![Marsouin infantry on Mudros](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Marsouin_infantry_on_Mudros.jpg)
The ''Troupes coloniales'' ("Colonial Troops") or ''Armée coloniale'' ("Colonial Army"), commonly called ''La Coloniale'', were the military forces of the
French colonial empire from 1900 until 1961. From 1822 to 1900 these troops were designated ''
Troupes de marine
The (TDM, ) is a corps of the French Army that includes several specialities: infantry, artillery, armoured, airborne, engineering, and transmissions (Signals).
Despite its name, it forms part of the Army, not the Navy. Intended for amphibi ...
'' ("Marine Troops" or just "Marines"), and in 1961 they readopted this name. They were recruited from mainland France or from the French settler and indigenous populations of the empire. This force played a substantial role in the conquest of the empire, in
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 ...
,
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 opposing ...
, the
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...
and the
Algerian War.
Makeup of French Colonial Forces
The ''Armée coloniale'' should not be confused with the famous
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
n regiments of the French Army such as the
Foreign Legion, the
Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa,
Zouaves
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 ...
,
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 ...
, Algerian and Moroccan
Tirailleur
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 ...
s (sharpshooters) and
Goumier
The Moroccan Goumiers (french: Les Goumiers Marocains) were indigenous Moroccan soldiers who served in auxiliary units attached to the French Army of Africa, between 1908 and 1956. While nominally in the service of the Sultan of Morocco, they s ...
s, all of which were part of the
Army of Africa. The North African units date from 1830 and were brought together as the
XIX Army Corps
The XIX Army Corps ( German: ''XIX. Armeekorps'') was an armored corps of the German Wehrmacht between 1 July 1939 and 16 November 1940, when the unit was renamed Panzer Group 2 (German: ''Panzergruppe 2'') and later 2nd Panzer Army (German: ''2. P ...
in 1873, forming part of the French Metropolitan Army.
Instead the ''Troupes Coloniales'' can be divided into:
#French long service volunteers (or until 1893 colonial settlers doing their military service) assigned to service in France itself or to garrisons in French West and Central Africa, Madagascar, New Caledonia or Indochina; and
#Indigenous troops recruited in any of the above regions, serving under French officers. These were designated as ''
Tirailleurs sénégalais'', ''
Tirailleurs malgaches
The tirailleurs malgaches were a corps of French colonial infantry established in Madagascar.
Overview
After the annexation of Madagascar by France in 1896, Malagasy troops were recruited, and the ''Tirailleurs malgaches'' were formed along sim ...
'', ''
Tirailleurs indochinois
The ''Tirailleurs indochinois'' ( vi, Lính tập; Chữ Nôm: 𪜯習) were soldiers of several regiments of local ethnic Indochinese infantry organized as Tirailleurs by the French colonial authorities, initially in Vietnam from 15 March 1880 ...
'', etc. according to the name of the colony of origin. ''
Tirailleurs sénégalais'' was the name given to all West and Central African regiments, because
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
was the first French colony south of the
Sahara.
All colonial troops (''la Coloniale'' or the Colonial) came under a single General Staff. The ''troupes coloniales'' were predominantly
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 mar ...
but included
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
units as well as the usual support services. At various dates they also included locally recruited
cavalry units in
Indo-China
Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...
as well as
camel troops in
sub-Saharan Africa. Across the French colonial possessions in 1914, a total of up to 25,000 native auxiliaries served as civil guards,
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
or
gendarmes
Wrong info! -->
A gendarmerie () is a military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to "men-at-arms" (literally, " ...
. While officered and partially administered by the Colonial Army these para-military units did not serve outside their territories of recruitment.
On the eve of World War I the ''Troupes Coloniales'' consisted of 42,000 French regulars (of whom approximately 13,000 were posted overseas); plus 50,000 African and Indochinese indigenous troops.
Two companies of ''cipahis'' (
sepoys
''Sepoy'' () was the Persian-derived designation originally given to a professional Indian infantryman, traditionally armed with a musket, in the armies of the Mughal Empire.
In the 18th century, the French East India Company and its oth ...
) garrisoned
Pondicherry
Pondicherry (), now known as Puducherry ( French: Pondichéry ʊdʊˈtʃɛɹi(listen), on-dicherry, is the capital and the most populous city of the Union Territory of Puducherry in India. The city is in the Puducherry district on the sout ...
and other French enclaves in
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
. These were converted to
gendarmerie in 1907 but returned to the ''Troupes Coloniales'' in 1921.
Name changes
The precise meaning of the terms "colonial troops", "colonial army", marine troops or "troops of the French colonies" has changed several times since the 18th century:
*During the 18th and early 19th centuries "marine infantry" was the title used to identify French troops stationed permanently in France's various overseas territories.
*After the middle of the 19th century this term was extended to include the "native" troops recruited in the French colonies, excluding North Africa.
*The title "colonial troops" was adopted in 1900, when all the Marine Infantry and Marine Artillery troops that had previously come under the
Ministry of the Navy were transferred to come under the orders of the War Department. In 1958 when France's African colonies had gained their independence, the mission and title of these troops was redefined. After a brief period as "Overseas Troops" (''Troupes d'Outre-Mer'') the traditional title of Marines was restored. The Marine regiments did however remain part of the French Army.
