - jonqUil yellow for Constantine and sky blue for Tuois), but the small sky blue patch on the cuff was the same for al regiments, Junior NCQs' badges were '" JOnqu~ yellow. The wool sash, scanet with white and blue binding tape along the edges. worn IXldef the reguJatlOO belt, was the special Afncan cavaI1y pattern (also worn by the chasseurs d'Afnque, remount and transport uorts in Africa:). The large, sky blue, T...-kJsh-style trousers (wrthout separate legs), called sarouaI, were folded into 32 pleats around the waist. Two burnous were worn. one on top of the other: the inner was made 01 while wool. the outer, 01 garance serge, The leggings, by regulation the standard cavalry pattern, were more usually (as here), of a pattern unique to the spahis in red-brown leather with a small loop at the front 10 secure
the spurs. This man is also wearing 19l7-pattem ankle boots with universal pallem spurs, and is armed with a curved 1822182-pattern light cavalry sabre. 81: Chef de bataillon, ~ RI. fteld dress, 1939-40 From JantJaf)' 1933 offIcers could combIne the elements 01 their khaki unifonns in three dillerenl orders of dress: the smartest. day-time dress (tenue de jour - tenue no.3): working dress (tenue de travail-tenue no.4) and campaigl dress (tenue de ~ - tenue no.5). The genemI rule was that offlCefS should wear the same otdet 01 dress as thelf men. This meant that field dress included. whatever the season, a sixbutton 1932-pattern manteau worn OVef the vareuse. The manteau was supposed to be identical to that of mounted troops (see Plate 03): in practice, however, officers' collars were much rTIOfe pointed, and the coat often included shoulder straps (as hera). On khaki uniforms, rank badges were in 40mm long strips ot braid, and decorations were worn as ribbons only. The 1918-pattern bonnet de police should have carried rank badges only, but officers' caps were quite frequently decorated with dark khaki piping, and, mora rarely, bore a circular cloth badge modelled on the collar patch. The foreand-aft points of officers' caps were often more rounded than lhose of the men. Officers' leather equipment was made in a dark tan shade. Here, this man is wearing the 1918-paltem walstbe/t with shoulder strap (lI'lSpired by the Sam Browne), an 1876193-pattern holster, leather gloves. 1920-pattern leggings and 1919-pat1em officers' boots. He is caJ1)'lng a map case and 311 ANP31 gas mask. In the field. a stIck often replaced the sabre as a mark of command.
82: Patrol member, light field order, sprin9 1940 Flffit formed during the Great Was. groupes francs Of corps francs {an early version of commandosl were small units, genernlly of platoon strength (30 to 40 men), composed of 'I01U1leers lrom their parent unit. When on patml or when raiding. these men wore a reduced order. at Ilrst based amund regulation Items. However. from spring 1940, units began to receive the 1938-pattem cotton twill uniform, worn over the jersey and the uniform trousers. The new uniform consisted of a vesta-bourgeron with five painted iron buttons, and a pair of pantalon-saJopettes - a simplified version. in a lighter cloth, of the items of dress issued to motorised troops in 1935 (see Plale El). Originally. this uniform was intended to replace the old working dress ot unbleached or blue canvas, and to provide a cheap uniform for local defence units for wear over their cIvilian clothes. II soon became apparent, however, thai this uniform was suitable for palrolling In no man's land. It was also distributed to the men of the CEF$ in NOlWay, particularly to the legion. The helmet is under a cover, and the man wears a blue star on hiS upper left sleeve - both typicaIleatures 01 the dress of groupes francs. His pouches are 1916-pattern. and he is carrying OF and F1 grenades and the FM24129 spare magazine haversack: the ANP31 gas mask has been left behind as a useless eoctJmbrance. He is armed with the 1892 M16 carbine, and wears 1917-pattern boots.
83: ChassetJr A pied, field dress, 1939-40 TlVs chasseur de 1re cIasse of the BCP proudly wears the campaigl
:ze
uniform lor BCPs and SCAs, as laid down in April 1935, fOf
This Alpine Infantry groupe fran<; ilre equipped with regulatlon fur jackeb of an old Piltt,,", I. . wom b, truck drive...), ,gUS-pattem trench krlives and. m_ unu$U8I1" sub-machl.,. guns: an Emla-Voflme.. Is clellf'ty vi$lbfe on the left, and barrel and foresJght of the little MAS38 can be ...,. In the hands of the man standing on the right. TWo
u..
kinds of helmet cover (Itllight ktulkt cotton and In knitted wool) are bell'lll worn.
