The 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment (french: 4^e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens, 4^e RTT ) was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment of the Army of Africa, part of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...

. Active between 1884 and 1956, the regiment was one of the most decorated of the French Army. The regiment had a distinguished record during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, being cited six times. It was decorated with the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, as part of the

3rd Algerian Infantry Division The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (french: 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne, 3e DIA) was an infantry division of the Army of Africa (french: Armée d'Afrique) which participated in World War II. Following the liberation of French North Afri ...

(3^e DIA). During the Italian campaign, it served with the

French Expeditionary Corps There have been several French Expeditionary Corps (French ''Corps expéditionnaire'' 'français'': * Expeditionary Corps of the Orient 'Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient'', CEO(1915), during World War I * Expeditionary Corps of the Dardanelles 'Co ...

under General

Alphonse Juin Alphonse Pierre Juin (16 December 1888 – 27 January 1967) was a senior French Army Army general (France), general who became Marshal of France. A graduate of the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, École Spéciale Militaire class of 1912, ...

, and was cited four times at the orders of the armed forces.

History

From their establishment, the Algerian and Tunisian

tirailleurs A tirailleur (), in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term "''tirailleur''" was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French c ...

regiments were given sequential numbering (1st Tirailleurs, 2nd etc.). This possibly reflected the fact that the areas of recruitment had formerly been part of territories under Ottoman guardianship administered by the

Dey of Algiers Dey (Arabic: داي), from the Turkish honorific title ''dayı'', literally meaning uncle, was the title given to the rulers of the Regency of Algiers (Algeria), Tripoli,Bertarelli (1929), p. 203. and Tunis under the Ottoman Empire from 1671 on ...

and the

Bey of Tunis Bey ( ota, بك, beğ, script=Arab, tr, bey, az, bəy, tk, beg, uz, бек, kz, би/бек, tt-Cyrl, бәк, translit=bäk, cjs, пий/пек, sq, beu/bej, sh, beg, fa, بیگ, beyg/, tg, бек, ar, بك, bak, gr, μπέης) is ...

. Frequently these regiments drew from serving soldiers already employed by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

. The popular nickname "Turcos" bestowed on these units may owe its origin to this. According to other sources, the tirailleurs gained that designation during the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...

when Algerian infantry in the French expeditionary force were sometimes mistaken for their Turkish allies. Created on December 14, 1884, under the name of 4th Tirailleurs, the unit was constituted of Tunisian soldiers and French officers . Non-commissioned officers were both Tunisian and French. With the addition of some French volunteers as ''soldats'', the non-Tunisian element in the regiment was eventually to comprise between 20% and 30% of the total strength. In 1899 the unit had six battalions of 600 men each. In October 1900, the first battalion was sent to

Tonkin Tonkin, also spelled ''Tongkin'', ''Tonquin'' or ''Tongking'', is an exonym referring to the northern region of Vietnam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this term referred to the domain ''Đàng Ngoài'' under Trịnh lords' control, includi ...

, and in 1907 and 1908, the 2nd and 4th battalions were engaged in the campaign of Morocco with the 3rd battalion rejoining Chaouia-Ourdigha by the 4th battalion. From October 1911 to September 1912, six of the twelve battalions of the 4^e RTT were engaged in combat in the French protectorate. In a message addressed to the Bey of Tunisia, on April 22, 1911, the French ambassador to Morocco underlined their "valor, discipline and commitment ��above all".

World War I

In the course of

, France mobilized 62,461 Muslim

and

spahis Spahis () were light-cavalry regiments of the French army recruited primarily from the indigenous populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The modern French Army retains one regiment of Spahis as an armoured unit, with personnel now r ...

in Tunisia, together with 9,000 French soldiers and 24,442 indigenous colonial workers, numbering in total 86,903 men. Engaged for the first time on August 23, 1914 at in Belgium, these Tunisian soldiers experienced extensive service in WW1

trench warfare Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied lines largely comprising military trenches, in which troops are well-protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery. Trench warfare became a ...