List of regiments in New France 1755–59
Colony troops:
*
Compagnies Franches de la Marine
Regular regiments of the Royal Army assigned to colonial service:
*
Régiment de La Reine
*
Régiment d'Artois
*
Régiment de La Sarre
*
Royal-Roussillon
*
Régiment de Bourgogne
*
Régiment de Languedoc
The Régiment de Languedoc was a French Army regiment active in the 18th century. It is principally known for its role in the Seven Years' War, when it served in the North American theatre.
History
The regiment arrived in Quebec City June 19, ...
*
*
Régiment de Guyenne
*
Régiment de Berry
*
Régiment de Béarn
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...
*
* Volontaires Etrangers
*
Uniforms
![French Colonial army in Congo 1905](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/French_Colonial_army_in_Congo_1905.jpg)
The European Colonial Infantry and Colonial Artillery regiments were, until 1914, uniformed in a similar style to their metropolitan counterparts (although the former had yellow fringed
epaulette
Epaulette (; also spelled epaulet) is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations. Flexible metal epaulettes (usually made from brass) are referred to as ''shoulder scales' ...
s and medium blue trousers instead of the red epaulettes and red trousers of the line infantry). On colonial service white, dark blue or
light khaki uniforms were worn with
topees, according to circumstances. Between 1895 and 1905 a light blue/grey (''bleu mecanicien'') uniform was worn for field dress in Africa and Indo China (see photograph opposite).
From 1873 onwards, the Troupes Coloniales wore a double-breasted tunic, known as a ''paletot'' which was only worn by them. This garment was worn throughout the First World War, and is useful in positively identifying Troupes Coloniales in photographs, as specifically distinct from troops of the Metropolitan Army who did not wear this garment.
As with the rest of the army, they adopted
horizon blue
Horizon blue is a colour name which is well remembered because it was used for the blue-grey uniforms of French metropolitan troops from 1915 through 1921.
This name for a shade of blue which refers to the indefinable colour which separates th ...
uniforms in 1915, subsequent to the notice of 9 December 1914.
Towards the end of, and after, World War I khaki became the norm for all colonial troops in contrast to the horizon blue of the metropolitan conscripts. The blue dress uniform was however restored for French personnel who enlisted as volunteers in either the Colonial Infantry or Colonial Artillery, from 1928 to 1939.
Tirailleur regiments in Africa wore 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 ...
es and
sash
A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else running around the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, bu ...
es with dark blue, or khaki uniforms until 1914. The Indo-Chinese units wore a
salacco
Salakót is a traditional lightweight headgear from the Philippines that is commonly used during pre-colonial era up to the present day, used for protection against the sun and rain. Every ethnolinguistic group in the archipelago has their ow ...
headdress and blue, white or khaki drill clothing based on local patterns. After World War I khaki became the normal dress for indigenous troops, although sashes and fezzes continued to be worn for parade until the 1950s.
The modern Troupes de Marine are distinguished in full dress by dark blue
kepi
The kepi ( ) is a cap with a flat circular top and a peak, or visor. In English, the term is a loanword of french: képi, itself a re-spelled version of the gsw, Käppi, a diminutive form of , meaning "cap". In Europe, this headgear is most ...
s with red piping and bronze anchor badges, red sashes and yellow fringed epaulettes. These traditional items are worn with the standard light beige or camouflage dress of the modern
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 Force ...
on ceremonial occasions.
From Marines to Colonials and back again
From 1822 to 1900 these troops, both French and indigenous, had been designated as ''
Troupes de Marine
The (TDM, ) is a corps of the French Army that includes several specialities: infantry, artillery, armoured, airborne, engineering, and transmissions (Signals).
Despite its name, it forms part of the Army, not the Navy. Intended for amphibi ...
'', though they were not directly linked to the
French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
. Both services were however administered by the ''
Ministre de la Marine'' and shared an anchor badge. This insignia continued to be worn after the ''Troupes de la Marine'' became the ''Troupes Coloniales'' in 1900 and photographs of
mehariste (camel corps) troopers taken in the 1950s show anchor badges even in the
Mauritanian desert far from the sea. In 1961 the title of ''Troupes de Marine'' was readopted after a brief period (1958–61) as ''Troupes d'Outre-Mer'' (Overseas Forces).
Post colonial period
As the remaining French African territories became independent in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the tirailleurs were discharged, usually to join their new national armies. In 1964, the 7th Regiment of Tirailleurs, formed in 1913 as the 7e Régiment de tirailleurs Algériens was redesigned the 170e Régiment d'Infanterie. The various "Tirailleurs Indochinois" regiments were dispersed by the Japanese coup of 10 March 1945 and were not reformed.
On 1 May 1994, in the presence of veterans of the armée d'Afrique, légionnaires, spahis, zouaves and artilleurs, the 170e Régiment d'Infanterie was redesignated as the 1er Régiment de Tirailleurs. It wears the insignia and bears the honors and traditions of the old 1er régiment de tirailleurs Algériens, which was disbanded in 1964.