an inspection:
his peacetime blues are partly htdden by his 192Q-patlem capote with its unpolished dark khaki buttons. drawn from re5efVe magazInes. The 1926-patlem helmet is khaki, as is the cloth which covers the watef-bott1e (out of Sight on his right hip). In the chasseurs. the 1935-pattern shirt was dark blue with a black tie; the trousers are 'dan.: Iron grey' (a colour made up of 95% dark blue and 5% unbleached woo~ without any piping, as laid down in raQlJlatior'ls, and the puttees, introduced in March 1936, are dark blue. Apart from Ihe branch distinctions - the blue colour of some items, the helmet badge and the coDar patches - the uniform Is identical to that of the line infantry. This man wears the new 1935-pattem equipment. The first sets issued were recognisable by the soli leather cartridge pouches with a narrow flap and Ioog straps, introduced in 1936. These were not very practical, however, rapidly losing tl* shape, and were quickly replaced by the 1937-pattern. first issued in 1939 (see Plate Cl). The rifle is the 1907115 M16: the boots are the 19l7--pattem. C1: Tlrailletw a)g6rien, field dress, spring 1940 Unusually, this man has managed to acquire a Single-breasted 1938pattern capote, lastened with five Iatqe, 25mm diameter buttons (those on the double-breasted coat Wete 2Qmm) and sea.rity patches on the collar. He wears the coat with the 1938 'golf' trousers, wtlich, in contrast, were widely available from the start of 1940. In man:hlng otdet. fhe helmet was hung from the belt and
41
the undress headgear worn instead. In this case, it IS the crimson ch8chia of the zouaves and tirallleurs beneath its cover. whilst the ctHkhe (a scarf of thin clolh 2.5m long x O.85m Wide, standard for all Afncan troops and for rnotorised troops) is hed around me neck in typical fashion. The equipment is the 1935 mod. 37-pallern, easily recognisable by the rigid cartridge pouches, with their deep flaps and stlort straps. The upper pack is heavily laden: the blanket, for want of space in the pack. has been rolled up and secured under the flap, whilst the loWer pack, II1tended to be carried on company transpOrt, IS be,ng worn, together wlth the ANP31 case and the 1935--pattem haversack. This is full marching order, described by regulations as 'exceptionar, but, In fact. the usual lot of the poilu 01 1939-40. C2: Moroccan groupe franc, winter 1939-40 The cMche is wound around the head in a manner reminiscent of the Indian Army. common amongst Moroccan tirailleurs and in all Ihe spahi regiments. Over his khaki V8IWU$6, this man IS wearing a sheepskin jer1l.ln, widely distributed for outpost work during the Wll'Iter of 1S39-40. HIS trousers ale the 1915127-pattem fOf Afncan infantry. baggier in cut than those issued to metropolitan troops. and a preclllSOr of the golf trousers 01 1938 (although lhe 1915/27 trousers leatured an undyed canvas extef1sion covering the calf, fastened wim three buttoos, hidden behind the puttees when worn). He is equipped with 1916-pattern pouches, and grenades, a 19t6-pattern dagger, and standard khaki wool gloves. His sub-machioo gun is the 9mm Erma-Vollmer parabellum. Stocks of thiS Gel'man weapon were seu:ed in the sunmer of 1939 from the remnants of the Spanish Republican army, as it escaped across the Pyrenees. A large haul of weapons of all types was acqUired Ifl this way. including 3.250 Erma VoIlmers and 1,540 extra magazines. These weapons wem partly put into service in the French Army, whem they were distributed to the groupes francs. Each weapon however, came with only one or two spam magazines (rather than the three cailed for by regulatJon). and without any special pouch. On his feet. this man is weanng regulation pattern rubber trench boots, which were large enough to be put on Oller the wearer's ankle boots. Theil" fit could be adjusted by the two strong rubberised straps on the sides.
42
C3: TiraHJeur senegalals, ganison dress, 1939-40 Colonial troops, whether European or locally-raised, did not wear the varevse but the paletat - a tradition inherited from the Navy. Apart from being double-breasted, the paletot was distinguished from the varetJSe by its cloIh. which was softer and pkJsher. and also by rts lack of cuffs. In addition, the paJetots of Senegalese and Malagasy troops ~ decorated with jonquil yeIow braid artuld the collar and on the sleeves. The scar1et wool sash (4.2111 x O.4m) was identJcal to that worn by North African llrailleurs and artillefy. In campa'9" dress, it was worn beneath the other garments. but on other occasions (walkingout. in galTisoo, inspections, etc.) it was usually visible. The trousers are the special 1921/35-pattem for local Colonial forces. In outward appearance they were identical to the 1922 metropolitan troops' pattern, but in the CotoruaI version were cut shorter, to just below the knee. The chirllia IS the same as that of North Alric:M troops.. Th.s man's equipment COOSISts of 1916-pattem pouches, a 1907115 M16 nile, and boots smiIar to those of metropolitan troops, but in a WIder fming.
