TheArmy of Africa (French:Armée d’Afrique[aʁmed‿afʁik]) was an unofficial but commonly used term for those portions of theFrench Army stationed inFrench North Africa (Morocco,Algeria andTunisia) from 1830 until the end of theAlgerian War in 1962, including units made up of indigenous recruits.
The Army of Africa included indigenousArab orBerber volunteers; (spahis,Goumiers andtirailleurs); regiments largely made up ofpied-noir French settlers doing their military service (zouaves andchasseurs d'Afrique); and non-French volunteers (Légion étrangère). The divisions were not absolute and (for example) volunteers or conscripts from mainland France might choose to serve with theMuslim rank and file of the spahis and tirailleurs, while Arab volunteers might appear amongst the ranks of the zouaves. Prior to World War I, one battalion of each of the four zouave regiments then in existence, was recruited in France.[1] These battalions' bases were thereby providing a framework that could be expanded in the event of general mobilisation, and which were physically located closer to the geographical threat of Germany.[2]
In addition to the corps listed above, the Army of Africa included technical and support branches - notably artillery, engineers and train. Stationed permanently in North Africa these comprised a mixture of French and indigenous personnel that varied according to recruitment availability.[3]
In May 1913 a limited form of selective conscription was applied to the Muslim population of Algeria. In theory, from this date, all young Muslim males were called to undertake three years of compulsory military service upon reaching the age of 18.[4] However only about 2,000 conscripts a year were obtained by this method, out of approximately 45,000 possible candidates and Muslim enlistment remained predominately voluntary in peacetime. Even during World War I the majority (89,000 out of 170,000)[5] of Muslim soldiers who served were volunteers. As in France itself, military service was an obligation of citizenship and all physically fit male settlers of French origin were required to undertake two years of compulsory service (three years from 1913).[6]
Officers of all branches of the Army of Africa were predominantly French Europeans, though a certain number of commissioned positions up to and including the rank of captain were reserved for Muslim personnel in the spahis and tirailleurs. In 1932 the proportion ofofficiers indigenes was fixed at nine out of a total of 67 in each of these regiments.[7]
In 1956, in the course of theAlgerian War, a new policy of greater racial integration was adopted in the remaining units of the old Army of Africa. Algerian tirailleur regiments were to be made up of roughly 50% "Frenchmen of North African stock" (i.e. Arab and Berber Muslims) and an equivalent number of French volunteers and conscripts, largely drawn from the European settler community. At the same time, additional Muslim soldiers were to be incorporated into previously mostly European units such as the zouaves, until they made up to 25% of the total. Growing tensions within mixed units as the war continued, plus the threat of rebelFLN reprisals against Muslim volunteers, largely nullified this attempted reform.[8]Towards the end of the period of French rule in 1959 the personnel breakdown of a typical regiment oftirailleurs Algerien had stabilised at about 60% Muslim and European volunteers, enlisted under contract (engages); plus 20% European and 20% Muslim conscripts (appeles).[9]
TheArmée d’Afrique was formally part of the French metropolitan army comprising a separate army corps. It is noted that in 1873 the term Armée d'Afrique was used with reference to the troops of the19th Army Corps (19e Corps d'Armée).[10] It was one of 21 army corps of the Metropolitan Army formed in 1870.[11] It was the only corps whose military district did not cover mainland France.[12] As such it was separate from theFrench Colonial Forces which came under the Ministry of Marine and comprised both French and indigenous units serving inSub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere in theFrench colonial empire.
The battalions ofInfanterie Légère d'Afrique (African Light Infantry) werepenal units made up of convicted military criminals from all branches of the French Army, who had finished their sentences in military prisons but still had time to serve before their terms of engagement were completed. The preference was not to return them to their original units where they might undermine discipline or brutalise their fellow soldiers.[13]
The first two battalions of theInfanterie Legere d'Afrique were raised in 1832 for service in Algeria. Ironically known asles Joyeux (the "merry ones") these units were generally used for road and other construction work under harsh discipline. They were however used for combat service when circumstances demanded in Africa, Indochina and in France itself duringWorld War I. Three battalions sent to France at the outbreak ofWorld War II to work on fortifications, were rearmed in April 1940 and saw active service prior to theFall of France.
Officers of the African Light Infantry were seconded from other regiments as were some non-commissioned officers. Many NCOs were however former "Joyeux" who chose to remain with these unusual units and exercise authority, after they had completed their original terms of service.[14]
Camel mountedMeharistes plusCompagnies Sahariennes (desert infantry and later mechanised troops) were maintained in theSahara. The Foreign Legion provided mule mounted detachments for service in southern Algeria and, from 1940 to 1962, four of theCompagnies Sahariennes.
In addition to the above, units or individuals from the mainland French Army were sometimes posted to service in North Africa, as were detachments of theGendarmerie and theTirailleurs Senegalais.
At the outbreak of war in August 1914, the Army of Africa in Algeria and Tunisia comprised nine regiments of AlgerianTirailleurs, four of zouaves, six ofchasseurs d'Afrique, four ofspahis and two of the Foreign Legion. Large numbers of these troops were sent immediately to serve in France, mainly drawn from the peacetime garrisons of Algeria and Tunisia.[a]
On 22 April 1915 the first German use ofchlorine gas on the Western Front was directed against the positions atYpres occupied by the45th Infantry Division (France), consisting of zouaves and Algeriantirailleurs.[16]
In Morocco nineteen battalions oftirailleurs and nine of zouaves were on active service, along with elements of the Foreign Legion and the African Light Infantry. TheMoroccan Division was one of the most decorated units of theFrench Army in World War I and all its regiments were distinguished by unit citationsmentioned in despatches of the armed forces at the end of the conflict.[17] The Moroccan Division was the only division to receive the battle honour of being decorated with thelégion d'honneur throughout the course ofWorld War I.[18]
In 1914 33,000 Muslim Algerians were already serving with the spahis,tirailleurs and other units of the Army of Africa. In the course of the war a further 137,000 enlisted either as volunteers (57,000) or as wartime conscripts (80,000). Of the total of 170,000, 36,000 were killed.
