Osprey, Men-at-Arms #318 The French Army 1939-45 (2) Free French (1998) OCR 8.12

318

. ...... . .~ENCH ARMY 1939-45 (2)

\'\ SL\l'\ER FR:\'\C,:OlS Y.\LYlLLlER 'llKE CH.\PPELL

SERIES EDITOR: LEE JOHNSON

THE FRENCH ARMY

1939·45 (2)

FREE FRENCH, FIGHTING FRENCH & THE ARMY OF LIBERATION

TEXT BY

IAN SUMNER AND FRANl;:OIS VAUVILLIER COLOUR PLATES BY

MIKE CHAPPELL

t!mm

MILITARY

Fint puI)Oohed", GrNIBMlIIt'., 19M by ~ PuoOSht"ll, Mo:/leOn House, 111 F......", Roo
wrr

.... nght. - - . d A!W1 "om r... cINIroglcr lI>e IIIJ'PO'M ell prMde study, -.::1'1. <:ri\JCIIffi or _ , .1*"'I11Ml ....... lI>e Copynght. Doosogns"""

no PWI 01 lin putIlIcaoon m.y l)t~. 51llNd", a ~ Ionn or by ~ ~ alact"""". aIooctncaI. ctwrocal. _ , 0(JlIe.III,~,feClllIUng or <:>IherwI5a. WIIhculll>e pnor _en ~ oIl1>e ~ _ _ EnQuones""""

Dedication Th" book" dedICated to Jeao·P~ Vauvilioer. rho author's lathef, aged 20 lfll944. who. relvctaotlo enter the Compulsory WorlI SeMea as ordered by the Germans, disappeared lmm home. joooed the MaqUlll, took part WI _31 aetlOOll ~ the AllaotlC Pockets;o 1944-45 and encled the war as II sergeaot

PlIlWltI AcI. 19811.

_ t i l Iy5t...... or tr_Ml",

Acknowledgements FV would hke partlCular1y 10 tl\aflk Colonel Paul GautaC and Jacques SICard for theIl' If'IYaluable I'aIlP In the drawlOO up 01 the delailed orders; 01 blInle and 10 compIetJng his research oj wartime phOtographs'or lhos book IS woukl also' ke to tlw1k his w,fe MaggI!!

l)t_IOII'oa~

IS8N 1 ~101.

for aI he' IMlp

Publisher1s Note ~ m8y

f'ot.~d"_~~ClIpIwy"',

..... ~_MIO

Osprey Marketong. MJCheWl House, 81 F~ Aoecl. London SW3 6RB

WISh to study rhos t toe on ~uon wllh \he IoIowlng

""""' ..-.-

-,-

MIlA 315 11le Frww:h Anny 1939-45 (1/ the Annyoll939-40 and Campa1gr13 France 1940 MAA 310 the G«marI Anny 19.39-45 ('I Bbllf
Artlst1s Note Readers may care to note that the ong~ p8II'1l1ogs from wtlIdllhe

c:oklU' plates on thIS book were Pi'llPllred are available tor pn'iiIte sale ~IOO copyngllt whatsoeYer IS reta,r'MId by the publISher, All enqUIMS:should be addressed to; M.ke Chappell, 14 [)owolands. Wakmer. Deal, Kalil cnol 7XA

The publ,sher$ regret that rhey Carl erller lOtO 00 COffllSpondan(;e UpolllhlS

malter,

THE FRENCH ARMY 1939-45 (21 FREE FRENCH, FIGHTING FRENCH AND THE ARMY OF LIBERATION

DE GAULLE AND THE FREE FRENCH 1940-43 hL'11 r.har]t'" ric (.alilk 1.11111(111'<1 hi, I ('khr.lll'd appeal \LJ. lIlt" London, , .. July 1940. Dr.aHd In his new g....,..1 de bripOe'a uniform, Charle, de G.ul.. ln~. delKhment of the 1.' DeLE 1_ P1.t, A'I. Behind him jright

to l.tt) e.. Adml...

MUMlle., Commend.nt a. ConcMrd (w.aring tlMo K ....t eolia, pate,," of In. ArtlU.ryl. Mel cte Gaull... ADC, LIfirt.N1nt de Covn:.l rwnri"i! tlMo CUrti blue coli" patch•••nd .ky blue tepl 01 the Light Cavalry), Their unifo........ wt>olly F~h.

HBC 011 IHJullt" 19-10. hl' \\.h quite UIl"1I01\ll to IIIth[ Flt"IlLh pt;"ople. I hi ... brilli'llll Ihl'uri ... l 01 ,lI111Ullreci \\.Irf....(' - \,ho"... 19~n hook I;'" I"arll/" fl,. II/;!Irnl ••, "lid to h.l\ (' Iwcll I (',lei Il\ (.lIlleri.U1 _ had initialh Ix-t'll giH:'1l Ihe lOlllllMll(1 01 till' I' Di,i'lull ClIir'b:.el'. tllt'l!

funning. On 6June. hI 110\\.1 (L'lIIpOl;l1"\ g"i'llcr,,1 dt·l)ri},r.tl' dl.III1,IlI( d,I\' 01 JIllll". lhL" gO\L"lllllll'1lI hL" jUilllod \\iI~ 'plil I}('[\\('l·n Ihn"o who ach ncaled rL".. i~l,lllC(· [0 Ihl' ];I't o I\ilh A1hrier' a, a u'mporan c.lpll.11 (th,· hIll" sUPIXJncd h, Rl·,n.llId .1l1d de (;..111]]('), ollld Iht' lIlili[.ln lOIllIll.Ulder, Plot.lin and \\"l"g"alld. II hn [1\Olln'r! :Ill anlli~1 icc. \1 ith lhl' g"0\(TI11J1(·nl nomailling in Fr;IIHT. n\ Ifi June, \Iith R{'\IJ.llld ill Iht, lIlillllril\ .ll1d dri\t:'11 from

r

power. the politic:\] and leg-at ball1c was 1m\. II \\'as then that de Gaulle, with the decisive support of Churchill. Gllllt: to the conclusion th.lt. whatC\'cr happened. France could not stand to one ~idc in the l>lfUggk. And ~O. Frct.' FmnC(' was horn. Free French units and campaigns

H\" the elld of llll" month de (;"lIlk could. in theo!"\'. COUll I 011 a ("oll~irl­ ('f.lbk lIlllliOCI of If(Mlp' \1 ho h\ thell \\t:'fC ill England - wldicl ~ t:\,:'ICU:lICd from Dunkirk or rcpalriatt'd from :\'OI"W;'I\, and :.OIIle 2.721 llll'n of 01111,111"-' - haH'h .1 full reg-bul'IlL But b\ then, till: nO\\ of further \'olullteen. from Fr.llltt" and :\'orlh .\frica (I.lrgt'1\ pilots .md "ailor"). had been almo~l COlllplC'll'h cut all follol\ing: tilt' Urili...h bombardmell1 uf ;\lcr-...eI·Kehil C\ .Jllh

1 Main Free French units

RIGHT Sel"lleant Chareton of th. Batalllon d. chaueurs

d'An"I.t.rre, photOllrllph.d at Old Dean Camp at the end of 1 ~O, W.ari"ll an Itlplna btlret. Britl.h battl.d...u with 'France' .koulde.. tltl.lt. and the BertJtln rucksack of tha French E_pedItlonary Foree to Norwa~, h. i. carrying an EnfJ.ld P14 rifle, On hi. uppe.. left .1..... only Ilnvl.ible ltare). he is _aring a eha........ alpin. colla.. ~teh, pouibly with a unit number Ie, 12 or 14 - In memory of the unlu wnleh fought at Nilrvik).

1940~41

fOnIr",. ....... unit, rlflhting .... IM>d II.... bien noted) French

~sigflation

~

14·DeLE I

T_ _ nisen

Ioom""-

AlSO lo'lOMI B. 1- Bt.£

8VF

~

Initial strength, observations. ate.

'Olll.8goclr' £ ~

Batao

de ~ Fraf\CIIS e220 cn-n WId s.eton ..oiIIlIee<, - Ba..-or> de o-..s de ~ Dtsbar>dIl<1 on 8 Doc 1940 Bec:wnCI c.l<~ de III

';Became 8CC

F,lrIOIIlJllte,

a ca
'*'"

I" BfM (Ba,'aiIon 08 F....."s Man-!sl C400 s;Uors org.Y1osed as a Iand ..... t irlanlr)! Il'>!rl AA In'! !rom l!lot! A 2' BFMw,J; C189'ao ~ 11Ia1ye
f- SFM bica'TIe

J"

c20 pa-a5 Ilutvre SAS F""""'" SQo..oactmI $. r;majI detaer'ments 01 8ft 14ry. ~.

signals and

~

TrOOllS from la.ltnt Juna·July \940 (f"1I'''1Iy Iement F,.....-;as (In Egypte, toor1 GVfEGr~t deS Vcb1ta.es FrllOCalS 0 Egypte! \.. elM IBalej!o<1 o'lnl (/flIJ , ..

de MerlOel c.470. "om 24' RIC B M /oI.lf/h1 "",UlIIle Bnr,s/l trh Ann. C»t /rom sapl 194010 May I~I) 42 from '''RSM 1M,", RMSM) Troops Irom Blltck Atrica ceoo~iBr~,29Aug 19M

8M I II- Betallon08 Marche) 8M 2 120 Sal'*'" de Ma
c 750 Seroegalese (Batlguo, Nov 1940l c 800 ~ 10"00. Dec 19401 c 800 5er'egaIa¥~, O!lc '940 '69 F~, $,664

l(X;.ss ~ ~

c 400 T"""""9 r::;rV !r'OClPll" fI'lY"l lP'It GN ~

NomacI8sl ct ~ Be"'........a TC8Sl' f!r>ese 08c:is't ~ Ir;m"«l LllC:IWl:'s '3
I9P I t:JeClrrI8 6IMP aIffI/.,." IfgImlIf

•

_6OC~a'IlllO"3S"'AJT"\~ ;WI

,,!l'I I~ 81M ... ~ 1942

The o!fle... of the 13a DBLE .een hare (top) Is weltrin" Ihe tull French uniform, with a khaki btIl'11t, dark blu. collar patch•• In.tead of khaki I. nonl'1Igulatlon f.ature. but often ...nl with two llr. .n .ewlitChe., and In bullion wire, the legion's g,.nade with the 'lgure 13 InsIde lhe bomb. Abova. thllt fi..alllellr ••Mga'a" 01 on. of the BM. w..... khaki e~la.. patena. with a yellow ancko.. on his Britlah b.ttledl'1l" blauM,

19,10), Wht'll 1,:\00 Flt'nch ~ailnn W{'f(- kilkd. :\lorco\(.'I', 110 ~rollild IOILO:' C,I11W 0\'1.'1" to lh~ Free Frellch ffvlll North Africa, prindpalh b{'call~t' 111('1'(' wa~ no l,lIul flOlllit'1 wilh ,I Brilish PO~'>C~~iUlI.

In IIll' Nt'ar Ea.'!. 011 tIl(.' O1lwl" hand, a handflll of Ilnil~ cro..s(.'<1 inlo I',tk,tim' Ihe da\ afler the A.nui",tiCt: to cOlltillue Ille light ('>t.'t" ·C.bk I. p.I). In lilt' r{,IIl,lilll!t-r of Fl"anCl", African !>o<;se-",sions, Ihe Fre{' Fn'llch em",.' ,llll-at"lt-d ,*'\l'ral unii..'> of local llOOp", blOllglll O\t'I, \\illingh or nOl, b\ lIl{'ir French officer,. In .!uh·,\ugmt 19-10, 1.8()() limillellr.. ..t:'ll~K=II,li, ,InCd tht" bOHler illlo Ihe Gold etM... !. bllt ,Ifler ~me mlllinied and mll('l"s \\l'n' il1corpomted illlo lhe Ilriti... h Anm, onh IjlJ \Ollllllt;'t"r~ l\t're Iefl h\ ~plelllber. Till' higg("t COtlp, hm\l'\l'r. cline al til{' ('nd of "ugll't. Idll'll 1110't 01 Fn'lIch bpl()() men cline u\er. t\fl('r pro\'iding for local dcfenC(' fOl"n's, training f"('ntre~ ,"al depots,

2 Free French Brigades and Divisions 1940-1943

'Main booty of F_ F......c/'I

~

-In s . p l _ lIMO 1 Eo II"d< "''''''''D'

!.O f' \IfOm 21 oetobtor 1$4Ol

• ,

"·'""n (J< ,.0.,.

14" DIllE, I'" Bl'M

III L ,

l"BlE, ''''BFM BM2BM3 ..,'"

\IfOm 11

ApriIllioo1t)

,l!< ~I

"ll".,t

~ o n l~Soeol 194(lJrQmI,)l(IO

0aI04, '.......lKlltJ e.-cun all" , _ ot""" (lper(l\>Ol'1 Menace

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I"' 8
ElM! W2 2'" BdI! ,,, 81M

,t"ES""

1 CCFl

u

(,~,.., C/II"'(l(l9\'

, ,,"

_<>I"""

,"un I- Bl'M.;AAI

~ bj' O:Jlolls Crcas:oJmo l'tP> Ole J.rol

8MJ,BM4 ""'"

[)R1 ..

,j

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('OA.J} 4t "Ie

_." /,... H'''' Itrom 23 c.<:lIm~ ~r"M"" ,'''W~., ",0. t "'~

r,"'.. .

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1,1

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~

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,..

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BlE,l81M

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en

"

L.I:»oa" C¥I.>IlI\111042lBI, Haklllm)

Cllil(j(j I" BLE, 8M 31111&' ~I,' II 1 e..llet)' J'Y..., C¥I'OaY' 194~ ""'L....""I, Ma~ (2, ... ,tII 8M 6, , IrI;k1IlOl StJIJa;'"",. as~. roIol .. u,· to ~ r'llnCl'l ~ IfWtli GIl 1 GIl 2 rtl«:ame I"" CCI'l II po,t"" Aecca Grti<4'S ((lI1l..-l ~I'"

,I""..,

9.

.. '~" t>

(from' February 111431 I' [It..o "'" "....... be I' Lli'W

~001

1-8!~

8M2,BP1 ,... '"

I"

I"",

_..,Det;, '!}.II/IS

1~1)

.. ''''',t

on .

no.:

l'fIr'IQTh In 10111 194o!11ougnl WltM "'" 5m in(a;)n Dv. s-,...,~, J.Jntt-JUv 1041 f<:
/lJ

1"BOe

13"ll"~

Rt.I5M..,

i1~fI.ISM

""""'lM'l

ear....

~ 4"

0l10\l0l1'e'

l"u::::f'I.J'

08.£ SiMP 14'

2"1kIII 1lM4.8M5.BM11

ThlIn, I.... 1" 0Fl. was ~ to Syna IJVlII

4'1kIII' 8M21.BM22.BM24

~.11

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SomoIro:l Did..,. .....

acto> In T..-

'~lKten;'

,

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n

• ~~ III' ~~"'8'lll$tl_Almt'i11tp;1taJ¥> flol4Jl \het1 ood m KuIfa . . _ 1941,. fw1 c \QI,.,... I!nl FI!IQ;1f1 ~~" "..., _ ' - ~ In 1ha FtrzzaI'1. l.IIotII<; ,.".. ~ 10 lb¥IIan:l • Mi 1Ao:IPlr"" - . 0"Iaat1-...:l 10. 20m kim 1; ~

r_ L

iIo(>-t\ 12F-...ry 1M3 t042 Fo< IhII ~ ot n D..o'n;ll"ll f . . . - ~ ..... Fl"

~

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T~lO T . - .

5

iAn In.peetlon of the ,re Comp.gnle de Chan de I. Franca Lib••, 5 January 1"43, at Tmlml, n,ar Tobruk. All the man

lire wearing the 'ull Brltl,h uniform, Includlnsl the RTR be..l, but wHh • French b a . (th.

helmet and ero,sed gun bar.ela 01 the T.nbl. Th' eh........ we,ring gl. . . . . on Ihe lett I, .1" w ••rint Ihe mela' badge ot

tn. t re

CCFFL. The NCO on the

lett is _arlng • 'Fr,nc.' shoulder lltt••

e t>nouHh men n.'llI,linill!-l: 10 Il)rm lour IKllmllfJIlI d, tIIarrh, 1)\ Ihl:' elld of Ihl:' \ear. l.e'ning- Eng-land in Sq>\I':IIIIX:1 \910, IIIml ulllll' In- BLF (~,O-l5 l11en 01 ,III 1'lIIl..~l 1001.. part in Ope"llion \kn,l( e, Idw<;(" pllrp0'l.' \Ia, 10 ,,'in tl\L'1 0,11...11', and 1I11l~ till' n·'1 01 FrC:IILh \\nl \11 1(,1, I\ullhl' \'ieln lor("t" pili up .1 delennined r(',i'l
Lt. Col. Paul Maubar1, ••cond-lncommand of the " . AA (1" DFL)

In ,g44_4', ,tt,r Ihe dlvl,lon had be.n ..-equipped by the

Americana. The characteristic French ,Iemant, of hi' uniform are the bonnet de pol/ClI (dark blue ,Ide cap with red piping, llnd • gilt anchor to commemorate the reglmant's

orlglnl liS Colonial troopsl, Ih, rank bnld worn on the ,houlder

Itrap., and, of eouna, Iht division" <:loth b-.clllll.