01: Trooper, fP Dragons, dismounted combat order, 1939-40 This soldier. already serving at the outbreak of Wal, has been issued WIth the piped 1920135 vareuse, complete with tin bullons. His eqUipment 1$ the 1916-pattern, complete With a bandolier for dismounted action, normally carried around the horse's neck. This is the t 918-pattern with nine pouches each holding two clips 01 five rounds eactl; the 1929-pattem had two sets of three pouches, each holding 15 rounds of 7.5mm ammunition. He has also removed one of the saddle-bags, which he is carrying on hiS back, thanks to a system of straps. HIS helmet is the 1926 universal pattern. His breeches are the 1933 cavalry pattern, wlth reinforced patches on lhe inside oftha leg, worn by mounted troops from all arms-of-SEll'VIce. As an aid to marching, his 192t-pattern riders' leggings, by comparisoo with Older patterns, were shorter in length, and did oot extend over the top of the fool. He is wearing universal pattern spurs and 1917 ankle boots. The modem MAS36 nlle was issued as a priority to regular army cavalry unItS, In II18W of their wartJme role as a covering force on the frontier to protect full mobilisatIOn in the If1terior. All metropolitan cavalry regments. as well as some GRDls and GRCAs, were thus equipped With the new rille. It must be stressed that there was no co-ordination between the issue 01 new weapons and that of new equipment; the
A apahi of the 2 e RSM (3 e ~ahl Brigade). In the Ardennes, 9th February 1940. This man weara the 1920 pattam sixbutton cavalry manteau wIth security patches added on the collar. 1lMI belt ,trap 0' the 'las mask c.... Is clearly vl'lble. The h~et,. 1915 Adrtan wfth a CreKent badge,,, worn on top of • chkhe wom . . . bWban. Anhing from Alprilo In Nootember 1939, the rqIments of the 3 e Brigade_nl equipped with the 1892 MHI carbine, and 110 can')' their ~ on their bandoli.....
cavalry continued to wear 1916 pouches, but ohen carried the up-to-date MAS36, whilst many infantry regiments wore the new 1935 equipment With old Smm weapons (see Plates B3and el).
02: Bri9adier, 4 e Spahis Marocains, winter field dress, 1939·40 This man is wearing his cheche Indian-style, with the blue burnous (the white bumous was not worn on campaign agains1 a European enemy} and an DRs' 1920/35 manteau (see Plate 03). Over the manteau he is wearing the characteristic gandourah. a roomy Arab shirt. made from twill. ThlS garment was worn all year round by spahis and some other African unitS. Rank badges were worn on a cloth patch attached to the chest. HIS equipment conSIStS of a cartridge ben and bandoIierlbayonet camef 10 red cross-lined leather. ThIs was originally issued to Saharan units only, but its use was extended to the spahrs In the 19205.11 was modifM!d in 1935 to accommodate clips of live rounds instead 01 the Ihreeround Clips used with the 1892 carbine. In the spahi brigades that were ISSued with Ihe MAS36 (the l re and 2&. both stationed in France before the outbreak of war). the bayonet lrog was empty. The 1915 spahi trousers, whilst 01 fairly ample cut. had separate legs and were not pleated at the waist. leggings. boots and spurs are identical to those Shown in Plate AJ. The 1926 helmet. with its crescent badge. is covered by a eMehe, rolled in a fashion unique to the 4 e . 03: Mounted artilleryman, winter 1939-40 This brigadierchef IS wearing the 1926-pattern helmet with the aossed barrels and grenade badge of the artillery, and the 1920135 mounted man's marltaau (here with buttons pai'lted WIth dar1l: khaki matt paint and no shoulder straps. suggestng that it has been drawn Irom reserve stocks). This coat was much I'CIOITlIeIr than the Inlantry capote, and included a long buttoned vent at the back to allow the wearer 10 ride a horse. The ma'ltaau lid nol have pockets, but nearty vertical slits in the skirts gave access to the pockets in the vareuse or trousers. The collar patches are those of a dMsional artiIery regiment. the 36 e , and the rank badges 81"9 the 'subdued'
Th. 41· GRot leaving for the front, Lron. March 1940. Tltis photo, although of,..thefo poor quality, Is 'tefY .vocatw. of lhe 'horse and horse-po_r' mi.. of mos1 of lhe reconnals-.anc. groups. In the 'Of"t1Iround, ., NCO WN~ a cape (l"~d to side-car personnel), whilst in the background the troope... wear the manteau.
