Chasseurs à pied (France)

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The chasseurs à pied beret badge with the cor de chasse
Association badge of the 5th battalion (Chasseurs à pied aéroporté - airborne fighters)
Association badge of the 27th Mountain Jäger Battalion

The corps of Chasseurs à pied ( hunters on foot ) is part of the infantry force in France .

history

In 1837 Ferdinand-Philippe, duc d'Orléans , formed the troop of hunters on foot, which to this day only have a single flag, wear a blue uniform, see themselves as an elite and are committed to a common tradition. Since they were set up, different terms have been used due to their different tasks:

Chasseurs d'Orléans
Chasseurs alpins ( mountain hunters )
Chasseurs cyclistes ( cycling troop )
Chasseurs portés (armored fighter battalions)
Chasseurs à pied parachutistes ( airborne fighters )
Chasseurs à pied aéroporté (airborne fighters)
Chasseurs mécanisés (armored hunter battalions with tank hunter companies)

Origins

Ancien Régime

The term "Chasseur" first appeared in a French document from 1743 during the War of the Austrian Succession , when a unit named "Chasseurs de Fischer" was mentioned, a troop of the royal army consisting of 400 infantrymen and 200 horsemen . After Fischer's death, the troops were transformed into the 800-strong "Chasseurs dragons de Conflans". To light infantry , there were at that time in 1744 the "Arquebusiers de Grassin" 1745 "Fusiliers de Molière" in 1746, the "Volontaires de Gantès", the "Volontaires Bretons" and the "Volontaires du Dauphiné" and 1747 the "Volontaires du Hainaut ”and the“ Volontaires royaux ”.

In 1763 all these units were grouped into legions, each with eight companies of dragoons , eight companies of fusiliers and one grenadier company :

Legion de Conflans
Légion de Condé
Légion du Hainaut (renamed "Légion Loraine" in 1768)
Volontaires de Soubise (became the "Légion de Soubise" in 1768)
Volontaires de Flandre

In 1776 the Comte de Saint-Germain carried out an army reform in which the 108 infantry regiments were reorganized. There were two shock companies ("Compagnies d'élite": one grenadier and one hunter company) formed in each.

On May 8, 1784, six new hunter battalions of four companies each were set up:

Battalion de chasseurs des Alpes
Battalion de chasseurs des Pyrénées
Battalion de chasseurs des Cévennes
Battalion de chasseurs des Vosges
Battalion de chasseurs du Gévaudan
Battalion de chasseurs des Ardennes

The battalions were attached to the existing six regiments of hunters on horseback . On March 17, 1788 the infantry regiments "Royal Italy", "Royal Corse" and "de Montréal" were converted into hunter battalions:

The 1st Battalion of Royal Italy became the "Bataillon de chasseurs royaux Provence".
The 2nd battalion of Royal Italy became the "Bataillon de chasseurs royaux Dauphiné".
The 1st Battalion of Royal Corse became the "Bataillon de chasseurs royaux Corse".
The 2nd battalion of Royal Corse became the "Bataillon de chasseurs Corse".
The Régiment de Montréal and the surplus of Royal Corse became the Bataillon de chasseurs de Cantabres.
Surplus from the infantry regiments Royal-Italy and Royal-Corse formed the Bataillon de chasseurs du Roussillon.

In 1784 the hunters wore a dark green skirt with a fawn waistcoat and trousers, and a hat. From 1786 the waistcoat and trousers were also dark green. Discounts, cuffs and skirt linings were kept in badge color to distinguish them:

Bataillon de chasseurs des Alpes: crimson
Battalion de chasseurs des Pyrénées: Bordeaux red
Bataillon de chasseurs des Cévennes: lemon yellow
Bataillon de chasseurs des Vosges: golden yellow
Battalion de chasseurs du Gévaudan: orange
Bataillon de chasseurs des Ardennes: white

From 1788 the colored discounts ceased to exist , but the collars that had not been taken into account until now were included in the system. The hat was to be replaced by the infantry caterpillar helmet from 1788 .

At the same time the battalions attached to the hunters on horseback became independent again.