6

FREE FRENCH GROUND FORCES UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA In Eng"tilld, during: till.' L'Mh ~t111111lt'l ul 1910, lIo1lung di'linKui"hl'd lllO'L' "oldil'r~ who had cho'l"lI Iht, FI('l" hl'nch CUI\{' tnm. lho,~ "bu 1',Id uptl'd IIII' l,-,!lalriL'(.' 1'1,111' \1), From ,\II~\I~t 19 lO, hO\\'I" l'r, IlitO Frt't" FI\'II( h bqf.1Il III Ien'i\ L' Brill,1I unilorlll' \\ilh ,I Llulh ,Imuldt'r 1Illt' 'l'I',Il\lt" t'mhroid('f('d in \,hilt' Oil

khaki. I hi, 1';1' nol ID lhl' ta'll' 01 Gl'lleral de Gaulk. who did flol I'.llil 10 'tT French lonn helOll1illj{ a kind 01 leg-ion wilhill lilt' Ikiti~h Anm. :'\l'll'llhl'lt',~, tht, '!'J;lIlU..·· lilk ll'fllailled characteri,til ut Iho~l' Fn'llch unih "hich fOllj{lu along,idl' Brili,h unih, panicllbrh IhtN.: ill lilt: S.~ ,l1ld dll' ("(llllm,mdo~. di<;CII~~nllx'lo\\ (~e IIlllllt _l' ptJ ibk. thl.' Charalll.'l of ,( Fll"t1lh unit ill per~ol1tll"1 1ll;Il!l'!"". p,LllilLll.lrh ill Ih .. ,Ire;" ul di~ciplil1l'_ lallgU;tgl·. pwmOlion. and dllli('" ... In the ,lre;l ut I.'ljlliplltl.'nl. [Fn-") Fn'ndl 1(,1'«'.. \\'ill ta!.... priorit\ in lilt' ownl"r..hip ;lIld 11..-: of .Im

Th. . .Uo... olin. 1" BFM In S.plemHr 1V42, when ln.y were equipped with 8ofo... All. gun•• TlM+r only dj.stlnctl",.

'oumg''',

badoge i. the red quit. notlc ••ble n.re. (Coli. H. F.~ocql

•

7

Apart from the h.adg ••r, • certain j. ne ..I, quo! 'mmedl".I)' Id.ntl"•• th... m.n e. F.... F... nch equipped b)' the BritIsh. C.pt. Hugo, Capt. Megn)' and Lt. Hogu's, of the ::- 8FL, .... pictured ne.r 81r H.kelm In December lV42. Their unlform.• cl m.n trench co.t, "'9ul.lIon g tcoat .nd Ie.ther }endn - .r• ...ry .... ried. The k'pI .. black (dilr1l. blue accordl"il to ~ul.tionJ with gilt di.tlnctlon., and the bonnel de poIlc. I. bluefblack with 1IC....t piping, All three be.r the gilt .ncnor 01 CcMonl.1 troop., (Priv.te conectlon)

eqllipll1t:1ll bclolll{inl{ to, 01 lI!>t'd b\, Ftendl lon,t" 01 \\h,lle\el origm. This lasl clauo;(' was parlicul....h i1111)()r!;llll. ,in(I' il ,lllm\cd de Gallik lhe Iree u-.e ofal1\thinR: \\hich lIIigllllx'lolIlH! ill .111\ t·...-\·id\\ 1l'ITilOI"\ alquired b\ the Free Frelllh: ill lhe 'lllllllll'l ul I!JII. lilt:· :'\t'1 contained a huge r('<;('I·...olr. if nOI of mt'lI, l1Wl)
8

Uniforms worn In the field Fur 0pt:finiun ;\!t:llan:, ill AlIgll'l IY·IO, till' Frt't' h('lIdl 01 lhe I'" I\I.F !"('("('in:d a nllnplt:le ,t:t of itet1l!> of Briti'h tropitill tli e,!> tll go wilh their hatl!edn'\!>. Part of Ihi' 1l('W IIllilol III I\,l' ,l lar~(' IOll'll!-:f'-'dlilpn! enaillelled tricolour shield lor tlte hUllt 01 thl' Hopilal Ilt·llllel: Ihi!> high I\' \'i"ihlt: badge wa, I'cry '1l1id,ly aballdOlll'd, ,Hid i' !>huuld not be r()llfu~('d with a badge WOt"1l on tilt, "idt' 01 tlit' tropical helmcl Iw tht' lIlell 01 the I!>I and ~Ild CUllllMlliL', ul Ihe I'" Bli\l ("ee ,\1.\/\ ~~H, I'lall" F I), t\ si III ibr, if ."maller, trico!l Hlr 10/l"tlg"t· \\';1~ painted 011 thI" "idl'~ of tIw l\ri'i."h :'Ilk.11 s,ecl helmet, i\!>lll"d ill Iht' \\'ntt'lll nnnl durillg" 19·1~. Fur .!>UIllt: tilll!:: 10lal troop~ InJIII F1L'1Kli I::t[ll'ltuli,tl Alrie.. rel;litlL,d lheir timilkur uniform\, 1\"111'11 withollt am "ped;11 ilt\ig:llia, I'Xl"(,pl in lilt' CI~C 01" 1\.\11 which. tOl tilt, (;"holl EXpt'dition III i\'()\cmhcr 19·10. GHTicd ,I !>l11all dolh triatlgit: \Iith tilt· LTO\!> ot 1.01 r~lille Oil thl' Idl ellc.!>t. Thl' hadg"e eontilHll'd to be wcwn. hilt on thl" uppt'r left ,,It't'\I', duringopcrations in Svria Ulllle:Jllh 19-11). rhl' llIo11rl1e(\ ,p,lhi" 01 thc I'" E5.\1 \Iure lhcir 1939-40 unilorm in their linl ,l(liu1I' ,110IlK,idL' tltt: Bliti~ll. ,\~ far as po"sihk. FrcHcll 19~N··1O path'llI coll.lr p;llehl" \,'('ft' worn 011 Ihe batllt-dre!>s coll,lr:'>. :'Ilu~1 Ilnit,. "0(1111(' ,I' I'.lrh ,I" lite 10lUI 01 1910, ,,1'0 n~tainl"d the Frcllch pl~l(liu: ul \\C,ll InK ,I mel,ll ullit IMdR:l'. eilher plain or cnalln-Ilt-d. in addilioll 10 tlw 1-:'('IW1,11 Free French badge dt:'o(rilw
III till' ah~t'rHI' III Ill(' s((,('1 !wlmel, Frt'e Frl'nch uoup~ Ilerl' I1ro,t c",ill' dillillJ.;"lli,lwd IIOllllht'ir Hrili,h "llil'~ hI their \lndn',~ 11I'adgt',l1', I he kilJ/, \IOnl bl onitt'r, ;lnd wnior NCO" II'a, th.u of lhe Ill"II\.'r" ol'i!{ilr,ll artll-of-'I'r\'icl', \Iitholll alll il(ldiliol1i\1 badgl", For thl' lI1t'IL t:'t'n Illurl' fn'qllclllh Ihan Iht' "hal.i OClet. The t,lll" (n'\t, (II the 1'1' Cornp,lg-lllt' de l h,lr:. (tht' (ort' 01 Iht' flllllrt' :101'- I{( .C) 1t.·t,liltl'd their 'Ill,tll c1,lr" bILIt' Ix'rci wilh till' tr.uliriOlMI Fn:ltrh 1,ln", hatlj.{l' (though Ill(' Frl'nth hen·t \t."
or

Or

Th. . . two plelurH &how the developmenl of !he headgear and ba~s of !he lus1liet'1l_ martns eommandos. In 1~1_.2, ther wore In. regulation headdre.. 01 the Freneh Navr lo;ap. for offleen and petty offlcet'1l, Nehls lor reti",s) with In. FNFl elolh b8di<' Of! thelr steev., below !he 'Frenee' and 'Commando' title•. Then. in tale 1~2.... rtr 1~3, all personnel ~elved the green berel of Brltl.,.. eommando. with the FNFL lreplaeed on the ann br lhe Combined Operellon. !HI.), Finally, In Aprtr 1844, the tamous metel berel badge was IntrodUCed , _ Plat. E31,

lUI.

hl'l World W,lr In the Di\.lllude fj'?gmJI' dl'} fill/lim manl/I. I ht., "Ii 1m ., of the UF\1 abu \\llre ,he gener;ll in'jigni,1 01 tht' F~H . an t'long,lted t'II,lIlldkd llIetal di,ullolld, ht,;trillg ;\ cro~s 01 l.oll";lil1l:· in rt'd willI a whitt' l'dg-e 011 a bhw bal'I-g-1 ulind (,t'l' PI.Ll(' A1). Free French paratroops and commandos

10

Ikt.IU'>t' tlu:,~' ulli" III'H'!" 10nnl:'11 part uf ,UI\ FI t;'t' ht'lllh higher IOl"lll;tlioll rl'""i.'quipped b\ the L''', lhl'\ l1~d I\riti,h ullilurlm ,mil eqLliprnelll L1lltil the lill,l] ILl" of the \\,11, ,mel \() ,Lit' trr,Lled sepal";ut'h' hert'. lile lir,t paratloop IlIlit \I~I' Iht' Iff' Cml1!)(lKIlIf' !f'i,,Iflll/n-il' dl' I'oi,. (II ,. (,1 \)' II hit II tlHl' Il't;li m'd I hI' 'il1l,lIlterit' tit' l'air' 1];l1l1(' of tht' fi"t Fn'nt.1t ,tilhonw ulli~ IUllIlt'd ill 19:~7. R,II;,('d 110m the hq;;:illlling for "1X'dal Olx'l-,nium, FIt'l: Fl t;'llch P,lI.tUtHlP" \\I'rl' linalh formed inw 1\\0 regirnl'nl' of rhflul'1/n /HlIlldllllij/l'5 (2" ,lilt! :\.. Rei» hUI Clull aflt'l" Ol long t'\tlhn.iull ('1.'1' the 1I0tt:'~ to PI.Ill:' C1 .llld F~), \1It.'r Ihl' '\'OrtlMlHh tJpt.'r,tlLl)IlS, .lIld a relJrg;ll1i~lti(ln ill til\' .\llIlImll 01 1911. lllt.,\ par";IChlllt'd illl0 Iiolbrlli in \pril 19-L'"J tu ,ltl,ltl., thc l"t'lIc;L1illj.( l.('l"In;\I1'. ,0\, well a~ 1\t'ariILg I\lili~h p;lr;l1rll01' \\inj.(~ nn JIlt.' ~It't'\"t, (~nlllt,tillH'~ rl'p1:to"d b\ eilhet Iht' SAS l)<1ltt'rll ur lhe prt'-\\";Ir French pall('IIl), Fret' Fn'llch par.:ltnmp' ;Idopled lheir 0\<'11 \Iing-~ ill the "pring of 1912, \\0111 aholl' l'itht.'1 (ht-",t pot.I-l'1. Their ht:'.ld~e \\;1" Il'pJ.Ked ill i~ lILrtl b\ ,I par";UfOOp" rl'd heret with ,Ill S,\S hMIj.(I' (Itorn NOIt'rtLhn I!III). I'll(' h elll h \Mr;L'. hll\\t'\l'1. h"d 110 IiI 111 rqpd,Hiull' 011 Ihe Lll,lllI'1 01 b,ull-\t·" 'O;t widl' Il1ixllllT lould ;11\\;1\\ Iw ,tTll

LEFT Flor.nvlll., 8.lgium, 211 December 11144, Thi. French SAS J.ep ha•• cro.. of Lorraine painted on It••Ide .nd, on the front bumper, 'Oradou.....u.... GI.n.', Ihe lown wt>ere 1100 Inh.bitant. w.... m ....cred b)' the 5S D.s Rekll OM,Ion on to Ju.... Hl44, Th. m.n .re we. ring OenlllOn ....ock••nd red be...t. with the 'Who 0 ..... Win.' badg., Not••1110 the ~rful .rm.ment of lhe Jeep, il. 'nnour p1.t• •nd modified redllllOf" grille,

LEFT Allplrent PaUl Ltg.r, ~ RCP, phologrephed in Pari. in December tll44 wearing an aslonl.hlngly compl.t. . .t 01 badge., On hi. be...1 Is lhe SAS baldg. and a modified Parac:hu1. R~lment badg., On hi. DenlllOn smock, the dark bl_ .houldar IIlrap. be.r hi••Ingl. rank .tripe .nd .n RAF alblillrOIll in gilt, He wear. FFL para wing, on hll chilli; and, on hll Ile.v., • 'Franc.' Ihould.r title .nd • French Inftmt.rl. de I'AJ, badge on • khaki backing,

RIGHT A COM .rmoured c.r built HCretlv In the Unoccupied Zone In lal. 11142 on an American GMC ACK353 lruck cha..I., Th. manuf.cturing progr.mm. called for 225 .ue:h v.hicle., armed witt! • m.chl .... gun and an antitank gun, to be built for the Arm)' of the Armllllic., but thi. wa. the onlV one compl.ted belore the Inv.~n 01 the Z _ on 1 t November tll42.

Rai\t.'d in lhl' \prillj{ 01 1\111, Ih~' F~I'I, (ol1ll1l,uldos tormed 1\'0 lroop~ and ,I machine g'11I1 \euiull - 177 mt.'l1 ill all - ill \'umlwr 1 CUIIlIllalldo on D-I);l\, (\{'(' lhl' IH,[{" 10 PLUt, E:\), I h{'1 IIU1C Ihe grccll Ix'ret from il~ intro£!llciioll ,II th~'I:lld 01 I~Jrl, bur \Iilh lhc F:\FL cloth patch (repl.lccd ill April 1911 h\ rllt'il 0\111 Illl'tal hadj{t.,). I'hdr batll('dre.. ~ ulou,l'~ bon' Ihe ~allW h;ldj{('~ .h 111O'e 01 iii ili:.h CUIl1111.lIldus, Wilh Ill(' ,uidilion, of lhe 'FI~lIlu:' Ihouldel Iii Ie, ,Ind, 01 COllr'l{'. Frellch h.ldgt·lof ran" Orl Ihe :.hollkkr 'II ap"

SECRET RESISTANCE WITHIN THE VICHY ARMY Gellt.Tt:'1"'.uIMli" {"!lit 01 \l.lI-shal Pi-lain, Iht" did 1101 .I~rl-'(' \\ilh llu' polilin of o)II.lho-ralion. Fur Ihl-·II1, {~rl1l,lI1\ lelll,lined 111(' 0111' Inll' ('neill', fht, 1-'\(·nlUall"e-olx·ninK of hll'lililie, \\.1\ til<-' ~ul~l'l-t 01 Ct;'nl-'/~II 51Ololoihilill of all ,\IIil-'d land inK in tltt: Frt.'e ZOlle, \\helltt'r Oil lhe ,\ILlIlli. or \It-dilt'n~\Ile,lI1 {"U.bb. In lhe .ltHUIIlII of 1912, th!' :\ledilt.'rr'liw.1Il oplion \I,ll> th,1l 1,l\oul"ed hI {;I-'m'Il.tped from tht.· fonr~,s of K{llliK'II-'in nil 17,\plll 19..J:!, hilo pt:'r"Oll.tl pLIII - ahandOlwd onh ,I It'\\ d,IIS Ix'iore Opt:lollioll -lor(1I - \\'IS IH 1"I.lbli~h I\lU rt'duuhh,.1t louloll ,BId POrl-\'(·ndrel. \Ihich \\Imld <>('l'\e .Il> bridgdw'ldl for the AIlJ('lic;\n~. \\,her('II-'r the landilll{ mig-hi lx', the, \1111\ Ilould put illlo dT('CI il~ '1'("1 t't 11lubili!kltioll pl'IIl, II herdJ\ l'oIe h fI'g-illlt'111 \\ollld 1~li~t.' tWlI mon', '0 tripli11g lilt" Sill: of the ,\l"Im (~t.'I' rahll' X, Vol. I). UI1(It'r the cOIllIll
11

created to sllpplemenllhc regular afllll' alld ~upph it~ Il"l'r\'l'~. Funher. clandesline ammunition faclorie~ \\'('re ..t·t up III tht, Flt't· LOllt·, in dcliallCt: of lht: tt:rlll~ of 'he .1I'mi..,iet·. In mainland France. llll'~l' 1l1c....lln.... Ilnioltllililieh had link cfft:cl, except \Ih('re dll1Jlp~ rt·lIl.lillt·d uIHIi ..nllt'rt'd bl the Germans. and IH.. rl· lI~d hl ....111 the FFI ill I!lll: in :\'onh .\frica. 011 the ollwr hand. IhcI .11I0III·d (~elll·I.11 Jllin\ flJnl'~ 10 Iw placed quid;,]\' Oil a war roolin~ In '\"ml'mhcr 1912. A training ground: the Chantle'. de la ;eunesse