version of field dress. The badge on this man's sleeve is that of a farrier (marechaHerrant). He is wearing the equipment of a mounted man - the 1903114 waistbelt, a 1915 S1mpllfiE!d pattern holster, and a sword bell loop (which was worn only when dismounted; normally the sword and loop were carried on lhe saddle). He IS weanng breeches, 1916-patlern IegglllQs. spurs and ankle boots. He is canying a regulation pattern canvas bucket. E1: Cavalry AFV crew, campaign dress 1939-40 AI cavalry AFV crews. regardless of the type of AFV they manned, wore the same uniform With the appropriate badge on thei' 1935pattern motorised 1roops' helmet; in the case of the cuirassiers and dragoons. the helmet badge featured a grenade. while the men of the Armoured car branch (GAMIRAM), as here, wore the head of Minefva on a sunburst. AFV crews wore the standard riorm beneath a sel of the 1935-pattem overnfls, made ., a heavy red-brown canvas. The canvas jacket was simIar In cut to the vanJIJS8, but carried five dark khaki lrlitorm buttons., md induded a removable ktIald cloth h1g. The cot. patches (here with the viOlet ppng of the GAMsIRAMs) and the rank badges were detachaf:*. The 1935-pattem saJopertes had two patch po::b(s on the thighs, md sits on each SIde, aIowlng access to the pockets d the lDform trousers. From 1937, these items wen! made ., 1lhaId, rattler than red-brown. canvas; and. from Febnay 1939, the trousers were stamped with a 9renade marking on the upper leg. whilst the jacket was stamped with a smiIar grenade high up on lhe right sleeve. Thls man is also wearing the 1935-patlem gloves and goggles for motorised troops. Around his neck is lhe regu-
43
lation 1938-pattem neck warmer In khaki wool, which replaced lhe cheche in willIer (see Plate El). HIs equipmenl s1i1l consists 01 the old 1903114-patlem bell. With a 1916 pistol holster. HIs boots are those Introduced in 1917.
E2: Captain, Chars de Combat, field dress 1939-40 This man wears a helmet Identical to that shown in Plate E1, but here with the badge changed to the crossed gun barrels and helmet 01 the Tank uOlts. Tank crews received most of the items in the new motonsed troops' canvas uniform when they were introduced 10 1935, However. they retamed the,," leather ,acket, partly out of tradition, but also because it aHorded better protectlOll agamst fire. The 1920·pattem double-breasted jacket, in black leather With a black cloth collar, was replaced in 1935 by the pattern shown here. This was made entirely from brown leather, including the collar, and it was fastened by five flat ivory-nut buttons. Rank badges, in silver braid (here.
44
This tl"OOP'lr 01 the 2. flOP .. a IorrltKl rifleman: 1M has the stanctant helm.t, ttMI modified 1S13'& Inf...try ,"",i~t, the 1920/35 e 11')' m.nre.u and the 1835 hooded c:.IIJMt, a lafv8 1.55 tyP8 of chasseur alpin pattern, but In khaki. Othef" items specifiC to motortsed troops are the 1835 pattern eoggl_ and th. 1 t38 IMCk ..,armer.
those of a captain) were placed on a patch of daa1\ bluelblack or khaki ciotti. lhe collar patches were often orMted on the brown leather lacket. Like their men, oHicers wore the standard uniform underneath these special items of clothing. When actually serving in their tank, officers wore the sslopettes, buI, when on foot like this officer, they were abandoned in favour of fawn breeches. In theory, the puttees should have been of khaki cloth. like those of Other Ranks, but frequently otrlCefS wore them in shades 01 lawn to match their breeches. This man wears the regulation cheche, an officefs'-pattem belt. gloves and boots. all with a dam tan firnsh (see Plate B 1). His pistol holster IS the eleganl. although old fashioned, 1876193-pattem. E3: Cavalry motorcyclist, 11 e GRCA, campaign dress 1939-40 This trooper wears the helmet shown in E1, but with a grenade badge. and the gloves, goggles and cheche shown in El and El, The uniform adopted in 1935. which conSisted of a long, light canvas coat with removable tlnlng, was conSIdered Il'l1practlca1 by cavaky motorcycle units: it was not waterproof, for example. They therefore developed better patterns which were finally adopted in July 1938. The new uniform was made from a more densely woven and wat8fprOOf khaki canvas. It consisted 01 a double-breasted jacket, sslopertes and a fur under-jacket. The jacket was roomy and smartly cut, with raglan sleeves; it was closed by two rows of five ivory-nut buttons, and included a removable lining In khaki ckrth. A new feature was to move the ann..mservice patches from the collar to the upper sleeve, allowing the rider to tum up hIS collar for warmth, wrthout cooceaIing the patches. Most 01 the 1938-pattem J3Ckets worn m 193940 also included security patches. adopted as a general measure in April 1939, Rank badges were worn on the sleeves as pel" regulation. The 1938-patlern saJopettes were basically of the same cut as the 1935 pallern, but incorporated a fly front, and wide reinforcements on the Inside of the thighs. This man's personal equipment is the 1916pattern. with 1917-pattem boots, and here hidden under the over-trousers, 1921-pattem leggings. He IS anned with the 1892 M16 eatbioe.