1914

On August 2, 1914, the 4th Marching Regiment (4^e RMT) was formed in Tunisia. The marching regiment was initially composed of the 6th and 1st battalions of the 4^e RTT. On October 29, 1914, the 4^e RMT received the 5th battalion of the 4^e RTT from the marching tirailleurs regiment of the Moroccan Division. Initially attached to the 38th Infantry Division (french: 38^e DI), the 4^e passed to the Moroccan Division on November 24, 1914, alongside the

Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion The Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (RMLE) (french: link=no, Régiment de marche de la Légion étrangère) was a French military unit that fought in World War I and World War II. Initially composed of marching regiments from the 1st Fo ...

(RMLE), the

7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment The 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment was an infantry unit of the French Army, part of the Army of Africa. Active between 1913 and 1946, the unit is one of the most decorated of the French Army. The regiment distinguished itself in World War ...

(7^e RTA) as well the

8th Zouaves Regiment The 8th Zouaves Regiment (french: 8e Régiment de Zouaves , 8e R.Z) was an infantry unit of the French Army. Created in 1914, the unit was designated as 8th Marching Zouaves Regiment. Creation and different nominations * 1914 : 8th Marching Zoua ...

(8^e RZ). On August 4, 1918, the regiment joined the 2nd Moroccan Division (french: 2^e Division Marocaine).

1915

* September 25 - October 6 :

Second Battle of Champagne The Second Battle of Champagne ( or Autumn Battle) in World War I was a French offensive against the German army at Champagne that coincided with an Anglo-French assault at north-east Artois and ended with French retreat. Battle On 25 Septem ...

1917

The performance of the Tunisian tirailleurs at the Chemin des Dames in Verdun 1917, earned the regiment the

Croix de guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

and the

. In addition six citations were awarded collectively to the regiment and seven to individual battalions. A detachment of the 4th RTT participated in the victory parade of July 14, 1919. A total of 16,509 Tunisian soldiers in French service were killed in World War I out of a total Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian death toll of between 28,000 and 36,000. Another source puts Tunisian losses at 10,500 out of 63,000.

1918

Following the armistice of 1918, the Tunisian battalions were redeployed to other theatres of operations: Morocco, South Tunisia, the

Dardanelles The Dardanelles (; tr, Çanakkale Boğazı, lit=Strait of Çanakkale, el, Δαρδανέλλια, translit=Dardanéllia), also known as the Strait of Gallipoli from the Gallipoli peninsula or from Classical Antiquity as the Hellespont (; ...

, and the Levant campaigns, between 1925 -1926.

World War II

Battle of France (1939-1940)

On June 16, 1940, while the regiment was known as the 4^e RTT of the 84th African Infantry Division (french: 84^e Division d'Infanterie d'Afrique), 63 soldiers were killed in

Ablis Ablis () is a commune in the Yvelines department in north-central France. History During the Franco-Prussian War, when a German unit moved to take Ablis on October 7, 1870, they were ambushed and routed by about 1,500 French militia soldiers who ...

. A commemorative plaque honors the 4^e Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment. Among the deceased was soldier Mohamed Amar Hedhili Ben Salem Ben Hadj, whose body was transferred in November 1945 to the

Mémorial de la France combattante The Mémorial de la France combattante (Memorial to Fighting France) is the most important memorial to French fighters of World War II (1939–1945). It is situated below Fort Mont-Valérien in Suresnes, in the western suburbs of Paris. It commemo ...

Mont Valérien Mont may refer to: Places * Mont., an abbreviation for Montana, a U.S. state * Mont, Belgium (disambiguation), several places in Belgium * Mont, Hautes-Pyrénées, a commune in France * Mont, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a commune in France * Mont, ...

Tunisian campaign (1943)

During the

Tunisia Campaign The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the World War II, Second World War, between Axis powers, Axis and Allies of World War II, Allied ...