In order to ocelll'\ the Cia........·.. (,I 19;\9 2,Ind 1910 I. \1 ho II eft:' called up in the spring 01 1910.•md to .\(('ollllllocLne the I.lrge numlx.-r of officer~ .1Ild :,\CO.. II ho.....· .....·1 I ill:" ltJIIld Ilot he u"Cd in tht: ~lIIall pO~I-_\rllli~lin' \rml. ,hI' \idl\ GOIefllllll'1lI fonned tht' CI/(/III,rn (/,. /a II'IUI"~v "'~W(fIlV' (CIF). IIncier Genernl de la rOr!e du Theil. I he lIe\1 tJlI-:i1l1i!HuicJll reS(.'llIhled the milit,u'" ill a lIluulX'r of \\a\" (it I' ..... lor .... ,.unplt'. pre't'uted with.1 (lilg: ,"1d ilulllt'nilt' ..unl ~1ll1' 100.000 \OUI1~ 1Il1'n ..... '1"\ nl llwir t'IKhl m()llth~ in i" rail L.. Ix'meen 19,10 and 1911. Imked, hOlh in ~Ullh\hic
A REMATCH FOR THE ARMY OF AFRICA

12

A. young member 01 the Chantlen de Jeunesse, around 1942. He Is wearing II loreat green unllorm (beret, 'goll' trousers, lind puttees), a khllkl or mld'lIrey shirt, thick nlltural wool socks. ll111-pattern boots or mountain boots, lind II brown leather wlndchellter, The 'blldge of office' ('rank' WIIS not used) was II red ribbon wOrn over the right chest pocket (here with two white strlpell Indicating. TlIlIm Leader, the equivalent of II corpo"'ll. Below this can be S"n the lIeneral Insllilnlll of the CJF (II French nlllil and II sun within II wreeth 01 wheat stalks), The beret was decorated with eltner the blldljJe 01 the IndlvldulIl chanUer, or II smalle, venion 01 the 1iI11nllrai b~,

\\'hl'l1 lhl' Allie.. lamkcl in :\"01111 Allit;1 Ull H NOH'llllwr 19--l~. thl' polili,o-lIIilit.lr' ..illlatill]l wa~ \IT\ ('onlpkx. Bdlll(' Opt.'raliol1 IlJn.h. thl' .\Illt.:ri(;111~ had ....1111·lt·d il110 ",·Cll·t 1ll",I.(nti~tli{)n, wi III Ct'Ut'ral l:iralld. 1I11;lw01r(' lh;H Il ........ Xt.:lli,l'd flO ;1\111101 ill' O\I'r tht',\1 1111 t'ilher in ."lulllr Alrica or in Fr;mn·. The North Afric'all (llllllll,lIld \I';I.. lirmh held Ill' Cl'lIeral Alphon'>l..' Juill. IIll" II',I~ loval II! the "iehv Co\'t'rtlll1t'rll. 111111'\'0\ cr. Allmiral Frall(tli, \);11 lall. l'I·t.li II" c!t·.. igll,ltl·(1 'lll("(',<~or, happt.'lwd III bt.' in AI~icr~ lor pl'r,,011al n·a"ol1'<. ,II Iht' bl'lbide ul hi'> dvillg ~Ull. Finall}. in Lumhm lit· (;.lIdll" - l\'IlOlli Ih(' \Illericall' (Ii~­ lnl\ted g:rc:lth'- had not h(TII infOlllH:d ahout T{)llh. 111 Al~ier" a ~rollp OlltJll'piralors 101,11 In Ciralld allow('d lhl' cit\ to tIll 10 tht· AJ1it'~ Ililh .. carccl~ a ,hOllirnl ill :lIlgl'r, but Ihi~ 11;1' lI1lt til(' (,1'(' III OI,1Il (we"H'rn "1/-:1·ri.l). or in .\Ioron'o. "lIt·r.... Ihl'lt· Ill'II' "~'liull~ ll.l,>hl'~ hd\\e.... n Flt'lllh .1Ilt! A!licd lroop" (1.:~ti."I Frl'ncll .1Il(1 FI~' \lIit·d I...illed). All arllli ..liu' lias t'\ .... lltllCelli. thi~ IllrnarolltHl \\".. d.lillll'd 'in lh.... .\lar~hal· .. [i.e. P~[;_lill'.. 1 11,11111:'"' bl .\dlllil.III}.lfI.Ul, \\ho \1.1" n'('ogniwd b\ lilt· .\meril.ln'i as Ihe -,(°nior political lig"lIft' un the ht'1H h ..ide, Thi.. 11.I"lIot ;Iuept.lblt· 10 thl' Flt'l' Fn'n(h, .mrl 011 211)('( 1·lIIbc'l. \);lrlilll 11.1"

a.,sa,sill;lll'd, Tlli, It'll {;iLllld - narned a~ civil and militarv (0l111l1alHlt'l-il1-thid h\ lhL' Americall' _ ;lIld de {'~\lllll', \\ho 1\;1' ,till ill London, l'ndcr prL'''lIre frol11 tIl(' \lliL'~, thl' '\\0 Kt'!lt·r'lh I\ert" lorn'd to ctl-(lpt'r,lle, ,\1 tilt· IX'Killllillg uf 1913. the It',ldel 01 FaT Fr ,II1U' L"I.lbli,hcd hi, IlQ in .\lg-ier" alld (n';II('d, \\ith Cir.lml. the Fn·lIth (:t'd Ilndi\'ided political pm\cr, It 1..1\ ;1g:,lln\t thi, lroubled bacl..g:IUlmd Ih,\I Iht' Flt'nlh .\1111\ h.ld ttl reorganiq:', Ifith tlu- e\L'IlIUal.lim ofJiht:-r.lling: thc homeland, Mobilising and fielding the Army of Africa On fi ~p\('IIII)('r 1910, {o('l1t'lC:'trt,th tJlg,ltll'>('c! plcp.lr.llitlll, lor lhe n"-olx'l1in~ ofho,tililit,~. \'it.llto thi, t'lld 1\I'n" the ,llIn, whidl h,ld Ix'cll hidden ,illlt:" thL' 'lllUIIlL'1 01 19-f(I, 1)(0[01(' hi, ,lIli\,II: "'J,-I.!XXl rifles, 2,300 light machillt, gun", I....l()() ht',ln IIIMhilll' KUll'. ~!Oi ~11l1tT1 mOrlar.., i~ arlli-tanl.. gum, H~ i"'llI1l11 fidd Kiln" 2 I 1I~l( I..('d ('-called ';\rnl\ 01 Tr,tll,ilioll' in :\'ollh Alrk;I, \\'\'\}\,.HHI sC(Tetl\, ;Hlded another liO,OOO trained melT I\ho could 1)(' Il'ed in thc reg:ular arlll) (di'g'lli,inK 10,000 a" 'prol'i~ion,1I nllhuipt-', 1:1500 as auxiliarr police in ,\Iomcnl (ralhn thall lite autholi",tI ('~tahlishl11t'nt of 600), and ~O,O()O a, 'IIn;lJttled \\-orkers'), SI'(Tet mohili,,"ion pl;lI1s. pUl into anion 11'0111 mid~O\emhcr 191~, ,u(leeded ill calling up 2:;9,000 FrCllChlJll'l1 Ihill).{ in Afric
ThIs poe;\....".,..,. ~ 10 !he (lOl>ey of !he""" _1boiIt>Id III _ _ l$oll. ~ I ~ . ...... . . . - only "''''-Y _ _ It'll only III NonIl ~

~

On e totlr of Inspection on the ltIUen fronlln Mareh 1844, Gen8fel Oll'1lud twNring e kepi dfl:OI'lIted ..tth _k "'av. ., end an American m8Cklnawl, C-In-C of Ihe fl'1lnch 4nny, Chats to Oanar.1 .Iuln. c:ommander of the CEf. who _a~ • bef'el. dbtlnctlvely, " t_leganlly, wedged down Of! hi, helld. Both e-e_rat, had lhe Nme rank. that 01 "enera' d'a"".., Indlc:ated by ftva Ila~.

13

3 French Army Order of Ba«le Tunisian Campaign, November 1942 a May 1943 As ",.,., d'IIIn9M occwed

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\,il!U)(1l ddal 10 0ppO'C Axi, toret" in [lllli,i,l:;'l new ;0111\, complelt'll rc-ccpdppl'd lw 111l' AlllCriG11l" 11,ld 10 bl' pUI illl0 l11t· ficld ;'l~ 'OWl ;'l~ pu"ihle; .lIld h~rri,,()n~ d,,('\\lH'H' il11VrlCI had 10 be 1Il;llmalnn[ (,Illhe l'lld of 191:1, \\hltll .110l1l' ItOCIllircod ~:'tIUK)(1 l11('n). 011 tlw '!'lllli,iati frollt. I ht' Fremh \1 1II\ COll1l11itll'd ;U ound t)(,.OOO men IU t.ombal ('4't' Lible ~ ahme). Thi, did 1101 include Ilw Fn:T FIl'lleh c'tln'ldt'rl'd alltl\(' or lhl' r,(lTI)~ I- Ullin!: IfnI/III' (eE\ L ,I un II of alOund :1.000 1011l11lc't'r, of dl""'''' Clhnir orig-in". includingSpani;lnh ,md Yllg-o"b\"~, llllwilling- to '1'1'1'(' in Ilh,ll Iht'\ referred ltl a, Ihl' 'DarkUI Alll1\'. L'nilullIll'cl, l'C1uiPIWd and armc'c\ b\ lhl' I\Titish, 1\\0 hallaliulb I\l'll' lidded h\ the ( F\ nn the l10nhern Tuni"ian coa"l in JlIlllM\ lY,13 (incre.l,ed to 1111 C"l' from \1.l1ch of IIMI \ ('ar). For tht'ir part, (:ellcl'll.!uin·' lroop:.. made lip of a 11lltllber of prO\i~iolla[ d;\"i"iull~ frulll Alg-cria and ~l(1roeco. bCCllllt' tlw Phh Corp" (the tradition,11 nUlIllx:1' lUI 11iC' \Iililan Region 01 Alg"t'ria), ;md '001.. lheir pLI«(' in ,ht' Iillt' ill lilt· Illlli~iall hill~, iuiu,111I held h\ Ihe I~HKK' men of (~('nel-;Il Barrio.., (SIT (TUlI!",1 COIIIlll.llldl. 10 1\110111 fell Ihl' honour of tx'ing- !he fir...' 10 l'n~rage tltt· erll'llI\, nit, 19,h Corp', '''011 rcoll,lrll('d IhtO French Corp'.

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Th4l... lour gouml.r office.... ell drened very dlfferenll~, .re pictured on II M.~ 11143, Just .ft.r Ylctory In Tunlsl•. On the left, C.pt. Bond we..... sp.hl's g.ndour.h ble.ched .Imost white•• blllCk beret f_rn In soma goom, 11141-431,.nd t.rloulnes lloc.r ..nd.l,). N.d to him. Comm.nd.nl Sant.llIe _ ..... Ioc.l WOOllen c.p .nd 1"- cl.sslc djelf.bah, with hi, rank b-.cllle on his ch.st fas w., u'uallo. offlc '. Capt. Ftye Salnt.-M.... w the uniform 01 , Sah,..n otflc••, all In light kh.ltl, .sC.pl the Itepl. which i, the .II-sky blue of t"- S.h.ren Companle,..... for the offlc•• Itt t"- bonne' de police. he w.'re , bvsh JllCket (nherienneJ In a ..... 011 colour, probably IlCqulred from ltell.n otflc.... fUSHAI

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LEFT In , de'en,lYe position In the Tunl,l,n hili" this tirellleur sergeant w.lts b~ his Hotchkl.. m.chln. gun, d••amlng 0' revenge. He would not hay. long to walt, HI' uniform h.. not • Itered Iinc. 11140, Th. helmet coyer II locall~ made.

Ildd lIlt' (t'lllrc of lilt" Allied Iilll:. \\illl Ihl' 1'1 (Ikili,h) .\nm Oil lheir 1l0nllt:'111 II.HII.., arId IIH-' 2nd L'S (;orp" nil 111(' ,olllhl'nl. rhl;" t:'Xtrelll\:, 'Ollthcrll flank, lacil..l'pi"pn, II." hdd 1)\ '('11.:1.11 lhou,.md S;lharan lroop' ullder (:t"llel'al Dt"la\ (llo11l
Ne.... organisation and uniforms 1941-43 111 i\'o\'{'mbcl" 19·12, thefl: IH'Il: '1.7 inl:lIltt\ I'q;illlt'lll" ill NorTh AfriGI (,el.: Table 8. \'01. Ill)!' til(:' lloilu.uiol1 in 1911: WHlU' ch;I1l/{l"" and di~­ b.lI1dmenb occurred ~ubs<·qllctUh·). of \\'hidl 1\lo"lhird~ lIen:' ('Il:tlluall\' ellgag-ccl in TUllisia, Each f('gi111ellt (()lll.litled ;m IIQ cOl1lp"m' ("ig-nal". machine gUllS, 37m III GlllIlon. and ~oll1("lil1l('" 2;1111111 allli-lank gUlls a!> \,dl). plu~ IWO or threc batlaliol1~ 01 Inur miM'c110I11p'lI1ie, e"ch ('le(' \'OIIl11H" I) - a 10lal of76 battalium ahogelhel, 111 III(' lhre(' rCKilll('nL~ of lhe LKgion. four of the compalli('~ \\crc lorrkcl ..,uh('r lhan mixl,"(1. and 1\\0 \\CI"(' moun led. The gollm,~, IIrst raiM'd in .\101 unu in 1905 as p(.'nnanclll unil" of ilrl:gular troops. de,elopcd "I(·adih. In 19:~!)....JO. 121 j.,'VIlIIII. one

15

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In lSl17-te, Am.rit;,n

tn>ot>' had

French IMtrvc;ton. Twenty-five

ye.,.. let..., u.. po,ilion ..... ,..,......:1. "'111, In AJgerie In o.c:ember t 1M3, ertltlel')'mfll of the 85- RA d,...,rique. __ ring

tMo.,tyte uniforms. ',em ,bout Americ,n f05mm shell.. (US

Army pt.otographl

corn pall\' ~.rong. were rai~l'd. 50111C WCrt' di~hallded in lilt.. \llllllllCr 01 19-10. but others wefe di~f{lli~l'd or f('1Iall1l'(\ 'II/rlwlfrn rhhijirllw\' (implving Ihal thel 1\1.:1"<.' paralllilitan !\'l"<:n 01 the Sult.1ll of I\lol"Occo) h\ their commander. Col. Gllil1alllllt.'. In In II GuiltllllllC org:;l11iwd the J.:UlllII~ into /flINJI) of fOlll" I-:0lllll~ cach. rnll~hh ('qui\,tkrH to a large.' hallalion. and tlwll illto GWIIIH'!J til' /(IOOI} II/flW((I/!/\ «(.1.\1) 01 thret' lahnr~ each. fhl' rq;illlcl1t.tl ..tnlclUfl' 01 till..' \1'il,1l1 (.II,lln- \\,\.. 1,llher more ('olllpll'x. Each l"t'gillll'llI fonlll'd ;\ IlllmlX'1" til "(.IIJUp" ul S. 51Mhi 1t.'Hilllelll~ \\ilh 'otlll \Iric-,Ill pc-'r"tlllll('! contained onh rwo or threc-' hor'ed Croup" «.l- \1 - (;m/ljw\ llb((ldf(",~ .\lllllt;i). In ("Olllr'l~l. the ("ha~'\('lll'" (I' \Iriqut' rq{inU'llt" (RCA). \\ith Frt:nch pt·!"o(llllld. cuuld ilH.lucle Cl- \1. (.l- R (n'«()nnai~"'"lnCt' group". \\'ilh 1\\0 mixed <;(]llMlrOlh of armuurl'c1c-.ll.... ,uulmuIUl"CHIt' ,idc-'-Car:.). (.E!' (Iorried group". with ;11I-lt'I...;lill Lllfl\.... or (,\1(,..). and GEe (.trmUIU l:"d. \\ilh I\\u MlllMlroll' ul ~~ or ~:\ t·\...( :h.ll.... de <:nmhat Renault R3?l or III lanks t>;tch). In ,Iddiliun tu Ihe 1q.{illlt"llh pruptc·1. \11I:re \\ere ,11..0 I\\(l indcpendcnl!orried gnllip" (Ihe IW ,1lIe1 II' (.,\P( \); anrl, ..t;ltiulled in Frt'ndl We.,1 Ahil Gl\.lln regiment. the 1'-' RFC. \\,1' dint'\el11h orj.{i1ni'l'rt ;ij.{ain. with one CER, Olll' GE~1 and a lIli'c-'d m,llhint: HIIII ,11111 hili it·d (.l-. In laIc 19 10

r 1111' Ih,l"elll' d'Alliqllt: "erl· Ilrl' fir'l 10 expt:rill1enl \\'illl ;1 {olllhin,llion of rn('ch;l11i~('d (';11,lln ,md illlill1tn l,mk, (a'.R CEC), lalt.:'r 111,I(k' ullili,11 01\ I DI'( ('mlll'!' 191:!, 1\1l('n Ill(" 1\\0 anlh \\1'1'1' ,lrn;ll~pll\;II('d at la'i 10 form 11ll' ,\nlU)llrl'd HI ,III( 11 (. \ /1111' Mimi;"),