F1: Chasseur alpin, Norway Ellpedition, reduced fiekt order, 1940 The $ill battalions of chasseurs alpins in General Bethouart's High Mountain Brigade (BHM) were equipped entirely with the up-to-date Pourchier clothing system. The 1940-pattern anorak was made from the same waterproofed khaki canvas as the 1938-paltem rnotonsed troops' jacket. with ivol'y-nut buttons. ventilation holes beneath the armpits. a removable hood, and secunty patches on the collar, Uke the 1935-pallem shlrt, the anorak did not open an the way down the lront, but was put on over the head. Since the Expeditionary Force was put together in a hurry, the uniform issued to the BHM was, With the exception of the dark. blue alpine beret, entirely in khaki, which ran counter to all the traditions of the chasseurs. Bethouart declared that, 'lthe ctlasseur's] heart will remain blue', and managed at least to obtain collar patches and rank badges in jonquil yellow on a darX blue backlllQ, The trovsers were usually the 1938 golf pallem or, more rarely, the 1940 s!oers' pallem (whlCtll\ad exactly the same outWard appearance). These were worn with 1940-pattem
En route to Narvlk, the cha$seurs alpins of the 21. Oeml·Brillad. called at Gla590w on t2 May t MO, wtMn this photo wa. taken. A lone chan"'.llual'ds the Bergen rucksacks ot hi. comr;KI••• The w. .•..nown canadienlWl wu .Impty the tll38 pclttem tu. undef'jK"et ........, by
motGr'C)'Clist. with a tIeec. colla. a6ded.
skiers' gai1ers in khaki canvas, and the high quality 1940pattern waterproof sealskin mountain boots. nils man is weaMg 1937 cartndge pouches wi1hout braces. The typical canadienne was normally kept strapped on the outSIde of the pack, ready lor wear. F2: Legionnaire, 1~ DBLE, Norway, 1940 The two batta/IOIlS 01 the 13e Demi-Brigade de Legion Etrangere (DBLE) were issued wrth a uniform SIITllIar to that worn by the chasswrs of the BHM. However, several of the specialised items worn by the chasseurs ware unavailable, and were replaced instead by other, more standard, garments. This was often the case with the boots, where the 1917 ankle boots replaced the 1940-pattern mountain boots: the 1938 veste-bourgeron (see Plate 82) was worn instead of the skiers' anorak, and puttees instead 01 skiers' 9aiters. The standard firearm was the MAS36, but the pouches were the 1916-pattern. Nevertheless, the heavy rolled-down socks (for details, see Plate F3) and the 1935 fortress troops' beret gave the men of the 13e DBLE the look of mountain troops. Their cold weather equipment was identical to that issued to the chasseurs, particularty the eatladienne, the 1940-pattem waterproof reversible kagoule (khaki on one side, white on the other), the white helmet cover for the 1926 steel helmet and the sheepslun gkwes. F3: Ski seout, Anny of the Alps, 1939 From the 1"l'IId-1930s each alpine infantry unit formed its own smaI elite urit, the SES (sectlorl d'8cJaJreurs-skioors). E.ach RIA normaIy raised ltw"ee, whitst each BCA and BAF raised one. WrtIWI these units, the men of the SES were the c;dy troopS skIted in skiing and mountain cHmbing.
