French Colonial Forces

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Recruitment poster of the Colonial Forces for the Free French Forces.

French Colonial Forces or Troupes Coloniales is a general designation for the military forces that garrisoned and were largely recruited from the French colonial empire from the late 17th century until 1960. This force played a substantial part in both World Wars as well as in the Indochina and Algerian wars that followed. It remains a key branch of the modern French military, though with only limited responsibilities relating to the remaining French overseas territories.

The "Armee Coloniale" did not include the famous North African regiments such as the Foreign Legion, Zouaves, Spahis, Tirailleurs Algerienne and Goums, all of which were considered part of the French Metropolitan Army. Instead the "Troupes Coloniale" can be divided into: (i) French long service volunteers (or colonial settlers doing their military service) assigned to service in France itself or as garrisons in French West and Central Africa, Madagascar, New Caledonia or Indochina; and (ii) Indigenous troops recruited in any of the above, serving under French officers. These were designated as Tirailleurs Senegalais, Tirailleurs Malagache, Tirailleurs Indochinois etc according to the name of the colony of origin. Tirailleurs (sharpshooters) Senegalais was the name given to all West and Central African regiments since Senegal had been the first French colony south of the Sahara.

The "Troupes Coloniale" were predominantly infantry but included artillery units as well as the usual support services. At various dates they also included locally recruited cavalry units in Indo-China as well as camel troops in sub-Saharan Africa.

A "tirailleur" keeping guard on prisoners during the Franco-Turkish War

The European infantry regiments were until 1914 uniformed in a similar style to their metropolitan counterparts (though with yellow fringed epaulettes 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 according to circumstances. During and after World War I khaki became the norm for colonial troops in contrast to the horizon blue of the metropolitan conscripts. Tirailleur regiments in Africa worn red fezs and sashes with dark blue, or khaki uniforms. The Indo Chinese units wore a salacco headdress and blue, white or khaki drill clothing based on local patterns.

From 1822 to 1900 these troops, both French and indigenous, had been designated as "Troupes de la Marine" though they were not directly linked to the French Navy. 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 Coloniale" 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). As the remaining French Afican territories became independent in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the tirailleurs were discharged, usually to join their new national armies.

Throughout their changing titles and roles the French Troupes de la Marine/Coloniale 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.

The Marine Infantry, Parachute, Artillery and Engineer units remain as a distinct branch within the modern French Army, serving in the First Gulf War.