Dili,ioll,11 ,lllilkn prililip'llh uJlIlpri'wd lhe IR97-p;\lt('r11 7:Jrnm field gllll, dl~lwn eilh('1 hI hor,>I' or hI 1110101 \L'hilll'; hu\\('\t:r. Olht:r t\I)I,:':01 1\t'''I>llll' l\l'rt' ,I\ail.lhk, t1ol.lhh li-lIlll11 and Tmllll mntllll.lin g1l11\ and IW;I\"\ balltTie~ 01

W:-J1l11ll or 1:-,..,(_". I Itt' uniform and l'quipml'lIl of tho-.(' ligllling in rllni,i,1 n'rn"illt'd n .....'lllialh till' Fn'n(h 1910 IMIIt'rn: ul thL' 1911 unllorm, 01111 lht' P r lit, .Illd '>llllll' ,hirh ,lIId Iil',_ h,ld ft'
Iht' end 01 Ihl' Cl1l11l.1iRII, hOIH.'H'r. some AI11t.'riLIII "llpplin "I'll' hq.:illllillg IU 1l'
frulll ('l'l' PI,IIl' (:21l'mlt'r \i( hI, IIt'I' h.l(!gl" Ctllllilllll'd to lx' illlftKlull'd. ()n 16 ~'plt'lIIl>t.'1 1911. IIIl' (a\,lln .l(loptl'd .1 Ill'\, h.lClgI'. to 1)(' worn on Ihe righl hn'."1 nf Ih(' .lnlllJlIlt'd IIIIOP:-' j.lclet. I hb rqll.l( l'llllit' tI,I!.11 1',111111.". bill 1Il,ldl' ll'>t:' of t1wir ll~ldilinn,ll 1'010111';" t,lling Ilw form of a ~hidd, wilh a de\ilt' ,lhoH' thl' \(m!(/r!'fl to illdi t .l\t.:' tht' br;llIlh 01 Iht.:' \H.·.lll'r ('I't.:' Pl.Ilt.:' D:?). AI thl' ~.lllll.: (iIIit', lilt' ~p;lhi~ recein'd ,I nl'\' had~I' in ,ilnilal .. 1\ k, III hI' "l,rn IHI 1111' Ilpper Ielt ,1e('\I' Ilf the }!flllllrmmh (h,lgj..F\ 1\\ ill ,\Iah ,hift) \\ lilt h 1',1' /!(II(/Urf, I' it h lQ/llar!/I."~. 1ll1l11bl'l ,llld d('\ ill' (,I tlC'1 ('Ill J()f "I~l'ri,lll ,11111 Tlllli,i.1ll n'girnt'II~, it pelll;lck ror "lorna,1Il Iroop~) .111 in jonquil H·llm\. I ht"I'I1('\\ had~e" wilh Illall\ \
Th... tank c.._ ..-equipped by lIMo Am.rlc:an. w_ lIMo 1~.l­ PIItlem Cloth bedsle on the .1......, ami nol a. pttf' regul.tlon, on Ih. che.t. The Tanka badsle, a. well a. a ••rveant" chevron, have been plaeed above the .oul_he. leither tight grey Or ~ ...n - bolh were ...n), which themselv.. lie .bove elth.r the unit number or a .mall .ilver grenade.

REARMING THE FRENCH In eilrh

191J. \,hiit' ,1111 I'ligag-cd ill Tunisia. the Ann\ of Africa

\'~l' able

10 begin a lompit'h' rl'tlll,r;mi"llion and modcrnis,"ltlon of il~ forcl"

ill .\tgl'ria and "Iorot'r 191:? (~1'1I1'r.11 Giralld had original I\' planlwd III flU III I:~ dh i~ioll~, hUl ,hipping prohkllls led 10 an imme-diau-, reductiun to II

17

F

(eiKhl i.,Llllt ..... ,111<1 th'I'(' armOlln-d) at the (:a...l .hlanca (;onll'n'llc(' in 191:t I he Iii ,. II ,1lI-..ttl.lIltil (0111(1\ dt"'lil1t:'d lor Ihe Fr,'m II ,tiThed ill :'\olth ,\fric,1 011 II \pr;1. and h\ Jllh. an t:'xpt'c1itioIM.... f01H' of 7:',f)()(lllH'lI, ,111 fulh (·quippt·r\ \\;1" l"t'ach for anion. I Ill' AIII,I 1'),111. ,ulopted.1I Lt...lhl.lIlGI. did nol include IIw t\\O Frl'e Fll'IHJl Dhi'iom (I'" Drl. and ,h(' !,t'derc O;,·i.,iol1). Imkt'c1. till''''' h.ld I)(TII '" ,'wCt·....lul ill po,l(:,hinA: mell in :\'onh Afrira lhat. in.lUlH', Iht'\

j.Ulll.tl"\

Iripolil;mia. oul oltlw \1'<1\. Giraud and cit' Caulle ('H'lIhm\('\cr, and on I Allg-ll" 1911. lilt' Fr('(' French ,mel the Arnn' (If ,\lri1,' \\{'!"l' ollil;;,lh '11l1"lgalll:llnl. rhi, !I'd to !lInIn'] diftilllhil'''. 1"1 Ihl' III ili~h ",mIni til..: n.'tul II 01 ~111 Ihe eqlliplllent the' had ,upplied 10 the Fret' Fre'n,h, \\hilt- 1111' Atitniclll' were un\\lllill~ to 'llpph more fh,lll lhe II di,i,iotl' ;'~1\,,'d ,If (:;l',lhbIH,1. (:il,llld W,I' tllt;rdur..: ublignl to illl..'lude the IUIllll'1 Ftel' Frelll'll unlh ill hi' CdCU);lIiou', di,hallding twO oj' hi~ dil'i,i()l1~ 10 1I1;,k,' 1'00111, I hi' An I~t I'lall W:I' m, ,di li..:d: Ih..: I,\.'clerc ))lvi'll '11, ;\11 :l1ll,.lg:tln (11 ex-FFI, :lIld ,'x-AI 111\ 01 Alrica, '\
to

lualh CUIll' 10 all :lJ.{flT1llI'Il1.

Command and organisation 18

Tilt:, rt:'org.H1i,,'d ""('11th ,\nu' indmkd a ~ingk geller.11 ,I.lfl, fir'l lI",d

Algie.., Sund.)' 14 M.)' 1944. The h.lf-trac .... of • motorised unit pIIrHe p. .t G.n 1 C.trou.., the Governo Gene... 1 of Algen., end G I Bethou.rt. All the 0"1<; wear French . .rvlt:e d , but the helf-t...t:k t:re_ .re w••rin9 US uniforms. French .mbl.ms .re "isible e".rywhere: small trit:olou.. outlined In whit. on the helmet' and on the bumpe.., .nd III'lIIe 1804-pattern regimental t:olou.. (white In the t:entre, alternate blue end red t:orn....\ on the bonneland ,Id.' of the hallIrllt:k,.

RtGHT Three CEF oltlt:.... In Italy, June 1944, From right to lett, a t:aptaln of the 8- RCA w.aring a 1935 helm.t, and an arm patt:h with three soufache. (the third, ackled tal.r, la of a sligh II)' dilt.rent t:olour); a t:apltlin in an Amerk:.n fide t:.p, with the doth CEF badge on his lett aleeYe; .nd .n .rtlUery t:apltlln, nK:ognlsable by hi' -..=.r1e1 .rm patt:h and his da'" blue ,ide t:ap with -..=.nel piP"".

4 French Armr Order of Battle Sept. 1943-Mar 1945 (formations from North Africa)

" • ORDER Of BAnu: UNTIl. SUMMER ,!loU • .....-. _

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8 - MIolN CHANGES FROM SUMMER '!loU TO THE FOOMATIOMS MEKTlONED ABOY£

,- C"

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do IA,..... M'I I llRAQ.

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'l!er&

'-l .... do L..- """ 4

............ R"Ms be<:e".,_ _' IA ""Xa" 1 " " ' " to'> tIIdI)

Dy III M.W~. y 9CP . . 10' BCA FnI a
.. OM'"

~

-~.......,

44 ~ ",n.o"-ll'I' 1~ 11'... ., ~ 19.;., I'" m ... -.:!ny 1" AI '" ~eb ~., ~ 44 ""-Wl"I'Milr't'''' ..... tI"n!I>s..r..v-"9"W'l"~~1 6' In! JORIC

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1" DB """",,, 5*08 ;;oj ~

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unit.. ,jpI

"',,"f]"''''''''44

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r

r-. ,r." Ah

4 1'" Al. , .. , 1" ASAR, ''''. JO Gel oe CI>:x:

F~,

W'aptJ/IUr>." 19' IlCP

()\<

ill [lair hr (;ellt'r:ll.lllill. 10 tak(' rnrnln:md of the n:kbratl:d (,'011)\ 1~'.\I)Mil/(/IIIUlirf' Ff(lI/((/i~ (CEF). colll]Josnl of four divi~i()rls (2" DI.\'1. 5-\<' Dlt\. 4'- D,\l~1 :lIld I'" 1)1\11) :lIld th1'el: /{1'ollps of tabor~.

lime. the 2" Arnl~e (renamed 1\ on 2:~ .Ianllar\' 1\144)~ wa~ heing a~,elllbit'd llnder thl: lortlt11:lnd of Gl'Jle.-a1 d<: Lalla' de l:h~iKm. Itl n'aclitle's for the landings in I'1'O\('11Cl', h\ .luI\' 1911 hh ('oll1l11;\n(\ includl:d lIlt:' 9<' DIe ("hidl Iud (aplurt:'d Elba ill June 19-1-1) al)(I 1he I It' alld fl" on (the 2(' DB had ~Iiled for (:n'at B1'it:lin 10 L'''e part in III(' :\'orll1and\' !:IlIding:~) .l1Id ...fter tllt.. iI \,'ilhdra\\',11 from Itah, the divi!liolh (If III(' (:EF. Arnu:'(' B cOIlld now form Al

tht~ ~allle

;\1'111('('

2 "'" ~ . ~ ~ II'Ie 18C11hM II'Ie CEF

~fromI8~18o&3 __

_..-y caIod ''"

"'----.rd"_A

19

A group 01 generete et Slene, Italy, IS July 1944, On th. I.tt, weerlng lour Iters, Gen.rel lermlnet (OC 2nd Corpll who, el e 10""'" F,... French v.t.rln, w.ers en FFl bldg. on hll ch
,ta,.,

Ita,.,

, 20

two armr corp~, and two armourcd and I;\c inLllltn t!i\'i~ioll~. It /{ivcll il.~ Ii lIal namc - I" Arm;'!nll/(fI;sr - 011 I Y St::ptCl11bCI 194-1.

wa~

Infantry divisions Thc dh i,ion~ of 19·13 Ilcrc organi'l;'d on th(' AIIlt.'riGlII pattcrn ...md as ~tLch \ICfe complclch motori-.cd, ('XCI'pl for lill' I'" n~I~1. which inclmkd 530 horM'S and 110 k\ICI thall ;~, 100 111111(". \1 hich \Icrc IU pro\c ill\';.llu••blc ill th(' Italian Illolltllaim, The infantn component cOIl,i'l(,,1 of ,Illt·t' Iq:-illll'nl.~ of lir.lilletlr~ (9~ unicn~. includillK It'lI Alricam, and :~,l()(} 1II(·1I. im.ludill).; ~.IOO .\frican~). Llch regiment indudcd ..Ill IIQ ClIlllp;\m. all AT compam (Ihr('c plawon~ of four towcd ~71ll111 hnwilJ('r~), an infallin gun cqmp.lll\ hi" IOjmll1 \13s) .1Ild thrct.' IMII,llium. Llch baltaliull containcd all IIQ compaill. Ihrec rint' HlIllp.'Ilit" (Ihrt'l' pl,lIotlll~ of thret· ~('('"Iiom cach. plm a machint' gun pia loon \,'ilh thrc{" \11919 Brownings ,Illd Ihree (j,()1ll1ll Illort:lr~) ,lIld
Dh i~inn;ll artillcn llulll\'llh ttllllPli~('d a n'lo\'illH'1l1 flf fuur ).;rollp..

a'n, •• l d'.nn" J •• n de Lattre de T•••lgny .nd hi••on Bemard, • corporlll In the 2- Orllgon.. In 18"S. The young.r m.n II w•• rlng .n Amerle.n unlfonn, but with. very French lide c.p: d.... blu. wllh white piping .00 lold, wIth the """lmenl.1 numb+r. Th. b.dg. on hla cheat portrllya • dr.80n, .nd w•••dopted by the """Imenl wt>en it w.s part of the lonny 01 the Atml.tlc•. The .tory 01 the ~ dragoonl Wi'S an utr.ordil'lllry _ : afte!'" the Inva.lon of lhe Free ~, iu atand.rd w•• hkkten and taken to Afric. by • number of ill mefl wtr.o !\ad .wom to .sc.pe from the O.""an••nd contir'llHl the flght; wn.n the """Iment w.a refomteel In North Africa In October 1843, It w.a with. majority of its lanne, membe.... Tha V-rlIJ w ..... a French-produced unlfonn uaacl on Brlti.h uttle· d ..... HI. II.....ra, however, on hi' .houldar .t,ep, .nd On hi.. • I. .v. h. w.......trlpe .a.n 'h_.ry cotpOrlIl'.

(lhr<-'o.: l1.lllo.:l in 01 10111 lulx:, o.:.llh pcr group) - ono.: equipped I\illl 12 l,l,-lllllll 11;\ [I ,md llut'e wllh 12 105mm 11~12: lhe artillel"\ of llw It" 1).\\1\1 h.1(1 ollh Ihn:e lo{rOllp', ('ach t'quippt'd with FrCllch 192Hpalll'rI' TllUlll lllOlllll,lill !{un~. Anti-aircraft artillery ('ompri'ed Dill' A"nillp Ilff/lllr \);1111'rl('';, c:lch wilh eighl '10111111 Ilofor... Lith dili,ioll ,11'0 illlludcd all o.:llgillt'cr baualioll (two lield COlllpalli .. ,), :I 'i!{ll,tl' UllllIMIl\, tll'O transport cOlllpanit.:s (pltl' t\l'O lllllie comp;mit" ill lhl' I" 1),\1111), a rq)air cOl11pany, a ITwdic;d hallalion and a ,"pplv I-(lllllJl. 10\\{'r!

Armoured divisions l.ik(O l!lcil AlIlI"lit;lll CqUi\'lklll. Frcnch divisions I,'crt:: di\idcd into CUlllb;tl COlll111.Jnd,. tlllnpo,cd of an armoured regimcm. an In/an tn' l1:1l1aliol1 ill h;I!l-lr,ltl-.,. ,I Kroup of artillery and dClachlllenl'> from Ihl' ulher ar11l~ ,md ~cl\i(n. CCI-:i IH'I'\: In thc Ire DB and CC'I-6 il1lhl' )1:, COlllbat COlllrn,uuh 1\1'1(' .Iho rOl'lIwd in Ihe 2" DB, bUI here W('ft' given lhe Frcllch nalll(' /..'IlJIIIJl'IIlI'/II tac/lqllf' (abhre\';aled lO CT. followed 1)\ lhe inili.• 1 01 ib Wllllll,llld0.:1 - CTD (Diu). GTL (de Langlade). en'. and erR (Rt:-lll\) h..~'d on 111(' rt'('C(' regimenl). I hi' 111'\\ .Irll]oufed divi'ioll Ihlls contained lhree armoured regimenb-. cach \\IIIl.1Il IIQ 'qlladron. a squadron of I j ~15lighl tanks and lhrt-'t' 'i:llladroll' of 1j ~lwnnalH. E.ach squadron had three plaloolls or ri,,' I.ml-., I';leh.