Status of colonial forces
Throughout their changing titles and roles the French ''Troupes de Marine'' or ''Troupes coloniales'' retained a reputation for toughness and professionalism. Whether French or indigenous they were, for the most part, long service regulars and as such comprised a genuine elite.
Modern
The
Marine Infantry
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refl ...
,
Marine Parachute, Artillery and Engineer units remain as a distinct branch within the modern
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 Force ...
.
See also
*
Colonial and Marine Parachute Battalions
*
Colonial troops
Colonial troops or colonial army refers to various military units recruited from, or used as garrison troops in, colonial territories.
Colonial background
Such colonies may lie overseas or in areas dominated by neighbouring land powers such ...
*
Troupes de marine
The (TDM, ) is a corps of the French Army that includes several specialities: infantry, artillery, armoured, airborne, engineering, and transmissions (Signals).
Despite its name, it forms part of the Army, not the Navy. Intended for amphibi ...
*
French Resistance
The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...
*
Concentration camps in France
Numerous internment camps and concentration camps were located in France before, during and after World War II. Beside the camps created during World War I to intern German, Austrian and Ottoman civilian prisoners, the Third Republic (1871–19 ...
*
Army of the Levant
*
Army of Africa
*
Tonkinese Rifles The Tonkinese Rifles (''tirailleurs tonkinois'') were a corps of Tonkinese light infantrymen raised in 1884 to support the operations of the Tonkin Expeditionary Corps. Led by French officers seconded from the marine infantry, Tonkinese riflemen f ...
*
French colonial flags
Some of the colonies, protectorates and mandates of the French Colonial Empire used distinctive colonial flags. These most commonly had a French Tricolour in the canton.
As well as the flags of individual colonies, the governors-general of F ...
*
French Colonial Empire
*
List of French possessions and colonies
From the 16th to the 17th centuries, the First French colonial empire stretched from a total area at its peak in 1680 to over , the second largest empire in the world at the time behind only the Spanish Empire. During the 19th and 20th centuri ...
References
Bibliography
*
Paul Jean Louis Azan, ''L'armée indigène nord-Africaine'', Paris, Charles-Lavauzelle & cie., 1925.
*Charles John Balesi. ''From adversary to comrades-in-arms: West Africans and the French military, 1885-1919'', Chicago, 1976.
*Louis Beausza, ''La formation de l'armee coloniale'', Paris, L. Fournier et cie., 1939.
*Edward L Bimberg, ''Tricolor over the Sahara the desert battles of the Free French, 1940-1942'', Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002, or .
*
*
*
*
*Shelby Cullom Davis, ''Reservoirs of men: a history of the Black troops of French West Africa'', Westport, Conn., Negro Universities Press, 1970, or .
*Richard Standish Fogarty, ''Race and war in France: colonial subjects in the French Army, 1914-1918'', Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, or .
*
*
*
*Nancy Ellen Lawler, ''Soldiers of misfortune: Ivoirien tirailleurs of World War II'', Athens: Ohio University Press, 1992, or .
*Maria Petringa, ''Brazza, A Life for Africa'', Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006.
*Marcel Vigneras, ''Rearming the French'',
Office of the Chief of Military History
The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...
, Dept. of the Army, 1957
*''Annuaire officiel des troupes coloniales'', Paris: Charles-Lavauzelle, (serial)
*''Histoire et épopée des Troupes coloniales'', Paris, Presses Modernes, 1956.
*CEHD (Centre d'Etudes d'Histoire de la Défense), ''Les troupes de Marine dans l’armée de Terre. Un siècle d’histoire (1900–2000)'', Paris, Lavauzelle, 2001, 444 p.,
*''Troupes coloniales. Organisation générale'', Paris: H. Charles-Lavauzelle, 1907?
*''Historique des troupes coloniales pendant la guerre 1914-1918 (fronts extérieurs)'', Paris: Charles-Lavauzelle & Cie., 1931.
*''Historique des Troupes Coloniales pendant la Guerre 1914 - 1918 2'', Paris Charles-Lavauzelle & Cie. 1931.
*United States. Dept. of State. ''Colored troops in the French Army: a report from the Department of State relating to the colored troops in the French Army and the number of French colonial troops in the occupied territory'', Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1921.
*Ministère de la guerre.,''Troupes coloniales. Organisation génerale'', Paris: Charles-Lavauzelle & cie., 1937.
Journals
*Kim Munholland, ''The emergence of the colonial military in France, 1880–1905'', Ph.D. thesis, Princeton University, 1964.
Audio-visual media
*Alain de Sédouy; Eric Deroo, ''The forgotten history: The native Senegalese infantry, The Indochinese paratroops, The Moroccan Goumiers: a series of three documentaries'' Paris: GMT Productions: France 3, 1992.
External links
Unofficial site(managed by the national federation of veterans of oversea and marine troops)
*
Excellent historical site covering the Troupes Coloniales as well as the Troupes de Marine
* {{in lang, fr}
Website of the ''Musée des troupes de marine'' in Fréjus
Military history of France
French colonial empire
French colonisation in Africa
Colonial troops
Marines