In addition to the standard uniform (dark blue lor the BCAs, khaki for the others), the skters each received a complete set of high moultain gear, whose main Item was either a light khaki anorak, usua!ly with chest pockets, which predated the 1940~pattern (see Plate Fl), or a heavy canvas Jacket, the windjack, shown here. Both anorak and windjack were civilian garments, so there were many variations in style, Instead of puttees, skiers wore footless socks in khaki wool (dark blue tor the BCAs), whilst heavy graywhile oiled wool socks were rolled over the lop of Ihe boots to prevent the snow getting iI'l. The boots were the 1935 sIuers' pattern: the goggles were the regUlation type. rnroduced in the 1920s, The skis were made from hickofy wood, and the poles from a1um!Oium, The large rnlJl¥lt3ln pack was of the standard pattern lor skiers, and iocIoded a special compartment for lhe 1892 M16 ca-blne, whdlleft cri( the butt and muzzle free. thIS sloef belongs to the lSg6 RIA at 8nanl;on. The garance grenade on hiS berel was used by all RIAs, and the dali< blue star ~onquil yellow in the BCAs) was~by tradition, the scout's badge. G1: Corporal, 24e Regiment Mixte d'lnfanterie CoIonlale, the Levant, 1940 This curious-looking uniform is BCCurate lor Colonial troops In North Africa and the Levant. The 1920pattern capote was identical to that worn by metropolitan infantry, but In walking-out dress (shown here) included domed buttons with an anchor device, and distinctive braid, embroidered in scarlet on a narrow dark b1tW'black backing, and arranged in a chevron at an angle of 55°. The standard equipment was composed entinlIy of older patterns. What makes the uniform look strange is the combination of capoce, 1931-pettem !Ul helmet (with the tombac anchor badge of Ccb1iBIIJoc:lpij and shcrts, The latter fonned part of the lightweight St.mmer order adopted in 1937 for the Euopean lWld Indoctiil8se troops of Colonial 18Qiments. It ird.JdlId • stIort-sieeved shirt (see Plate H1) and shor1s with two poc:kets, • tighterq strap on eadl hlp, and five loops to he*:! • ~ belt, 30rTm wide and of natl.waIleather. Sel'e,gal!ss troDp$ wore shorts of a SlITlplified panem (from 1932). and a short-sleeved shi1 without a coAar(l934-pattem). Ne'OeJ1tI ale SS, 5enegaIese troops seN1ng If1 the levant in 1937 receNed the same lightweight umform as the Europeans.
45
.-
se
G2: Ueutenant, Regiment Etranger d'infanterie, Tonkin, field dress. 1941 legion units that were statiOned in areas where they were likely to serve alongside Colonial units had a tendency 10 copy styles from Ihe latter's uniform. This was the case in Indochina. where lhe 5e REI decorated !heir sun helmet WIth a gIll legIOn grenade. The remainder of thiS young lieutenant's uniform IS regulalJOll, and was worn by all otrlCefS servmg in hot climales, no mailer whallheir aml-of~ service. The V8lllUSe and trousers, made Wllight khaki cotton for summer wear, Wffe 01 the same cut as lhe uniforms of metropolitan troops, who Wffe only authorised 10 wear lhe COtion uniform in summer. but 001 as campaign dress. The open collar 01 lhe officers' vareuse was only inlroduced slowly: it was authorised for lhe cotton uniform 01 colonial lroops in April 1935, and then for all metropolitan lroops serving in hoi climates (which ot course Included lhe legion) in June 1936. In May 1938, its use was extended still further 10 cover all uniforms, serge or cotton, worn anywhere. The shape of the collar continued 10 evolve unlll Febl1.lary 1939, when Ihe bottom point of lhe old diamond-shaped pattern was trimmed to give Ihe modern narrow pentagon shape (sadly abolished in 1991). G3: Sergeant, 1er Zouaves, Algiers, 1935-42 This uniform in light khaki cotton was worn in summer by the privates and junior NCOs of all units slationed in North Africa and Ihe levant. It was never worn in mainland France, except under special circumstances, as for ellample at the 1939 Bastille Day Parade In Paris. The cotton vamuse was identical in CUI to the cloth versron, but mnus the cuffs. and with two bell loops added. CoIar patches and rank badges (hem those of a sergeant dolng Ills national service) were detachable, fixed with hooks and eyes. The yellow and green fourragere of the
46
--
-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - , ;
1er RZ is worn in walking-out dress style, attached to the second chesl burton. The trousers were lik6Wlse of the same cut as the cloth patlern of 1915127 (for details, see Plate C2). In full dress, the skirts of the vareuse were lucked Inlo the trousers and hidden Ulder a wool sash, In blue lor European troopS (zouaves, Ahican light Infantry, legion Etrangere, engmeers and services). The chtkhIa. which was normaJIy worn wrthout a badge, here has a small crescent and the reg_ IlTl&"Itai runbet '" metal - the sort of non·reguIaOOn features in which a 5efgeallI could nhllge. His equlpmenllS regulation, if old in pattern. with a 1907115 M16 nile, khaki puttees and 1917 boots. H1: Colonial infantry, Madagascar, 1942 This marsoU/n (the nickname oltha colonial infantryman _ from an old French word fOl' a dolphin), in combat order is wearing the 1937 lightweight summer dress (see also G1) and is typical of lhe troops facing the British invasion of 1942. The short-sleeved shirt includes Shoulder straps and pockets. Uke the 1935pattern, the shirt only opens halfway down the chest. and must be put on over the wearer's head. As a machine gunner, this man should only have carried his FM24/29, but he is wearing a 1916 pistol holster on his belt with Iwo 1916 pouches (ooe in the small of his back). He is also carrying the 1924 hav&f'SaCk. whdl Could hold sill spare magazines. over hiS shoulders. His 1926 helmet has the 1937-pattern anchor badge (displayed on a disc rather than attached direct to the helmet); he has regulation khaki puttees and 1917 boots.