, equipped with material from whatever sources were available, the regiment fought alongside French,

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

and

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

units.

Italian campaign (1943-1944)

In 1944, during the Italian campaign, the 4^e RTT was commanded by Colonel Jacques Roux and then by Colonel Guillebaud. The regiment together with the 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment (3^e RTA) and

(7^e RTA), constituted the

of the

(3^e DIA) commanded by General Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert at the

. The regiment fought in the region of

Monte Cassino Monte Cassino (today usually spelled Montecassino) is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, in the Latin Valley, Italy, west of Cassino and at an elevation of . Site of the Roman town of Casinum, it is widely known for its abbey, the first h ...

; succeeding in reaching the

Gustav line The Winter Line was a series of German and Italian military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt and commanded by Albert Kesselring. The series of three lines was designed to defend a western section of ...

and capturing Belvédère. During this combat which lasted from January 25 to February 4, 1944, losses were heavy: half of the effectives of the regiment and three-quarters of its officers, including Colonel Jacques Roux), were killed or wounded (207 killed, 75 missing, 1090 wounded). According to

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government ...

, during the Belvédère fighting: "the 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment accomplished one of the most brilliant successes of arms endeavours at the cost of enormous heavy losses."

Campaign of France (1944-1945)

Following the Belvédère, while decimated, the regiment reconstituted and participated in the disembarkation in Provence in August 1944, the other decisive combats, in the Doubs, the Vogues (notably during the combats of Hohneck), in Alsace then Germany. Accordingly, Adjudant-chef Ahmed El Abed was the first military of the French Army to penetrate Germany in 1945: he reached the iced waters of the river of Lauter with a couple of dozens combatants and apprehended, March 14, of the village of Scheibenhardt.

Casualties

From January 10, 1944 to April 24, 1945, the 4^e RTT endured the loss of 1009 men (575 in Italy, 342 in France, and 92 in Germany), 879 disappeared and 4053 wounded. From the 26000 Tunisians which partook in combat, 1700 were lost at the end of war with 450 declared disappeared.

Indochina War

The 4^e RTT was reconstituted on February 1, 1949. The 2nd and 3rd battalions of the regiment were dispatched first to Cambodia and then to South Viet-Nam, where they served until 1955.

1956

With the ending of the Indochina War the various tirailleur units involved were disbanded or returned to their respective countries of origin. Tunisia was on the verge of independence which was proclaimed on March 20, 1956. Some of the veterans of the 4th TTR were integrated into the newly established Tunisian National Army alongside other local contingent forces. The 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs continued in existence until September 1958 and was reassigned to France. The regiment was then reconstituted as the 4th Tirailleurs Regiment, which was posted to the Southern Territory of Algeria on September 18, 1958. Its personnel were now a mixture of French and Algerian conscripts and regulars, together with some Tunisian volunteers who had opted to continue in French service.

Post Algerian War

The 4th Tirailleurs Regiment was disbanded at the end of the Algerian War in 1962, together with most units of the former Army of Africa. The 1st Tirailleurs Regiment (french: 1^er Régiment de Tirailleurs, 1^e RT) was recreated on May 21, 1994. The 4th company of the modern regiment preserves the traditions of the 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment.

Traditions

Insignia

Image:Insigne du 4° Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens 2e modéle..jpg, Insignia of the 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment
(2nd model) Image:Insigne régimentaire du 4° Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens 3e modéle..jpg, Regimental insignia of the 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regimemt
(3rd model) Image:Insigne du bataillon de marche du 4e R.T.T.jpg, Insignia of the Marching Battalion of the 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment

Regimental Colors

Decorations

The Regimental Colors of the 4^e RTT is decorated with: * Croix de la

(1919) *

Croix de guerre 1914-1918 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

with : ** 6 palms and a bronz star *

Croix de guerre 1939-1945 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

with : ** 4 palms *

Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures The ''Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieurs'' (War Cross for foreign operational theatres), also called the ''Croix de Guerre TOE'' for short, is a French military award denoting citations earned in combat in foreign countri ...