21

The infanln' regilllf'llt, t'ill]('1' 70llavt.'S (II" DB). lIlarilH:s (21' DI\) or Il:~iunllaircs (.r,I· DH) was ('olllposcd of flO unicers and ~.1...jO Ilwn. including onh 170 Afrlcan~, There was no rCg'imental IIQ: each batt.llioll upel,tled indepcmleuth \,jthill the Cumbat (:otlltlland. alld conl••incd Il,ree rifle cOlllpanie" (thn'I' pL'IIIi)ll' (If thrtT "l.TliOll') phi" .1 supput I tUtlllMII\ (" It.·COllll.li,....lIltt· pl,lloull. iI platoon \l1th fUIII' lIJ.lchilie gUll'.•1 pJ.Hoon "Itll Ihrt·(· M1111111 IIIOII.lr" .1Ild ,I pl.1I0t/1I of Ihret· ~IH SP hu\\itler...), The I(,cllllnai'''Oln('(' n'gimellt \,";1" ,imil"r 10 Ih.lt uf Ill(" inf,lIlln dh-j,iun" b}1t included all e:-ar.1 rCtCl' "l.ll drt/tl. " hill' the .'!>CUlII en... ,'C!'l' rcpl
ribbons.

22

These gou",len In Italy in o.eember 1~3 have received an almost ",,11 . .I 0' American equipment: lil winter hood, e wlillerproo' coat worn over the dje!IeNt! and M19,0 equIpment, Boot. have ~Ieced their MOrocCliln ...ndel, (._ Plale D11.

Ihi" C,l1('l-{0ry ('mIll' "Olll\' da....ic llnit~ 'lit h ,l" Ih,' !I" ZOU'l\'·' ;1I.t! Ih,' 'pl:tL.1 Iroop" - g-0lllll\ ,uHI COIll1l',Uld,,,,, Goumicrs I Ill" (;'~J11I}f'I/If'1/1

III/xiI'

umler (.clwral (:uill:IIlIllC', inlh.dL"d 1~,tX>lJ HllUlllier", r1i\iclcd illlu 10Ul (.1 ~1. Each G I ~I I FI ('n.h unilCI!>, 170 otlu:t Frt"H.h pt.'r"nllnt'l ,mrl :UiXO \lorocc:II1'i) indtlCleci .1 lUII1l11,1l111 ,trill hl',l\\ \Icapon g"Ulllll (1\10 hl',n'\ machinc gUll-.. luur light Ill.llhillt" gUll" .Old thrcl: 57mm ,\'1' gum) and thrt'l' 1.1001',. LKh tabu!' liJ..l'\\-i~ indudcd il lUIlllll,llld .mll hean \\t'apon f{0um (1\\0 he,ln III,I( Imll' 1o;"U11", till ('l' liglll IIlOllhine HUll, .md 10111' Hllllm m(lrt;tr~) ,.nd Ihl L'L' inLlntn 1{011l1l' (("It h \Iilh t\\U hl:.I\,\ Ill,llhilll' gill", ""\1'1\ light 1ll;l.hi,U' gllll-. ,Illrl ,\ tiOllll11 mOl t,II), Eqllippl't1 llith Il'll lllotO! \t'hi.!t-\, thl' CT\1 Iq'f(' partillll,Llh ,uitl'd 10 t1IUlllll,lill \\," 1.,1(', (',\( h including :no ";H1dk hUI "n (Ih,', l' II;" " 1llOllillCd cklllent at all kvcls, ten II OU]WI' pl:l g'ollm,;\O P('I tabuI, al1d ~O pCI' GTi\I) ami 400 lllulcs. Their I\'('apon" and ('qllipmcnt wert' quite \·;tried. [nitiallv eflltipp{'d largdv II'i,11 Ftl'lllh lII,ltt'lid, Iht'\' rc("('iH~d incn',l\illg alll011111:. oj Allll'licllll'qllipllll'llt ill [I,lh un'" till' IIinlt:rof 194;\..-14. /lllImffllll

(G~I,\I),

n

Paras. comumlldos llnd Chocs Frec Frl'lllh p,lI;tlrOu!J llllil" I"l\l' been discllsscd abO\e. and the 1"1 R( :I', \Iilh it-. origin" in Ihl' \rnw of t\lrica. is di<;emscd lInder Phllc F". [n ,Idditioll to tho,,(' ('Om""mdo units crl'lltcd b\' tht" Frl't" Frl'1H h ("el' abmL'). thrt'I' "i",il.tr unit" - e.ch the equivalent of a battalion \\t'f(' 1';li~{' IUlllled ill JUllt~ 19..}3, and panicipatl'd ill opl'r-;UiOlh on Cor.,it;t ;lml Elh... tht' caplUre of Toulon. and til(' Gllnp,.ij{1l 01 1911-1';. II\(' (;Wlljw d, Com",Ol/dOJ d:lfnqll' unrlt-r COIIIIII,llId.llIt BOll\el. 11.1" HC.lll'd in Juh 19-13, and included, among

Th. outpo.t, 01 the 3- RSM In the Ca.. lno a...a (ItalYI during wlnt.r 1943-44, Thl' photo .how. mllny 01 the ehllraeteri\ltic: .Iem.nt. 01 the unIform and .qulpment ot the 1" Arm'., who.. "tiel we,e lalll.ly the Ht03 Sp,lngfl.td (a. h....l or the Hlt7 mod.L Only the 1" Rep ree.lvell the Garend M1. The h.ltTIIt. " . Freneh (Ineluding, In the 10rlfll"Ound, a 1938 anti, .Irc:nlft troop.' p.tt.mJ, .nd haw. been decorlltell with a locally pl"Oduc.-d pentaele, the badge ot MOl"OCCan troops. Some t 94o..tyle colla, patehel .... Hwn onto the collars of the US greateott.

23

Th. libe..tlon 01 Vill.'..nen-sur-Sa6ne, IKIrth 01 L,ons, 3 September t~. In the cenlre, wean"9 the t 83' motonseel troops' helmet, I, Capt. Giraud, the ,on 01 the gene.. I, who commended the 3rt! Squ,dron ot th. r RCA ICC2, , ... DBI. On the lett, w.arlng an Amencan helmet, I, • mllr6(:hlll·des·logls 01 hIs squadron, Both wear theIr rank badg., on their helm,t, and the regiment.. 194'-paltern cavalry patch on the chest (the NCO's petch Includ., his rank badge as weill. On the nght II an FFI officer, probabl, Capt. 'Claude' (Zlegell, CO of the 1" Btn du Charolals, wearln8 the 193!5 motorlsed troops' helmel and goggl.., and a tg41-pattern lIareu•• with a eros, 01 Lorraine ~tch.

24

lit her,. llll'llllx..-, of lilt., di,I>.tIJ(kd (:tIlV' 11.1111 d' \fl Iqm'. II ...p....li,'li,l'd ill '1lIIphibioW> o~raliull~ - Piano,1 (~I.Ut II 1911), llb.I, 1I1': lil~1 \\.1\ .... of Ihe bnding~ in ProH'II{"(', Toulon .Hld lht, 1911-\;1 t'lIIlpaign. Finalh, Ilw COIIIlI/fllll!QS lit' Fml/ff' (sel' 1'1.111' EI) \H'I I' 1";Ii,t'd III .lUlU' I YII bdor.... bo.:illgwouped \\ith tht.: B,I1.liIlOI1 Ill' eh(/( 011 Ftl'lIth ,oil ill :"u\elllbt'r 19 II 10 fonn Ihe UIlj!fllIf dt' OlM IlllCkr II. Col, (.,unhit'/ Ii\(' 1I1011l h... bttT. rhi, unil \H'1ll OIl to tUrin Ihe 1'1 ,mil ~\t<1 B,IIl,llion, 01 tilt.· I'" (;/vlljJf'//1('1I1 lit' Chor on 5 Jallll:m 19F,. rhrel' oth('r units \\en' rai't'd in liht'lated Fr.lllCl'. Ilw (',(mlmfllillo~ dt' "rolll'l/fl', 1' .... le for1l1ed ill Septelllbt'l 1911 (;1l1d I,illt lilt' <:Ot11III;ltldo,
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA 1943-44 .\, \\111t arms and t'f1llipll1elll. the llllifllf1n ollhe llllih formt'd lIncitT lilt.: ,\nf.l Plan was pro\'ided l'l1\ireh h\ tIll' \1lll'1 Il .111', ,lIId \\.h in l'\l'n It"petl identical 10 th,ll 01 Ihe (;1. FIt'll( h tl.l\ioll,llit\ h.ul to Ix expn,,,,,,,,'d throllg-h h:ldg-l" ;lI1d, \dH'll' po"ihle, thtOllg-h Ill'ad-fln'....... National insignia I he firsl of lhese h:ldK('S, adopt{'d in mid-I !ll:\, nlll"j'lcd of lhe Fn'nch {Tl{'"lcl 1"1 ag"ill~1 ,I ri'illg 'llll, dit"'lrtU l 'III .111 IIft'j:CIII.lt !>t,hg-'"I.11 p!;lh'.

1: legionnaire, 1•• DBlE, london, 1. July 1940 2: firaill...... ",",galals, BMI, Oabofl Expedition, November 1940 3: F... F.-.nc:h CadlPt, England, 190'1_44

A

1: C".....llrooper. Compagnie aahatlenne de TouDl, 1940-43 2: Colonel LKlere. Chad, 1941 3: Markhal 0.. logl.-chel, ,..- RMSM, Weslern aesert, 1942

2

B

.i .

1: French Squadron, SAS, Western Desert, 1942 2: Sergeant, ~ Rltgiment d. lirailleurs aillitri"ns, Tunisia, 1943 3: Ottic"r, 1'" Ritgiment ltt".nll"r d'jnlanterie de marcile, TunisIa, 1943

c

" Goumler, LlbMatlon of Corsica, September 1943 2: Marechal du logie, 58 R6gimenl de ChllsseullI d'Afrique. 1943 3: Ambulance drl~lH'. ea Balamon Mt
D

1: Commando de France. Brigade de chaco winter 1944-45 2: SAS French paratrooper. Brittan~. June 1944 3: FUillier marin-commando, Walctleren. November 1944

E

1: Soua-Ileulenant, 7' RegIment de Chasset.l~ d'Afrique, la18 1943 2: Tiralileor algerien, Provence 1944 3: North African artilleryman, Provence, August 1944

4: Chasseu, , .. classe, , .. Rep, AlsaC8. January 1945

F

1: Brigadier, Cavalry Squadron, l er Regiment de France, August 1944 ~ Gendar.... lighting for the FFI, summer 1944

3: Commando, Corps franc Pommioh_49" RI

3

I

•

G

•

1: Infantryman, Fort;" Fr.n~al." de' 1'0....1, France, 1945 2: Maquis of ttlt' AuY.."ne, formerly Jeunes$e el Montagne_ Alps, 1945 3: Infantryman in walking-QUI dress, Austria, ,ummet 1945

H

Thi, b'1dg"l: 1\,1' lll,llllll,lllUll'd loc11h'. III reclaimed bl,I', 01 11l1'ditltlt' qua1ill. It ~hollld he1 kfl ,11:t:'1t'. In "\oll"lllhl'I l!ltt .. ,('t of t\\O 1It'\I I-mbrulden'd l>.IdJ,{l"', ,11", 1ll.ldl' in ,Ilt· L'~,\, \I~l'i adopte.:d 10 rrpl.KI· the cud,erel: ,I triculour cncl,uk. reel on the (lU,side. "~I~ wonl ouh 011 lhe C~ lh,Ill 'Idl'"'l..'lp (lIe\1..·r Oil FrelH:h p,lItl·rll ht:"'ld gear) ;11 ,til i"uI' of mil" pl'l 1II,1Il: ,lIld ;t tricoloured ,hit'ld. \llIh 'Frolll(,c' on a hal' ,Ien>,s till" lOp \1,1.'> \101 nOli thl' "ppl'l 11,11 ,In'le 01 all outer garment'. ,II ,Ill i"III' 01 1\10 Ix'r nUll. The..c h'1dg(·~ l\t'n.· oht'n onh pinned on. allowing them to I>t" cll·t,U Iit'd I·,hill ht:t:' PI,Ilt' I-":n. Arm-of-scrvice badges III IlJl~\ bl,h" h,ldgl·' 'illli1.u tu tht:' 100lt'rd Il.ItUTII. hili Iw,lring ill'h·,j(! the ,lpprupri'He.: ,Innol-,enHt' "mhnl (j{rell,uk, hlllllillJ( hnrn. ere'>l-eIH. l'U.) 1\l'lt' ,Idopte.:d. I hl·.'>l· "ITl· lillle worll. ,lIul \\ith the fir'l di,tribu,ioll' 01 .\JIIeriCIIl dothil1g \Ie.:rt' [epl.Iled h\ Il'lchtiml.ll (011.11" patchl". I1ml 't:\\11 onto the Ilpp<'r kft ,!cele.:. ,Ibout 1:11111 110111 tho: '1IUuldo:r. rhr.'>r might be.: eithel the f1,1lI1·lll"d c1i,ll1101UI 1910 paltl'rn, lhl' more poilllt'd 1911 \t:I",iOll. or thl' !It'llt,lg"on,llll'lw 101 olti(l'l~ (lor lilt' eoloLlr~, 'IT \'oIUlllt' l. T,lhle 1\·). Tht, lilli/arlin (till 1·1' Ilht·II' It''''llrll:"' pl:"I"llliued, ulherlli..e tllU) Hilltinllt'd to 1)(' pialI'd at tilt' top ('dg:l'~ or,llt' patdl. 111 the GllI'I\HTlI :111\ nalional badge and their ,lnn-u1-'l'rvin· p"ld .. On grl·"I(O"h ,md US \l'1'I'ice dre".., I-;ll1k badge.. l\t~re 110m Oil tho: ndh,;u ka~t ,lccording to lhl' rqpllatiolls. Helmets As far ,I' I)<;h~ihlt'. French patl('rn~ wcre retained. A Iarg(' pMt of lilt· (.I:.F. IMIli(ul,u h ,1'1' :\•. UIA, \\ padded b.md). In IInih II ("MinK tlw \IIwl"il,U1 helmct, a small French nag \I"'~ frequenth

Thl. eha.....r 01 the 208aUllllon 'e,,-FFII, photOVrtlpohed .t the end 01 May UM5, wea., an Amerlcan tunic lor walklngo..t, Snortage' meen that its button. ha"e not been replaeed by Freneh one. (a ",..ree of Amerlean eomplalnt••Inee No"ember '943). HI••Ide eap, dllrt< blutl with jonquil yellow piping and fold, btlllrtl a .mall "er.lon of the bedge of the 20· BCP (the lull .I"e "er.lon I. On hi. ehllllt poeket), On hi. .ho..lder .trap I. the badge of the 2· OIM (to whom the 20· was attaehed lrom Mareh 11145). and a non-regulation green and yellow fourragere. On hi. len .Iee"e I' the Rhln et Oan..be pateh, .nd a 11141 reglmenUlI pateh, (Coil. Mu SlI"lIlItrlnl\

33

painted 011 lhe side urtht: 1\[ I ht:lI11t:l. eithel llll' Il Ole. a colonial anchor II'I~ p'Linled Oil till' hont. ,\llhtHLKh rt"'t''1lLipped wilh LTS uniforms at the ~Iarl of 1911. lhl' )I" 1):\11 (Iurlllt:rh Ir,· DFL). I'etained the l\riti~h <;led helmet (olt,·nlw.lrin,l.(.1 '111.111 p,Lilllt:d lricolour III cross of Lorr.:litH.") as a n."lllilHkr of lltd. Fn'l" h ell( h O1iKin...; the tin hal hdnH..>L~ \,'ere repl;!Ced h\ :\11 ... o"h ,\1 lht· ('nd of I~)II.