H2: Adjudanf..c;hef, cavalry, Southern France, 1942 The sports shwt and shorts of the 1941 PT kit malched the cloth lriform, so ltIat the shirt could be worn with !tie 1938 got! !J'OUSef5 !or 0riI order in SUTmef wrthout IooIong out of place,
BElOW LEFT Officers and NCO' ot the 3rc! ComlJ'lny ot the 11248 RMIC. In ttNt Levant. towards end of 1940. Here we can . . . an amazing mirture of officers' lightweight tand co'oured vareu..... with ....., pos.ible pattern of coillM' Ifor detail. . . . Plate G2). and clilrtI bl...tw.ct1 collu palc,," with anchors embroklentd in VOid wire. The men kneel1"il _ar non-regulation khaki shirts. two NCO. on the right wear the double-brea,ted khak.l paletot and ttNt .1d4o-eap with nlnk bHges.
n..
RIGHT The colour p;1Irty 01 the 10e R~l_nt de Tlrallleurs ~la" at 8b.erta (TU....ia) in 1937. _aring the
sand coloured cotton uniform. The onlce. we.rs the unifonn described In G2. The OR. wea. a cotton pale tor with an upright collar for European. (the capo.al·chef on the riQht). Or without a collar for the Senegale58. The colla. pate he. were dark blue. A paJetot with a stand·and·fall colla•• almost Identical to the ...areuse of the summer uniform of African troops {see G31. was Issued to Europeens In COlonial units in July H138.
and gave the 'New fvmy' a fashionably young and sporty look. The badge on the shirt bears the dark bkJe five-potnted slar of the cavalry. A platoon commander, thiS adjudanfchef is armed wrth a PM38 sub-machine gun, ahhol.ql his men would normally carry the MAS36 nfIe. Atthough a man of hIS rank would normally Wea"" ollicefs' uniform, he IS weamg DRs' trousers and puttees, a practice thai became common after 1940. Only his boots, the 1919141 offloers' pattern made from a thick leather WIth a non-shine natural finish, am 'correct'. 5everat cavalry regiments of the fvmy of the ArmistICe, whether on horseback or on bicycle, wore the 1935 helmet With its padded band. Troopers also wore the 1935 mod.37 equipment. which had eventually been issued to the cavalry. Here, however, this man wears an officers' belt with a submachine 9un magazine attached to the shoulder strap. H3: Infantry, Vichy, summer 1942 In OCtober 1940, it was decided to Clothe all of the Army of the Armistice in a modem campaign dress, with a canvas anorak, of the type worn by the Norway Expeditionary Force. This plan had to be abandoned because of a shortage of cotton, and instead a new cloth uniform was adopted, capable of being worn either in the field or lor walking-out. The 1941-pattem vareuse had four pockets. an open collar, epaulette straps and cuffs fastened by two buttons. The 1941-pattem trousers had straight legs and on campaign were tocked into thick leather ganef'S similar to those of mounted troops, but notably shorter. For the first time in the Freoch Army, the DRs' boots were Derby styte and had stiff toe-eaps. The new uniform also included a shirl, similar to the 1935-pattem, but WIth shoulder straps, a f'If':W bonnet de police, and a new capote. Mounted troops were given new pattern breeches, a better fitting manteau and new Ieggngs which IncJuded a gusset to fit over the taps 01 the boots. The collars of the va'ftJSe,
~tft and manteau were more tapered and so the palches 100 were more pointed. The distlnctJV6 colours of the line infantry were ahered in July 1942, when the dark bkie figUIeS and soutaehes were replaced bV garance. 5carcely any sets of the 1941 uniform had been issued by November 1942; only a lew units. such as the 1soe Al shown here. had receiVed it
BIBLIOGRAPHY For English-speakin9 readers, the best account of the 1940 campaign is Alistair Horne's - To Lose A Battle: France 1940 (London, 1969); one of the best French accounts remains Colonel A. Goutard's La Guerre des occasions perdues (Paris, 1956: rePfinted as The Battle of France, 1940 in 1958). The High Command is dealt wilh in J. Gunsberg's Divided and Conquered: the French High Command and the Defeat of the West 1940 (London, 1979). Anthony Clayton's France, Soldiers And Africa (London, 1988) has uselul summary histories of African and Colonial units. Moch work has also been published on all aspects of the French lorces in this period If1 the )OUfTla/ Revue Hlstonque des Armees. The magazJOe Militaria continues to produce Informative articles on IJOIfonns and equipment. "s publisher, Fran(j:ols VauviIIier, has also written L'/nfanterie 1940 (pans, 1980), and more recentty has produced an excellent guide 10 the unrforms of the earty-war army In his set of 22 plates Les Undonnes de I'Armee FrarH;alse 1939-4Q (pans, 1989) which are still available direct from the author at B.P.169, F-75563 Paris Cedex 11, France.