with: ** 1 palm * Ordre du Mérite Chérifien * Ordre du Nichan Iftikhar Fourragere: *The Regimental Colors of the 4^e RTT is decorated with the fourragere with colors of the Légion d'honneur with two olives: cut olive with colors of the légion d'honneur and the croix de guerre 1914-1918 and cut olive with colors of the

Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...

and croix de guerre 1939-1945. Similarly to the

, the regiment bears wearing the red fourragere. Image:Medaille-legion-chevalier.jpg, Légion d'honneur Image:Croix de guerre 1939-1945 Française.jpg, Croix de guerre 1939-1945 Image:Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieurs (France).jpg, Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'opérations extérieures Image:Nichan officier.jpg, Nichan Iftikhar Image:Médaille militaire de l'adjudantchef Mespléde.jpg, Médaille militaire Image:Fourragère LH.png, Red Fourragere

Uniforms

From its establishment in 1884 until the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs wore the

zouave The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa; as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves were among the most decorated unit ...

style uniform of the Algerian tirailleurs. The distinguishing feature of the Tunisian regiment were light blue ''tombeaus'' (false pockets) on the front of their blue and yellow ''vestes'' (short jackets). Complete with red

fez Fez most often refers to: * Fez (hat), a type of felt hat commonly worn in the Ottoman Empire * Fez, Morocco (or Fes), the second largest city of Morocco Fez or FEZ may also refer to: Media * ''Fez'' (Frank Stella), a 1964 painting by the moder ...

zes and waist sashes, this North African style of clothing was reintroduced for parade and off-duty wear in 1932. On other occasions the standard khaki service dress of the Army of Africa was usually worn.Liliane et Fred Funcken, page 24 "L'Uniforme et les Armes des Soldats de La Guerre 1939-45", Casterman 1972

Honours

Battle honours

*Casablanca 1908 *Guise 1914 *Artois 1915 *Champagne 1915 *Verdun 1917 *L'Aisne 1918 *Picardie 1918 *Somme-Py 1918 *Le Belvédère 1944 *Garigliano 1944 *Vosges 1944 *Stuttgart 1945 *Indochine 1947-1954

Regimental Commanders

* Lieutenant-colonel Daugan, regimental commander at temporary title on September 29, 1914, then at definite title on December 25, 1914 and until January 19, 1916. * January 20 - February 24, 1916 : Lieutenant-colonel Maurice * February 25 - July 28, 1916 : Lieutenant-colonel Dardenne * 1943 - January 27, 1944 : Colonel Roux. Killed in action in January during combats at Belvédère. * 1944 - 1945 : Colonel Guillebaud

Notable members

* Aspirant Robert Séguin (1921-1944), September 7, 1944 * Lieutenant then Captain Bernard Pécout, chief

medic A medic is a person involved in medicine such as a medical doctor, medical student, paramedic or an emergency medical responder. Among physicians in the UK, the term "medic" indicates someone who has followed a "medical" career path in postgradu ...

of the 1st battalion then chief medic of the regiment, 1956-1957.

References

Bibliography

* ''Le Bataillon du Belvédère'', éd. Flammarion, Paris, 1953 * ''Héros de Tunisie. Spahis et tirailleurs d'Ahmed Bey 1^er 1837 - 1957'', éd. Cérès, Tunis, 2005 * ''Tunisiens héroïques au service de la France : l'épopée du 4^e tirailleurs sur la front français. Guerre 1914-1918'', Paris, 1939 * ''Sidi Brahim des neiges… Sur les traces du 4^e régiment de tirailleurs tunisiens'', éd. MC-Éditions, Carthage, 2008

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tunisian Tirailleurs, 4th Regiment Tirailleurs regiments of France Armée d’Afrique Military units and formations established in 1884 Military units and formations disestablished in 1956 Tunisia in World War II