THE REVIVAL OF AN ARMY From Ihe cnd of 19 I:l. M'"\ e'-,II 1ll0'lIh~ IX'lu, l' the 1.I1Idillg:~ in Fr.III(e. the eFl,,:\" in ,\Igie..... W;:I, 1U
Aurelle)

• 34

1II.lnpO\,cr. Its progr,umll(' \\.1" \t'n :I1llhiti(IlI"...inn' II c;llkrl for the ncalioTl of no fe\ler th.m :l6 di\l..io,I" (indudin,l.( lht' t'ig:ht alre;lth fonnill,l.( in\frica). Although it \la" hopt'! thl' ('PRF «(;mll'f'nUIlIml l~m"\f)II",I" la Ui'flllbltlfll" fm'l(allf- Ih(' I'rO\'i~ional Gml·nllllt·l11 01 lhl' "rend' Ikpublil - .1" Ihl' CFlS 11':1." l'en;\Ilwd nil :qlll1t' 1911) COlllillllt:'d lO purloLlt' ih polin 01 milil.lr\ relll'wal. Earh in 191~, ~lIb"t'll1li.d ,\lIl;ln'("'lIladi,uI aid (nutahh 1710 <:1'11111\\1·11 tan\..s. ~5() ;lr1110Ufed car... ,\lid 71.200 lurrit·..) hdpt'd tll\l,lId ... thi .. 1'1101 t. GI.'1ldal'lm"';c, Garde lind police forces Reor!-\",Llli... illg- llll' plok.... ioll,Ll tOl'u·... ot law and onkr 11';\' illlt'g-ral to Ih(' Gl'RF'~ p];III .... Earh ill .lune I~J II. ...till IIlldel' Vich\ COl1tl'OI. Ihere \l'l'l'e ~(j.t)Oli (kp,\l Illll'lll;\1 ~l'lld.L1 ltLl." (who 1llllCliolll'd a .. polic(' ill 1'111';\1 ;L1l'as). 2.7:JH wm','~ dl' /Jonl , and ~,H 10 f.:arde ... in lilt· tOnllt'l' Fret' 7.0111' di\'icl('(\ into loix 1t:'H'il1le'lt~. Tim polill' ~"ll1pli..t'(1 17.:~~12 men in Ihe P'Ll'i .. /In{rf/'o"/' ill' !)(){irr, 29.IH:\ ill ullt .. r llllillil ip,Llfonn ,L1HI ll,lil7 inlhl' (;mu!H'1 //Iubill'\ d" rfW111f' {(;~IR), l'ht· Mililt·. lILt.'al L\\ hill'. tould fldd iiJi!6 1lH'1l ( ..... 1' 1'11.\ \ 1li~I. pp.19-20) .. \dding i.O:·t~ }!fm/Pl dl' (111111/11/11/((1//(11/1 ()("("ulwing t()r("('~ or

lli~d lu llldl .1\\.1\ ililo llw lUtlllll"\.,i(\~ .I., th~ Allin. dr \frunll') , In.J uh 19 II. t II~ (.I'RF 0' dnnl tht: r~org"lIi:..ltioll of "II fonlL,tlion, COlllll'Cll'd \dll, lhe 1-;:('lId'lnlll:fi~, dt:c1,lred \"(lid all Vicl\\ 1l'g"i,LHion "hieh UHl(t"lrwd 111l:lll (p,lflinLlarh Ihal OI.Jllllt: 19-1:!. \,I,ilh I',ld pl.lH·d Ihl:m lllllit't lh~ dir~t1 uHltrollJllhe Pn:lllic·r, Pi~rf~ [';I\.tl), .IIHI r(,-l.'rllph;l~i,('d lilt, ick,t th.1I thl'\ formed part of the armed fOfet"~. t Tn iI' 01 tIlt' g"M(k had hl','n attached to Ihe Gwaln 01 lilt, Arm, ul tire Ar l1li'lil~ 011 :!!'"l "mC'lllh('1 1910, .tnd thell lrall.'>krrl'd Lo the ,\lilli~Ln 01 the Inlnio[" lnllll April 191~, wlwn the\' II\'re ol"!{ani'ed a, 'n;~i"ll'nh'. 111.11111' I~J.I.j, Ilmkt Ihl' (;I'RF lllk, Ihe' ["q~ail1t'lllheir pn:-\\,Ir ~taLlI' a"d narlle, as h;1.rlfJ/Il 01 lltt' Can!I' I""IJublim;1I1' //Iobill' (th~ GR."L tluL Lo bt' corrfll'l'd lI'ith Llll' C"IR). Even before thi~, 011 Ihe Ilil-{hl offiJlllle 1041, a rllllllbl'1' 01 in~tr ll("\lJr~ and pupil, of thl' Garde School hadjoirlt'd.thc' Illaqlli~. 'UOll lullOlwd b\ must ul tilt' rlll'1l ill Lht' ,ix rcginrelll~. A, thl' Allic" ,tch,Ll1n'd 1I'01ll1011il to tow", ~o thl' J.{('n(\arme~ - 1111th(' n"I)('Cl IOJ tltt: I,m i, Olll' 01 Ihe 1M\(" 01 Fr~nch in~litlltioll' - r,dlit'd to the lIe\1 g"OIt'rlltllt'lll, oftetl .1IlIicip;ttillg the arrival of the Allie.'> b, takirll-;: an ,Ieri\!' IMlt in thc' lihelOllion oflheir areil.

From Resistance to Regular Army The plam l;tid down for J.{1~ldll.11 rt'cruilllll'llI in France (of \ohllllt,t'r, and cUl,'\(Tiph) Ilt'lt' "holl\ O\t'rtaJ."cn in the SUllllllt'f of 1911 b\ ,I lotillh tlllt''''I~n('d ('\t'llt - lilt' 'llt)IH;IllCOUS, massi\'C cxpan'iiOll of Ih" !'orrn !mllffllw'\ til' !';nlml'llJ" (FFI). Sr't up ,It till' Ilt'!-\"trlllill~ of 191-1, ill ~I,lrch the FFI wert: p!act'd lludl'l

'""- re<:..-tly ,.fomMd 8- BCP in

'.te SClpte..,be, HI..., par8de in Parl. In '..,mM:ulat_ order, unlfonnt ..-tl,...t~ American uc_pt 10' t~ .Ip'''' beret. Thei, weapont are, howe...,. obao4ete Bm.., If01I15 0' 19UI rift••.

35

s

•

&&11

5 Main French formations raised on metropolitan soil from FFI units 1944·1945

__

a.eor-p.

~1S...cl"""'" ~4~ ..............

• .......,.

.RZ~RTS.I'l!J',lCf~

69"RAA 11

• Infsnlry Divisions ~ c ~ adet 01 ~"'lIC'r""" poor to 8 May 451 '
IlYRO

1 \'~'

_::.".:.:

I(1'RA

Ii S<:>p' 44., Bnl'.ny F""'r'I., l""'" I I"~

'i

DI '~RlA

,

5"

'I'

•

"'. g.

T

f"'-"i""

I Oct H

.

14!'

1/, N-,

'3",27'1[61":'" IteCA

44. 1

I Oet 4A \l4:td

Solr"

.......

~.,,..,

__

_ ~

f.t>4;o<>1

......

XlI:l« .1l

FtIb 4

......

....

......d"E.f"l!me- ~r • 'YIdeO'b ''Ie F.&stand ... ...:: ....... RTS.. """ ~ jom;olos II( I RA If '..: "-'

Bot


IlIl

&' FlO

flAG

I

Osc

~

.\.l

Do<

~,

lla. .g,cME': • ArmOlJred Division

00<> """'"

1., .,

Io,'

ll-Re, 13 RO Hi llYj [;lAC"

• InI""by novi..-" nol ... o1 01.
VOlunteers of 1\»44.45 under Irlllning. They lire Ulling up 1940· pattern uniforms, and are armed

36

wllh Caplured German weapons.

oni"

JAH f
FOUQhl ...

-

•

1.

Al<;aee

10"> I

....

Cazad

A,f.-

-....

en IlIll 0r0m "-0. 4$

J:Ir

)()t RA

"

4- 8' '4l"

'I"RCI> 10 ff RC

,.,.

Hi RA

'M'IJ"

I'~_

"

lilt, HIIIlIll.ll1d 0] CI'nn,11 Pil'nl'-~l.tli(> KOt'llig-, till' ht'lll 01 Bir 1l.ll..l'llll. \lht"l' IIQ 11;1' r1l('1l ill l.ondoll. Tht' FFI g-IOtllwd 1Og-I,tllt'1" ,III t'lt'lIlt'lll" of lilt' ,lrll1t'd RI·,i'l.ll1(t, ('t'I' dl'l,lil~ III ~L\.\ 169. pp.~O.~1 ,l1Id

~:\).

blilll.llt'd

.11

IOO.()OO

nll'lI .11 lilt' ,1,111 of IIIIH'

1911. Ihl' lut.11 ~IH'IIg-lh 01 Iht' FFI (,\.plodt·d duringlhl' ~lIl11l11t'r: hi 11111 Ilwr\' l\l'n' ~OO.OO() 111t'll 11IUkl ,1I1ll~, .md 1)\ (kIOIX'1 m'arll 100,000. \(h.l1lcinF!: Ihrolll-{h FI.mtt'. 1A't1t'n', ~' DB ill llw nUl Ih. IJln parlilillarll t;uiOll of (UI\ll" ,Hit I ,ill.Ig-t:, or ill pllr'lIil 01 lilt' t'TWIllI, hulet'd, <;Ollll' FFI unib 'lI("h as Ill(' (;ml)\ fmllr 1'<)11/111/;1 ill "'olllh \\t"l h.ll111' ("Ct' 1'1,111' (;~\). lilx:r-,:uL'd II holt' ,Ifl',h (111 lllt'll V\llI. I hL''tL' 1111'11 "I'll' l'lIlllu,i,I\lk ,llld dedicaTt:'d, hILI "ef(' ptltlrll 1'(llIiplwd. Tht,\ (,L11 kd '111,111 arm" (from h idcl('n French f,ldw", cljllllrt'd (.t'IIll,1I1 \\t',IPOll", or' ,\11 it,d l\l"ll}oll' drtlppt>d hi IM1,I(hlllt:). ,Hid dinl'lL'd,l' Ilidl'h ill lI,lllll' ,lIld ~t1l'l1g1h a.. in milil,lrl \,IILll'. It Iiouid 1,.1..1' "'\l'r,11 lIH)l1lh, 10 iIHl'/o\'raT(' FFlullih inlo lhl' 11'~lll.lr ,lllIIl. I hl'l Kl,lllll,llh It'\l'ilt'd milil,ln ill..1ruclioll alld 11(.'11 L'l1 thc' fOfl1plelt' dhi~ioll' which lhe CI'RF had planned frolll lilt' 'I,ll I. The fir"T FFI di\'i~ioll~ 1\·t:1"(, ~OOll crt'att'd on tlu' ~t'cnlldM\ frOlll' (Ihiu.lll\, Ihl' Allanlic pockcl.'> and tht: Alp,) ,imph Il\ grollping wgl'lht'r ,,1Ilht, 1II,lqui" IInits ill OIll' area ('W(' delaih, T;.hk .j), 01her di\'i,iOlh. (It·.lIed from a \arkl' of sources, 1\l'I"(' lI,ed IU rt'lit·\(, Ill(' H.olt'l;m, Ollhl' I"' Anuce. In ,ldditioll to thc filc inElIlln ,ll1d lhrn' .1f"lllOIl1"t:d dili,ioll' !tOfl1 .\rf·ica, b\R ~Iav 1915.the GPRF"a, ,Ihlt' In pili iutn Iht' lil'ld ... fUrllwJ' eighl inf'lIlln division... one annuurt'
The .kl-acouu of the Hi~ RIA bo.rd lorrie. during 1M defence of Slra.bourv In J.nu.ary t945, Ap.rt from onto m.n wllh .n Amene.n helmet, the, 're .11 we.ri"'i Fren<:h mounl.in troop.' untform. with B.rgen ruCkNCks .nd rever.lble .nor.k•. The helm.l. h.v. no b.dge on the lronl, • pr.ctlc••'most unlv....al In U144-45, Their we.pons are French (MAS311), British (. Bren), .nd Germ.n (. Panzerfaust), In lhe right foreground, a man welt ... II reglmenl.1 arm patch betow hi, Ipect.tlty badge.

37

FUGHT The colO1.lr 01 the 173· AlA IConIc.) .nd It, colour gU.,U, April Hl45 - one of the firet photo' to ,how the new 1944 tnnledreu uniform, Only the ,i. m,n of the colou. gu.1'd .re we. ring it, the .em.lnder .1111 we'r the lV<11 uniform. Every man 1. _aring , am,lI d.... blue beret. ,nd i. cerrytng a MAS3e with 181ele.ther equIpment, Not. the absence 01 ,nk"" (only Lt. de Villi..... the colO1.l' be.rer. _,n them). Other photo. 01 the NOme ,vent .now th,t the 1V
,ullourned IU 21~,OOO dt>,1(1. 3 Fi\L' \l',tl~ ,lltL'f Ih Ic'llible dck;~l, !-I,mcL' had panialh fCCO\t're(\ il" 'I,llldilig-, ~'l'illg ('L'lU'I,11 lite- Ltllrt' ,It 11lL' 1,lhlc' 1,Ill.:n .'>iglling thc' ;lei of ,urt"L'lulc'l ,It Rht~illl' (Ill 7 \1<1\ 1!11.'I, Field \I;lr,hal Kt:itd L').c\aill1L'd ,1Ilgrih, ~\\'h,Il, tile' hL'ndl a, l'I.:11~

Sergeant Jean-Pie.re VauvllUer (the autho." father) photo· graphed In the .prlng 1g45. HI, arm badgn con.l.t of a rank stripe (gold braid on a dark blue backing) on both arm" and a shoulder title, worn only on the top 0' the left .rm (p,rtly vl.lble on the wartlm. photograph): yellow .ilk I,n,rlng ,nd gold mel.1 flgu.e on dirk blue cloth. This I•• good e.,mple of , non.egulatlon b.dg, worn by .n ..-FFI unit: founded .. 'Maqul. Foch' In the S4,lmmer 01 t1l44. the unit bee,m. 'Aegiment Foc:h' ,nd thefl e· AI (23' 01) of the reaul.. ,rmy.

38

Uniforms. equipment and insignia 1944-15 Exn'pl tllC Americall-t:quippt:d tlnil' ,\Ilitll 11"d Ol111t' 110nl Alrka, ,hon;'gt:~ol cC]lIipllll'lH and Ililitonn, pl'oc!llt"C'd ,I pI"lrll dn'"ed FrelH.h Allm "illl;' I,idc' \'ariL'1\ 01 1'L',tplfll'. Al lht, ('IHI .,1 1911, thc' 111:11111Ian IIrL' uf .'>l11all arlll.'> (~L \s:{t! .'>lIb·III,lt II iIlL' gUll', i\ IAS:~li I itk~, Fi\ 1~4/~9 liJ.(ht 111al"llinf' Rlln~) "';\' 1'l"llttl('(1 011 a Sll\;,l1 ~cak al lht' ;,r~c'llal~ uf St Etit:II11t' and Ch:l1dlc-r;Llllt, whirll Wt')'t· It'ClI\t,lt'd in }.(ood orde)'. i\lllch ll't' \\";" madL' ;'llir~l of C'xi~lillg llllitonn ~t(Jd.., (p,'llelll~ 01 19:N·-'lO ur 1911), 'Ilpptelllenled h\ ~ub,l:l11ti:t1 (:anadi;ul aid, 'CI il i~ 1I1hllrpri.'>illg" Ih:1I lhe Ill'\\ call1p;,ig-ll dn'" ;UIOplt:d ill (,)t lnhc'l 191111',1' ha,cd on thL' Canadian model ('l't' Platt' II~~). Tltt, 1911-p,IIIl'lll g-ledllu;lt \,a~ lel,lilled, hill. in FelJruan 191~l, a nc'" ,Inll pleL'H'. Thi.'> too1.. tIl\' IOIUI 01 ,I di,ttllond, with \/lU/flr}lfS ll11 all fOllr ~idL's (,el.: PlalL' II:\' :tl1d LII)1e I)), Al,u ,tdOpler! in 1!J j j \\c>l C' Briti,h p,I\U'l'll anklets, ;1 m'w all-arm~ 1ll'11lIC'l \,ilh ,\ lrmllal p;n tr'aditiollal 392,000 ""'" lUted '" 1939-<10. 5Il.000 dur"'II 'troouI ~ ~ I
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39

The .erve.nt porte"anion of BM24 of the 1" DMI (ex-DFLI, In Dec.mb.r 1944, .fter the battle 01 St..lbourtl. By this time, the In'ellion. de mare"e were comPOlt(l entirely frenchmen. Thl. mlln II • velef.n with .Ix chevronl hi. cro•• 01 Lorraln., repreHntlng 'h....·and.-h." y...... 01 fighting. H. i, we.rint the M'd.llIe MlIllalre, the t93g CroiJt de Guerra with three p.lm/l, end the Croill de Gu.rra TOE. HI, uniform I, wholly American exc.pt for hi, der1l. b.... ,Id. cap with acllriet J»J»nt- (privat. collection)

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THE PLATES A1 legionnaire, 14e DBle, London, 14 July 1940 On Bastille Day 1940. the vanous detachments of Free French troops paraded weanng a uniform which was entirety French.