As had been the case in 1914, substantial numbers of the Army of Africa were moved to mainland France on the outbreak of World War II. In May 1940 14 regiments ofzouaves, 42 regiments of Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccantirailleurs, 12 regiments and demi-brigades of theForeign Legion and 13 battalions of African Light Infantry were serving on all fronts.[19]
Following the fall of France, the Army of Africa was reduced to a level of 120,000 under Axis direction. GeneralMaxime Weygand was however able to maintain and train a further 60,000 men in French North Africa disguised asauxiliary police, "provisionalconscripts" and "unarmed workers".[20]
From the end of 1942, the Army of Africa was headed by French generalHenri Giraud and fought in theTunisia Campaign before its merger with GeneralCharles de Gaulle'sFree French Forces. North African units subsequently played a major role in the liberation ofCorsica (September – October 1943) and theItalian Campaign (1943–44) in theFrench Expeditionary Corps. During the French and German campaigns of 1944–45 the Army of Africa was expanded to 260,000 men (including 50% Indigenes and 50% white French settlers in North Africa,Pied-Noir),[21] including the1st Motorized Infantry Division (Zouaves and Foreign Legion), the1st Armoured Division(Chasseurs d'Afrique and Foreign Legion), the 2nd and 4th Moroccan Infantry Divisions (Moroccan Tirailleurs), and the3rd Algerian Infantry Division (Algerian and Tunisian Tirailleurs). In addition threegroupes detabors marocains ofGoumiers served as independent units while artillery, engineer, commando, reconnaissance (mechanisedSpahis and tank destroyer units were drawn from the French and indigenous populations ofFrench North Africa.[22]
The Oran, Algiers and Constantine Divisions existed as divisions until at least 1955–57;General de divisionRaymond Delange (fr:Raymond Delange) commanded theAlgiers Division in 1955–57, also being assistant commander of the 10th Military Region.[23] During theAlgerian War they were upgraded to corps status.[24]
TheArmée d’Afrique continued to provide a substantial portion of the French Army between 1945 and 1962. The Foreign Legion and volunteers from the Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian tirailleur regiments served in the Indochina War between 1946 and 1954, along with nine tabors of the Moroccan Goumiers. Four regiments of Moroccan and Algerian spahis fought as infantry or halftrack armoured units.[25]
With Moroccan and Tunisian independence in 1956, the Muslim personnel of the tirailleur and spahi units recruited in both countries were incorporated into their new national armies. This reduced the Army of Africa to the all professional Foreign Legion; thecolon (French settler) conscripts and reservists of the zouaves and chasseurs d'Afrique; and the career regulars and conscripts of the remaining Muslim units recruited in Algeria. In contrast to the war in Indo-China, the Algerian War of 1954–62 was fought largely by conscripts and reservists from France itself.[26]
With the exception of a reduced Foreign Legion and one regiment of Spahis, all regiments of theArmée d’Afrique were disbanded or lost their former identity between 1960 and 1965. A small unit of theInfanterie Légère d'Afrique was maintained inFrench Somaliland until that Territory became independent in 1977. However, one regiment each of Chasseurs d'Afrique, Tirailleurs and artillery (68e Régiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique) have been re-established to maintain the traditions of their respective branches.[27] In addition some units of engineers (31e régiment du génie), signals (41e régiment de transmissions) and transport (511e régiment du train) have been accorded ties of tradition with the oldArmée d’Afrique. These appear however to be arbitrary linkages which do not reflect any real regimental continuity.
The uniforms of the various branches making up the Army of Africa ranged from the spectacular "tenue orientale" of the spahis, tirailleurs and zouaves to the ordinary French military dress of the chasseurs d'Afrique, Foreign Legion, Artillerie d'Afrique and Infanterie Légère d'Afrique. Even the latter units were however distinguished by details such assashes, whitekepi covers and (for the chasseurs)fezzes which made them stand out from the remainder of the French Army. Some of these features have survived as parade dress to the present day; notably the white cloaks and red sashes worn by the 1st Spahis, and the white kepis, fringedepaulettes and blue sashes of the Foreign Legion. Thefanfare-nouba (regimental band) of the 1st Regiment of Tirailleurs still wears the full traditionaltenue orientale; comprising white turbans, light blue zouave style jackets braided in yellow, red sashes and wide light blue or white Moorish trousers (see colour photograph above). The adoption of khaki uniforms, unlike the rest of the army who worehorizon blue was decided upon early during the First World War.[28]
Notes
Citations
II. –Troupes d'Afrique. 1° OTHER RANKS ... Tunic. – In khaki cloth. In the same pattern as used by thetroupes métropolitaines. Trousers for footsoldiers. – In khaki cloth. In accordance with the pattern as stipulated in the descriptive notice sent on 5 October 1914, No. 2501 5/5. 2° OFFICERS ... Tunic. – In the same pattern as used by thetroupes métropolitaines. Trousers. – In khaki cloth. In the same pattern as used by the other ranks...[Initially, overcoats in light blue were proscribed, in the same pattern as used by thetroupes métropolitaines.]
| Forces | .svg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| French campaign |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aftermath |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