47
Notes sur les planches en couleur
Farbtafeln
ln90M ...... 1_ ~ _ IloilMo ........ _ .... 11""1931_Upcwt'*_. ld2111l",-~II_ _ i ....,. .. 12 DCl*1 1939. .u S-, 1/'21 ~ a...... lit ~ . lUll .. _ ....... I'M< _ . . . . . . r;p8caIIllI-,-, ~
Al Obenl.. 1« ~ d I ~ PwIk. lt31. Dor .... n 0. ......
jouno et ..". fill QIUI. . ~ "" II MidIIII MilQinI. et III lIInlI - . i c:riIpiIl .u 811iU". SpIlIiI"~ ~ _ . 0rIrI. 11m l:eI_lKWtI 1111_ _ trl-
"'_~dal"""fU!*WOll .. IlI1er1Ilel1"""IISl_ I'" und goItI nigI,. (d11 fllbln
~1
CoIDnol, , . - . . : lit
~
s.-..
dillOml!llll. lemoN In..,.;ce In ....... b
',Ie
II Olel tit ~lailIon, 92. Ill, len", ole cam~, 1939-.0 Ie cen'ur'ooll-tlaullritr mooole 191.,I"tul mod... 1876/93. dOl ~nu do CUll, dOl j.lm~" modioli 1920 111 tin two:leqoMla a"OITlele. mod •• 1919 12 PalrouilN d""" 1''''''', orGr. de C'''''PIIll'''~' p'inllmJlll~O lOl'aQu'llI tl...nl en palrouolt 011 1ft ,aid, Ctl _ poolMn1 un ctdfl , _ U ClIiafIo'. pied. '""'" Of _ . 193!HO """ II PI........ _ _ .. ................ _l!13!i,rau ..... porles~.Cllr"""lllol_
..... .-IlrQll" ................ ~.l9Ji. ~
A2
lZ.~I':lIlIo'lIieo..IlIsMlill""-"
01""" 1939-40. CZ 61_ Fr_ ~,.. _ _ dllllliII. • I * I _ ... _ I I
'"'""6 Is...-c·_ PO'\OlIl ....
........ 10 ell PIfJOl .. tnn.n _OtIiJII " do r'olmentl do 11IO"". C3 fbi.... MntiIlaiI. _ lie ~iIool. 1l139·4l) Let InlI
.. ~,", lNl'lJi"n' llU 1I'lfe~. m... HI
paloIoI, lfaQ,tiQ<1 "'"'" Ill!
10 Ma'lnt
01 Simple IOldat, ~ RM rM
itMI""."
£1
~*
_ _ AVf,_tlt~19J!I.4CJ_III""-*... __
AYf ....,.,.. It . . . . _ _ It lIIO(lIl........ _ ....
poII6es...,. IUS (2 CIp/IImI. CMrtoe ...... porIela~
~
~ _oe~... 1939-~!AI
reu_we. _ ............. grail "" _a·oIl...... _
loIOllJCyeiste do c:.InIIOI III GAC.A, _ .. campagne 1139 ~ It matMoI ~ .. CIlIl
Fl C~ISSIIK .lJpJo, Expeditioo ill ~. .' OI"'~ O. COmplgne Iimplllit. 1940 ~ IrttiOfernent Ol> 'l'It'mlvI5II ntll,. POI"d'OtI .i III ....m..... llI~r" F2 l~_'. 131 DIlU. N...tve 1940 L... mot pour llnOpS lroidlllal1 iIIInlIquo i CIhIi qui i1an <11:0. bilM ... - . .. ~ II~. fJ ECIIir..- i JI.I" ....... del NpK. 1!ll8 C. _ ~ .. 15!lt: 11IoI. oe ~ La QfeudI OO'I/ICII SUI _ t*et ttIiI ...... lIII _ III RIA II r_ _ ....... iIaot 1r7'1 • lit badge'"
-....
81 ElataillDnsllll'iltf, 92, RI. rol(lln,ug. 1939·~0. 0IIser Sol
_
"""OIl11U'l1, fll.C1R 19o1O. AiIlI'atrDuiIlgingon _ .... Obe_ a.-... i_.flkIInlug. 1939-
e-II, 2..
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