40

Distnbuted IOf the Norway Expedition, the Legion's unlfQfm consisted of a 1926-pattern helmet with a grenade badge, the cotton 1938-pattern vesle·bourgeron (see Volume 1, Plate 82) tucked mto 1938·paltern 'golf' trousers: a blue woollen sash was worn around the waist under the equipment, and a fawn flannel sash was worn around the neck, lied like a cMche. The uniform was completed by puttees, ski socks and mountain boots, 1916-pattern individual equipment and the MAS36 fille, Two unusual and non-regulation detailS revealed by contemporary photographs are shown here - a tricolour strip worn on the shoulder strap to show the wearer's allegiance to the Free French (see the machine gunner In the photo on p.3), and the NCO's collar patches. Some offlCel"s of the 136 (14") DBLE wore dark blue patches instead of khaki on their tunics from 1940 onwards, A2 Tiralileur senegalais, BM1, Gabon ElCpedition, November 1940 For much of their elClstence, Free French Ilrailleur units were equ,pped With wholly French Uniforms, either With the flannel tunIC or paletot (see Vol. 1. Plate C3). frequently encountered In the Synan campaIgn, or With the light khakl·coloured COtton uniform shown here. worn In West and central Afnca. 8M I was the only battalIOn to wear a dls-

tlnctlve badge. conslsllng of a cross of Lorraine placed on a triangle whICh was coloured by company (1st blue, 2nd red, 3n::l yellow. 4th green). The eqUipment was standard but for two Characteristic eKceptions, the maChete and the barda senega/ais (a tent section With the soldier's personal belon9ongs rolled InSide). Although shown here, It IS unlikely that the ANP 31 gas mask was ISSUed for operations in Black Africa. From the summer 1941. newly ra,sed or reorganised units In the Near East received complete BfIIlsh khaki drill uniforms. With 1937-pattern webbing, and Mk,lI helmets With a tricoloured diamond painted on the side, A3 Free French Cadet. England, 1941 -44 The officer cadet school which functioned between January 1941 and June 1944 kept alive all the traditions of the chasseurs. The walking-out uniform was. British. but it was always worn With the large Alpme beret. beanng a badge of a hunting horn surmounted by a grenade With uprighl flames, the badge of all French Army schools. The same badge was also worn on lhe collar patches. On one shouldel" was the lanyard worn by Bntlsh cadets (incorrectly referred to as a fourragere by the French cadets). and on Ihe chest were two metal badges: that of Ihe Free French ground forces. and the cross of Lorraine of the FNFL. On the shouldel" straps was a silverplated title 'France' WhJist on eKen:lse. cadets wore the reduced French ordel" (canvas vests-bourgeron, the same as Al), With a French 1926-pattel"11 helmet. whose customary metal badge had been removed and replaced by a painted

0'

one.

81 Camel trooper, Compagnie saharienne de Touat, 1940-43 Among the troops assembled in the summer of 1940 by Col. Leclerc were three 'nomad groups' {GNs) attached to the RTS du Tchad.two of which (those of Ennedl and of Tibesti) retained their dromedaries. Wilh three Frenchmen and 45 locals, the Jibesti group was the first unit under purely Free French command to engage Ihe enemy, in a raid In January 194 1 on Itahan outposts In the Fezzan. The two groups Ihen performed a wide range of dulleS In sUpporl of the Leclerc column up to the conquest of Tnpolltanla In January 1943 But the main camel-mounted fon::es did not undertake operatIOns unhl French forces In Afnca went over to the AllIeS In November 1942. Operating In the extreme south of TUniSia ag3Jnst the Malians, four compames - those of the Ahaggar. Touat Tldlkelt and • (a total of around 1,200 men) - JOined the Leclerc column OIl 25 January 1943. Their Uniform was largely made up of the trooper's own clothing (each trooper hired out hl$ seMCes and hIS camel to the French government), wIth the addItion of offiCial eqUipment the 1892-pattern carbine and some Items of field dress. Only the French cadres had a proper umform, SIITl~ar to that of the spahlS (wrth their own kep and collar patches. see Vol.1, Tables II and IVaI· 82 Colonel Leclerc, Chad, 1941 Philippe de Hautecloque served as a caplaln on the North-Easl FfOflt until lhe Armlsteee of June 1940, Wounded In the head, he managed to escape. and reached London by way of Spam and Portugal In July 1940, From there de Gaulle sent him to Afnca under lhe nom de guemJ of 'Fra~s LOUIS Leclerc' where he brought the Cameroons over to the Free French SIde on 26 August 1940. For Ihe purposes of hIS mISSIOn, Leclerc assumed the rank 01 colonel. a promollOl1 wheeh de Gaulle confirmed three days later. Leclerc was later promoted to general de brigade on 30 March 1942 (see MAA 238, Plate F2). The plate IS based on a photograph taken at Fort Lamy In Chad In April 1941, after Ihe celebrated raid on the Koufra oaSIS. Colonel Leclerc IS weanng an Italian sun helmet and a regulation Colonial troops' khaki flannel tunic With Saharan sandals. On hiS chest IS pinned the FNFL cross of Lorraine. The walking stick remained Leclerc's favounte badge of rank until the end of the war. 83 Marechal des logis-chef, l er RMSM, Western Desert, 1942 The Escadron Jourdler (the former 1st Squadron of the 1e1' RSM in the Near East) fought on

Camel troope .... ola Saharan company. about 11140. The white uniform I. cher.ct.rI.lIc of Arllb troope ..... while Touareg. wo... dll'" blull. Both wo.. black Hrouallwld•• 100•• trou......) with II red woollen .a.h. In campaign ord.r. both wore a unilorm In llghl kl\akl, which included a Ihlrt. a long gandour1lh and nrouIII. The belt· bandolier I. the tll107 Plitt.,." with compartmefllS for ttl.... round clips,.

horseback until the end 01 the Syrian campaign, weanng the classic uniform of the spahis (see Vol. 1. Plate 02), but With several differences in detail The Uniform of uMS 10 the Near East was made from sand-coloured tWill because of the clImate. the helmet and gas mask were not worn. and the firearm was the MAS36. Shortly after the end of the campalQn. the Free French spahls were mechamsed and Increased In number to form three squadrons. They were first eqUipped With French vehICles setzed In Syna In the summer of 1942, then With Bntlsh eQUipment With wheeh the uOl1, by now named 1ef RMSM (RegIment de marche de spahis MarocainS), took part In the EI A1ametn operatlOl1s. Duong thiS penod. the spatlls' umform was a mIXture of French (from stocks In the Near East) and Bntlsh Items Armoured car crews wore a 1915-pattern Adnan heIme1, transformed Into a motonsed type by remoVIng the frontal peak and badge and reptacll"lQ them WIth a padded band Rank braid, gold In the spahlS, was wom on garance sliders The badge on the chest (a cross 01 lorraine on a pentacle. aU en sMvef1 was devtsed at the end of 1940 The collar patches, rarely seen Ifl campaign dress. had three soutaches from the autumn of 1941. cunously folloWIng the Vichy regulatIOnS. C1 French Squadron, SAS, Weslern Desert, 1942 In the spong of 1941, the l re CtA. statlOr'led Ifl Great 8ntaen, rec8lved COl1SIderabie remforcements, whICh enabled It 10 form two sactJons. The first. lnCOl'pOt'ated In the BCRA (see MAA 238, p.33 lor more details) specialISed In espionage work and sending small teams Into occupted France. The second (WhICh, In september 1941, took the title of 1f8 CIe. de chasseurs parachutlstes) was posted to the Middle East. From early 1942. It was Incorporated into the SAS Brigade. forming Its 3rd Squadron. and In June and July took part In commando raids against an11(llds In Cyrenaeea. Crete and Egypt. For these raids, the French were eqUipped With vehICles from the Long Range Desert Group: then.to allow them to aet independently. they received a number of speCially eqUipped and armed jeePS. At the end of 1942, the umt contained two companies. The SUrviVOrs of the 1st Company returned to England, while the 2nd Company remained 10 the field until the Tunisian campaign (see E2).

.,

Below the number, a little disc of cloth Indicates the battalIOn (1 st dark blue. 2nd red, 3rd tooqUlI yellow. HQ khaki) - a regulation Introduced In 1916 for all infantry, but rarely followed in the field. C3 Officer, 1er Regiment etranger d'infanterie de marche, Tunisia, 1943 This lieutenant of the 111I REIM .s a typICal French officer on the TUniSian front between November t942 and spnng t943. The elegant officer's fawn breeches of 1939-40 have gl"en way to Other Ranks' golf·pattern trou5efS. worn either WIth puttees or. as here. With prwately purchased leggingS. The tunIC IS the 1939-panem officer's "areuse, WIth an open collar and pentagonal collar patches. The kePi IS here wom WIthout Its cover (t,rallieur officer.; also wore a cover. In sand-<:oloured cloth. ohen WIth a hole CUI to reveallhe rows of rank braid). He IS weanns a sam Brownestyle bell - the second strap was only rarely worn - with a 1876193-pattern pIStol holster: ofhce(s gloves and a typICal light khaki ch6che.

Algiers," F.bru.ry le.3. In thl. unun.1 pttoto, the French .... t...inlne on Amerk.n equipment, but M". not r.1 been ...-.quippec!. H...., • U.utllmlnl of 1M 1· Zou."•• gke. ~r1 In a ...dlo .I.~'" from a "out ...r. In the Ino.. kground, howeYer, Ihe peglnl.t motto, »".".11, Famflle, Patrie (Work, hmllr, Countryll•• till dl.pl.red o".r the b.lTlleh entran.... IUS N.tlonal An:hl"••)

42

The plate IS taken from a well-known senes of photographs taken In the Western Desert In the summer of 1942. As wIth many 8th Army units. the emphasIs is on comfort. rather than style. Dressed fOr COld nights. this man IS wearing 1937-pal1ern Bntlsh battle dress. but with the drill lining remo"ed from the collar, and replaced by khaki serge. Instead of webbing anklets. he is weanng puttees. His headgear consists of an Arab head-dress worn over a rolled-up balaclava. Only the Free French paratrooper's wings over his left pocket distinguishes his uniform from that of British troopsalthough others featured in the same series wear theirs over their right pocket. while two men are wearing British SAS wings Instead. His pistol holster has been modified to hang from the waistbell by straps and rings, a common practice Within the French SAS Squadron. C2 Sergeant, 2e Regiment de tirailleurs algeriens, Tunisia, 1943 Throughout the TuniSian campaign. the Army of Afnca had to rely almost entirely on ItS own resources. Deliveries from AmerICa had hardly begun at the star1 of 1943. al'ld in any case were destined principally fOf those Units then reorganising in Morocco al'ld Algeria Only a few new weapons (largely 1928 Thompson sub-machine guns) were put Into SEH'Vice on the TuniSian front, and the Uniforms remained those of 1939-40 until the final viCtory in May 1943. This man IS weanng the t938 SIngle-breasted capote and the Afncan troops' baggy panlaJon-cu/otte WIth puttees. HIS collar patches 51111 have two soutaches Instead of three.

01 Goumier, Uberation of Corsica, September 1943 The goumterS' main rtem of cloth.ng was the Moroccan dJeUebah. a kind of cape With sleeves and a hood lkotJb~ The djefJebah, coarsely woven from wool In stnpes of black, white. grey and brown (each goum haVlOQ ItS own pattern). was made waterproof by the IncluSIOIl of quantltJes of goat nair Into the fabnc. Underneath were more corwentlOO3lltems of Uniform. In dnll or serge according to the season. SImIlar to those 01 the tifailleurs or spahlS In camp. dependmg 00 the wearer·s tnbe, the headgear was either the kIlIOut, a skull-cap of brown wool: the rezzah, the everyday head-dress of Moroccan troops. Of sometimes the chlkhe. From the summer of 1943. the Amencan M1917Al helmet was worn In combat. sometImes With a Cloth cover or a camouflage net the 1926 French helmet was also seen, but only very rarely. Footwear was usually of local manufacture, With footless woollen socks (tanournes) and sandals (nails. pI. naala). though French 1917·pattem boots were also occaslOllally seen. EqUipment and weapons were French. From the end of 1943, however. the goumlers were gradually re·equlpped and rearmed With American materiel, including boots and M1930 leggings The helmet remained unchanged for the rest of the war. unlike the djellebah, which for the campaigns of 1944-45 was of a new, standardised pattern. composed of fine black, brown and green lines. giving an overall appearance close to khakI. Unit patches were rarely worn: at first, they consisted only 01 the number of the tabor. Durmg 1943, however. a pallern common to all GTMs, With a star and crescent. was adopted. The palch shown here is surmounl,ed by the two stripes of a haoun (corporal). D2 Marechal des logls, 5 e Regiment de chasseurs d'Afrique, 1943 This NCO is taking part In the parade of July 1943, when the regiment was stili eqUiPped With Bntlsh Valenllne tanks. used .n the TuniSIan campaign. For a shor1 time. the Uniform remamed completely French: t941-pattern shirt (SImIlar to that of 1935. but With shoulder straps). 1941pattern tl9. t937-pattem Colomal shorts. khaki puttees. and the red sash With wMe al'ld blue bonding of AfriCan cavalry. An entirely new Item was the 1941-pattern cavalry arm-of· service badge (OfIQlnally Intended lor wear 00 the chest. but worn on the arm from the Star1 of 1943). surmounted by rank braid (here. In SIlver). The 1943 CrofJ/ de Guerra, or GIraud

CrOIx de Guerre, was made locally -the strike, with the date 1943, was not as sharp as those made on the maIOland fOf the crosses of 1914-18 and 1939-40. The nbbon, In theory the same as that of 1914-18. had to be made from local material whflf1 stocks of the ongJnal were e)(hausted, resul1l1lg In ISSueS like that shown here, tn blUish-green with five pale orange-red stripeS. 03 Ambulance driver, 8. Bataillon medical, Italy, 1943 There were no women's servICes In the Am1y of 1939, However. by the end of 1943. some 3.100 women had enlISted, serving with French forces In the field, or wrth A111£!d Headquarters In North AfflCa. Most were employed as seere· laneS and dnvers, although there were also contJngents S8fV1ng as 5Igl'Ia[s personnel and as nurses. These women were ISSued With Amencan 'Womeo's Amry Corps (WAC) uniforms. whICh should have been modlfl£!d by addIng French bunons and arm-of-servoce badges. but not all examples were altered In thIS way. Alter the flfSt dellvenes had been made, Amencan offICials decided that. even WIth French badges, the weanng of the dlStlnctlVe WAC caps by French personnel was too confUSIng, and these had 10 be WIthdrawn, to be replaced by gamson caps Alter an female persooneI had been r'8Of93n1sed to form the AwU//alfeS F~nes de I'Arrnee de Te«e In AprIl 1944. thetf d.rector asked lor an ISSOe of BntISh AT$ uniforms whICh were feft to be more practICal 10 replace the US doth.ng. This request was refused. and female personnel wore Amencan uniforms unt~ lhe end of the waI. ThIs woman has added the general pattern of the CEF badge to her cap. and lhe battalion's metal badge to her shirt, but her uniform IS otherwISe wholly Amencan, E1 CommandO de France, Brigade de choc, winter 194445 By the end of the war, all French commandos were wearing the dark blue beret - once the prerogatIVe of the Commandos de France alone. but by then characteristic 01 the Chocs as a whole In lh.s Unit. the beret. made from several pieces 01 cloth With a leather binding, was normally worn Without any kind 01 badge, although the unit's badge a parachute, wings, star and the cross 01 Lorraine did occa· slonally make an appearance as here. The same badge, made In metal. was worn on the chest for walkmg-out. In lhe Balailion de Choc, the same beret had only recently been issued. replacing the American side cap in the autumn of 1944, and beanng a Landing on the b.ach at Fou., Prov.nc., In Augu.t ,g44, th••• wom.n lIolunt......... prob.bly M.rllniltt•• from on. of the .Ign.l. companl•• 01 the 2nd Corp. Or from Arm" 8, bc.pt lor on. who w.a.... F...nch helmet, their unIform and equipment .... Am.ri<:an. They .... • 1.0 w.arlng th. w.t.rproof tri<:olour bra..a", l..ued to .11 pe~n.1 of ,.,.".. 8 tor Operation Oragoon.

metal badge consisting of a parachute and dagger on a tricoloured map of France. At the top of the lelt sleeve. both of these unitS wore a cloth shoulder title beanng the unit's name (In yellow on green for the Batailion de Choc): but only the Commandos de France added a star With a cross of Lorraine (the star was traditionally used In the French Army, to identIfy scouts and groupes francs), Dress and eqUipment were wholly Amencan, apart from some occaSlOflal additions. as here, where the ctteche worn as a scarf, The weapons were a mlltlure 01 French and Amencan types (here an M3 Grease Gun). The helmet was frequently the M1. or more rarely the French 1935 motonsed troops' helmet. normally Without a badge (at thIS tIme the 1935 helmet was much more typical of the Commandos d'Afnque), E2 SAS French paratrooper, Brittany, June 1944 Alter their operatlOllS Ir'l Alnca and the Medl1erranean In 1942-43 (see C1), the two Free French paratroop companIeS re-formed III England 11'1 t943; there, felntorced by escapees from France. they formed the t- BIA (Batatllon d'mfantene de tarr). renumbered the 48 1rl November t943 Meanwhtle the.)t' BlA had been formed WIth voIuntOOfS from the Near Eas1. Alter IlltensNe traIning In England and Scolland. the two banalions were renamed as regllTlents Ir'I Apnll944 (though remaining at only banallOl'l strength), and the 48 was renumbered agall'l. becormng the 28 RCP (for the 1·, see Plate F3). On lhe eve of D-Day, 32 pathlinders of the 2" RCP had the s.gnal honour of being lhe fll'St A1116d soIdlefS to land In France, on the n.ght 01 5 June The mlSSlOfl of the 2'" RCP was to fix the German lorces In Bnttany WIth the aid of local resistance fon::es, As for lhe 3&, It parachuted Il1 on 2 August on a SImIlar mISSIOn. but wl1h a more eXlenSlYe area of operatIOnS, dlsper5lng In Bnnany and the loire Valley on the flanks of lhe A1116d advance The French paras 01 ~ and 38 RCP wore entirely Bntlsh uniforms, the only difference lying In th61r badges. E3 Fusilier marin-commando, Walcheren, November 1944 In the spnng 01 1941 15 fUSIlier-marin voluntBef'S (the fUSilier-mann is a trade speCialisation of the FreflCh Navy). recruited by Ueutenant de valsseau Kieffer, took part In a

43

A goum'-r during the tlllnan cempalS!n, weeri"ll an American M1S!17A 1 helmet wtth cemOYllege net and, beneath his gan_ dour." len urty pattern with broed Itripell, a US field Jacket. Hie Ctqulpment Ie ""'erican, but hie weepon II e French 1892 Mltl cerblne. MOlt Intereeting II hll arm patch - a light blue diamond with hie lIIbor number, 11(3e GTM), cl'\ldely cut out of dark blue cloth .nd etltched on.

44

tramlng course With the Royal Mannes, and In March 1942, entered the Commando Trammg SChool at Achnacarry In SCotland. Named the Ire Compagme de fusillers-marins commandos, Ihe unit was attached to No. 2 Commando, then to No.10 Inter-Allied Commando, where il became Troop 1, and took parl m Ihe Oleppe raid of August 1942. In July 1943, Ihe unit became 1&1" BFMC (Troops 1 and 8 of No. 10 Commando). before finally being attached to No. 4 Commando in March 1944. At dawn on 6 June, Kieffer's men landed on Sword Beach (see MAA 238, Plate F3). The French commandos next saw action during the operations around the SCheidt estuary, at Flushing and at Walcheren. By Ihis lime, they had exchanged their battledress biooses for Denison smocks. worn Without badges. HIs webOlI'lg pouches are 01 standard British pattern, and are worn With a Bergen rucksack. Beller safe than sorry. thiS man has laken lhe precaUtlOO of carrying a lilebelt, looped around hiS pouches by one 01 its straps. As a matter of pride. most commandos retaIned lhe berel lhey were wearing when they landed In France. although by lhe eod of lhe year, these were IookIOQ rather the worse for wear In combat, they were usually replaced by Mk.ll helmets, although small numbers of the Mk.1II pattern had been ISSued

F1: Sous-lieutenant, 7' Regiment de chasseurs d'Afrique, late 1943 The uniform of thiS regiment was completely at odds with the Iraditions of the chasseurs d'Alnque (see Plate 02). In fact. the regiment had been formed entirely from members ollhe Chantiers de /6Unesse d'Afnque du Nord, whose leader. commlssaire regional Van Hecke (the reglment's luture coIone~ was one of the five 'Conspirators of Algiers', who paved the way for the arnval of Ihe Amencans In November 1942. Dressed and eqUIPped by the Americans. the regiment retained 5everalltems from the CJF untform: the forest green beret (SImIlar In cut to lha 1935 fortress troops' pattern). forest green tie and dark brown leather lacket WIth chest pockets Rank badges were worn on the chest. On the beret was pinned the brass CEF Badge F2: TIrailleYr algerien, Provence, 1944 In theory, French lroops landlll9 In Provence were supplied With a waterproof brassard depleting the Tncolour (like the Stars and Stnpes modeIlSSOed to Amencan troopS, or the UnIOn Flag design ISSUed 10 Bntlsh paras of the 1st Awborne Task Force). ThiS man's helmet IS the 1926 French model wrth a light khaki cloth cover HIS urulorm IS otherwISe completely Amencan and GOnSISts althe hemngbone twllt SUIt, boots and ganers, and webbing pooches, F3: North African artilleryman, Provence, August 1944 Taken from a photograph, thIS man IS dnl'SSed entIrely as per the regulatlQrlS of summer 1944. With a cockade on the Amencan side cap (regutatlOO. but ahnos1 never worn), the trIColour patch wrth 'France' (seen rather more frequently) and the regimental patch (worn ollen). In IhlS case, the latter IS Simply the old cotlar patch, F4: Chasseur parachutiste, 1" RCP, Alsace, January 1945 5evef-al paratroop detachments, onglnally from the 601 8 and 602 8 Groupes d'infanteoe de I'alr, formed In 1937. were reformed '" the Army of the Armistice in March 1941 and were stationed In NOr1h Afnca They were trlcreased to battalion strength in February 1943 and three months later, to a regiment of two battalions, the 1&1" Rep To the regiment's regret. it never made an operational Jump, all Its proposed operations being cancelled. Never1heless, its men fought valiantly as infantry in the Vosges and on the plains of Alsace between October 1944 and February 1945. The regiment, unlike their comrades of the 28 and 38 RCP, were eqUipped by the Americans, ThiS man wears the parachute and wmgs badge of French paratroopers painled on the front of hiS helmet. lust above his rank chevron. G1: Brigadier, Cavalry Squadron, 1,r Regiment de France, August 1944 The 1&1" Regiment de France (see Volume 1) relUSed to par1iclpate In the Vichy Government's attempt to 'maintain public order', confining themselves to protecting econormcally Important CIVilian Installations from sabotage. They got their chance to laste actIOn on 20 August 1944, when the cavalry squadron of the 3rd Battalion, part of the FFI Brigade (AS-ORA) Charles Marte/from earlier that month. entered the town of Ch&leauroux on the heels of the retreating Germans. The cavalry of the 1er RdF wore the 1941 uniform, With 1935-pattem equlpmefll and the MAS36 nfle (for detaJls see Volume 1, Ptate H3): they were dlStlngUlshed from thelr Infantry colleagues by their breeches, Ieggln9s and spurs JUnior NCOs' braid was blue In the lsi and 3rd battalions, and red In the 2nd The patch of the let" AdF was

khaki with the number embrOidered in blue silk, and two soufaches In blue (lst Battalion), red (2nd) or white {3rd). At the end of August, after several heavy engagements With the Germans, the cavalry of the 161" RdF abandoned the patches of the 'Trallor Pittam's Regmletll'. and adopted those of the CUirassiers (dark blue With garance and numbers). whICh was re·formmg In the area. The remamder of the regiment did the same, and II went to form the baSiS of several infantry units, notably the 111I , 27 e . and 68 e RI. and the 5e and 179 BC? G2: Gendarme fighting for Ihe FFI, summer 1944 The uniform of Departmental gendarmes saw no changes betwoon 1940 and 1944. The vareuS8 (tunIC) was identICal to that worn by re-enlisted NCOs In the Army, but In black cloth WIth mne closely spaced buttons All the metal decoratloos (buttons. grenade badges al the collar. rank braid and helmet grenade badge) were 10 nICkel. the distinction of the Departmental Gendarmene; the Garde de Pans and the GRM (renamed the Garde m 1940) WOI"e the same badges. but in gold The Garde had an aO·khakl uniform whICh Included a vareuse With an opeo cotlar. AU geodarmes wore at least the SIngle stnpe of the maf8chaI~·logls: after five years' seMCe, a second stnpe was added. as here. The trousers are In gendarme blue, With highly poItshed 1egg1flQS. and NCO pauem boots The equlpfT'lent IS a Sam Browne-styte belt, but SInce the gendarme earned a 101 of eqUipment on hIS bell, both braces are worn In the geodarmene. the holster was worn on the left _Gendarmes Ir'I the OccupMld Zone were not permitted to carry a carbine. 0f'IIy an automatIC ptstol (here a Ruby 7.65mm), A trIColour brassard WIth the cross of lorraine (there were IOnumerable vanatoos) shows that thIS man IS under the authonty of the local ReSIstance commander. G3: Commando, Corps Iranc Pommies • 4ge Rl This magnifICent FFI uOl1 (see text) was converted Into a regular regiment In de Lattre's army at the end of October 1944. With a strength of two battalions, plus four attached commandos. each of 280 men From November the CFP-4ge RI was engaged continuously In heavy fighting In the Vosges and elsewhere until the end of the war. The commandos of the CFP usually wore the t935 motonsed troops' helmet. thoogh a very small number managed 10 acquire the extremely scarce 1941-pattern helmet shown here (see also the photo In Volume 1). Unusual in shape. the helmet Included a small welded crest With a distinctive metal reinforcement on each Side of the thick frontal pad. Taken from a contemporary photo, this man IS dressed In spectacular fashion: a 1938 neck warmer worn as a balaclava, a woollen scarf. the forest green waterproof Jacket of fhe CJF (broadly Similar in shape to Ihe 1938 double-breasted jacket for motorcyclists, but With a more POinted collar, and Without shoulder

se

This close-up of a Browning .30 team, taken during training, sl>ows the paInted bedge on the front of the helmets of the t'" Rep: parachute, wings and star (numerous ..e...lons e.lst.!. T1MI US MtC paratf0Q9S' helmet was never widely used within this regiment.

straps - see Volume 1, Plate E3). khaki canvas trousers worn

over a US woollen palf, and Amencan g8lters and boots. HIS weapon IS a British Sten, his bell IS French, and hiS waterbollie captured from the Germans. Finally, the badge of the CFP, In a very large format. is sewn on hiS fight sleeve. In the CFP many chasseurs wore a much less eccentrIC Uniform conSiSting of a US greatcoat With or Without the CFP badge. Although part of an Infantry regiment. CFP soldiers were proud of their Pyrenean onglns, and also had the small dark bluelblack Basque beret for wear In camp. H1: Infantryman, Forces Fran~aises de rOuest, France, 1945 ResponSIble for covenng the pockets of German feSlstance on the AtlantIC coast. the untlS of the FFO (mockIngly called Forces Fra~lses Oubllf!es - the 'forgotten French forces') were the worst eqUipped of any sectoo of the l'ejuvenated Army. Uniformed and armed With whatever was lying around, they were sometimes reduced to weanng clogs fwhlCh could 3t least be packed WIth straw to keep \helr feel warm dunng the winter of 1944-45). The resl of thIS man's Uniform Includes a 1941-pa1lern greatcoat (on a very medJOC«! cloth COfltall'Ung a good deal of rayon. gMng the khaki a greytSh hue), a 1926-pattern helmet on wt1lch has been palflted a cross of Lorrall'le and a V for VICtory. a smgJe 1916-panem eartodge pouch, a bandoiIer of Clips, and a captured Mauser 98k All kinds of tncolour InSIgnia proliferated at thIS peood H2: Maquis of the AUllergne, formerly Jeunesse et montagne, Alps, 1945 On 3 June 1944. the leaders' school of the Jeunesse at montagne fa youth movement like the CJF. but tramed by the VIChy Alr Force) formed Itself Into a maQurs Unit in the Cantal, In the Auvergne. The Maquss ThoIJon. named after Its commander, Inltlalty numbered 160 men from the JM, but by the time of the IlberatlOl'l of lyons at the begonnlng of September 1944, had expanded to 1.350 (drawn from the several netwOf'ks of Alr Force resistors). In mid-August, the uOl1 was renamed as the CoJonne raplde no,6 des FFI d'Auvergne. Unlike many resistance units whose members wore CIVIlian dress, many of Thollon's men wore the regulatioo uOlforrn of the Jeunesse et mootagne In bleu lOUIse (the Air Force colour similar to the gris de fer bleufe of the chasseurs Pled): a smart double-breasted blouson tunic and tombac buttons. and 'golf' trousers. The beret was of the classic alpine pallern. but was worn

a

45

'Soldle,.. 01 Veer 2', 1~44 style. These two previously unpublished photos show the c:rltlul lI.te 01 the Forc:es Frenff.lslls de l'Ouest. The", lire men 01 the Brigade Carnot FFllCO Colonel de Mllleretl belore Royan, durln9 the winter 011944-45. The man on the lett, armed wllh an SMLE No.1, hllll a hole In the aeal 0' hili troulle,.., and hall tuc:ked his trouse,.. Inlo his soc:ks. On the righI, c:arryln9 a large loaf, an e.-FFI mlln wears a 1915 Adrilln helmet, II mlsmlltc:hed 1939·palterfl uniform In various c:olou,.., find c:ames II Sten gun with hand-made pouc:hes.

•6

wlthoul a badge. The general badge of Ihe JM (whose cockade. two-thirds hidden behind a mountain peak. symbolised the renaissance 01 French avjallon) IS sewn on the right chest. This man is also wearing white woollen skier's socks. With a second paIr 01 heavy socks rolled over his 1940-pallern mountain boots. JM permanent staff wore white stuns (ordinary members dark blue), a black tie (absent here), and 311 officer's black leather belt. Only the FFI brassard and the weapon are non-regulahon: on 5 and 14 July. substantial Allied parachute drops supplemented TholIon's stock of arms (such as thiS Auby PIStol) allowing him to arm hiS meo easily (here. With a Lee-Enfteld No.4).

H3: Inlantryman In walklng·out dress, Austria, summer 1945 Wearing his smart bonnet de police (Side cap) in the traditional colours of his arm-of-service, this corporal (two striPS of red braid on the cap. and ag3in at the top of each sleeve) has just received the new French 1944-pallern uniform. an almost identical copy of Canadian balliedress. With the bullons in a fly fronl. Besides the quality of the cloth used - usually very mediocre, and Ifl shades of khaki which ran from mustard to field-grey (when It came Irom captured German sources) - this uniform was distinguished lrom the Canadian pattern by Its tailored collar. With no hook and eye closure. Intended as a combat Uniform. It was worn essenllally as walklng·oul dress, On the left sleeve (only) IS the cloth badge of the 4 e OMM and the diamond-shaped 1945pattern patch of the 27 e AI, whose foorragiJre IS In the colours of the CfOIX de Guerre 1914-18, The reglmeotal badge. now more usually pmned to a leather lob. IS apparent hanging beneath the flap of the nght pocket, leaVing the left free for medals.

BIBLIOGRAPHY The English-speaking reader has YOf)' httle to choose from. Anthony Clayton's France. Soldiers and AfriCa (London. 1988) charts a way through Ihe reorganisations of 1942-43 and outlines Ihe contnbullOfl of AfrICan and Colonial troops to the final VIClOfY. By the same author. Three Marshals of France (london, 1992) conl8ms Mel but Informative lives of de Laltre de Tass'9ny. Leclerc and JUln - none of whom have attracted a recent thorough btography Ifl English. Jean Lacouture's De Gaulle (london, 1990) IS the best bIOgraphy of the French leader Casstno.- the Hollow VierOf)' by John ElliS (London. 1984) goes a long way towards re~estabhshlng the mportant French contnbutlOfl 10 pnsu"IQ open the Monte Cassino posItlOl'l - a contnbullOn long undervalued In popular accounts. Douglas Porch's HIstory of the French secret 5ervices (London. 1995) contams mom 01 Ifllerest to the reader ollhrs book than Its title fTUghl suggest. and IS par1JCularty good on the faChonaltSm wlthlo the Freoch forces. l.arly Collins and DomIOtque lapIem!'s Is Pans bumJng? (London. 1968) as a popular account 01 the l'beratlOO 01 the City. usmg many contnbuhons from partICIpantS. The US Army If! World War II. Re-armmg the French by Mart;el VlQneras (Vv'astllngtoo, 1957) covers the roarrmng and reeqUlpplng of the French forces by the Amencans, though 11 should be read In conJuncllon With articles In Revue Hisronque des ATrnees, partICularly Issue 3 of 1992. whICh deals WIth the new French fvmy_ Among many other sources available only In French. the Invaluable book of Jacques

Vernel, Le rearmement et la reorganisation de I'armea de terre fram;aise /943- 7946 (Vincennes, 1980) has been espe, cially helpful A wealth of photographic and historical Information can easily be found In the series L'Armee de la victoire by Paul GauJac (in four large-Size volumes. Lavauzelle 1984-86), while the French magaztrle Mlhtana conttrlues to produce Invaluable articles on umforms. eqUipment and InSignia, by many authors including Paul GaUlac. Oems Lassus and Jacques SICard.

AlSKa, lata 1844 'Tha ..... enga of 1840'. Tha F..nc:h .oldla, IIhown In Ihl. \/flY .ymbolio; pio;lu.. Is pnlbably • commando, Nne. he I' _ari"'ll a 1835 helmet under a camOUftit98 nal. HI, ,.the, .. aried ~ulpm_1 Include' a Ganniln belt and cartridge pouch. In the background, the shot-up Cltroin, " It can be ..paIAod, whk:h _m. unlikely, will

soon be changing aide' again. (USIS)

y'

,

•

47

Notes sur les Planche. en Couleur

Farbtafeln

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_lit<""""en

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