  • Chasseur des Alpes 1784

  • Chasseurs des Ardennes 1786

  • Chasseurs du Gévaudan 1788

  • Fighters of the 10th Battalion 1791

Revolution and First Empire

Each infantry regiment hunter company was converted into two grenadier companies in 1789. On April 1, 1791, the Jäger battalions lost their names and were only given consecutive numbers:

1 he battalion de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs royaux Provence
2 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs royaux Dauphiné
3 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously the Bataillon de chasseurs royaux Corse
4 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously the Bataillon de chasseurs Corse
5 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs de Cantabres
6 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs de Bretagne (formerly "des Alpes")
7 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs d'Auvergne (formerly "des Pyrénées")
8 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs des Vosges
9 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously the Bataillon de chasseurs des Cévennes
10 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously Bataillon de chasseurs du Gévaudan
11 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously the Bataillon de chasseurs des Ardennes
12 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied - previously the Bataillon de chasseurs du Roussillon

There were also a 13th and 14th battalion.

The discounts were given colored advances, trousers and vests turned white.

In the course of the Levée en masse , several volunteer battalions were set up from 1793 ("Chasseurs de Vandamme" or "Chasseurs basques"). These were merged with the existing battalions on the occasion of the reorganization of the premier amalgams to form the " Demi-brigades d'infanterie légère". The green uniforms disappeared and were replaced by the blue ones of the light infantry. In 1796, in the year of the second amalgame ( Deuxieme amalgame ), there were 31 light half -brigades (demi-brigades légères) .

These demi-brigades and the subsequent light infantry regiments had 14, later 12 companies of hunters, who were supported by the voltigeurs and the carbine riflemen.

Under Napoléon , the number was increased to 27 battalions, and the impractical carbine was replaced by the standard infantry rifle. In the Imperial Guard , elite regiments consisting only of hunters on foot were set up, the 1 er régiment de chasseurs à pied de la Garde impériale and the 2 e régiment de chasseurs à pied de la Garde impériale . Then there were the one he régiment de fusiliers-Chasseurs de la Garde impériale and the Régiment de flanqueurs-Chasseurs de la Garde impériale , the latter made up of foresters whose sons or undergoing training foresters.

When the reorganization of the army after the end of the empire in 1815, the designation “regiment” was abolished and replaced by “départements-legion” (légion départementale) , each of these legions was assigned a hunter battalion of eight companies. In 1820 the regimental association was reintroduced and the light infantry regiments were re-established. However, they continued to fight in line, the only difference being the green uniform.

In the July monarchy

  • A carabinier of the Chasseurs à pied, called Chasseurs d'Orléans from July 19, 1842

  • “Chasseur à pied”, sculpture by Auguste Arnaud (1825–1883). Originally on the Pont de l'Alma , it is now on an outer wall of the Redoute de Gravelle on the Bois de Vincennes in the east of Paris.

The advancing development in armament required a new type of light infantry. In 1833, Henri Gustave Delvigne introduced a new carbine that was as easy to use as a rifle.

With the help of Charles d'Houdetot , Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans set up a special unit in 1837 to test a new type of weapon. It was called "Compagnie de chasseurs d'essai" (Hunter Trial Company) and was stationed in Vincennes . It was equipped with the "Delvigne-Pontcharra modèle 1837" carbine and a saber bayonet . These soldiers received very thorough training in shooting, both lying down and standing. The uniform was more comfortable and lighter than that of the line infantry, the white belt was replaced by a less conspicuous black one, the wide-cut tunic and trousers were blue.

A first inspection of the troops on April 4, 1838 was satisfactory. King Louis-Philippe I decided to set up a provisional battalion of six companies. Erected on November 14, 1838, the battalion was managed as a regular unit by order of August 28, 1839. The tunic was now royal blue with yellow piping . Under the command of its creator, the battalion was used in the conquest of Algeria .

After the satisfactory operation in Algeria, ten independent battalions "Chasseurs à pied" were set up on September 28, 1840. The installation took place in Camp d ' Helfaut near Saint-Omer and was completed on May 4, 1841.

The 3 e , 5 e 6 e 8 e 9 e and 10 e bataillon immediately went to Algeria, of the backward relative the 1 he bataillon in Metz , the 2 e bataillon in Vincennes, the 4 e bataillon in Besançon , the 7 e battalion in Strasbourg and the 9 e battalion in Toulouse their garrisons.

The battalions in Algeria fought against the troops of Abd el-Kader and earned merit in the Battle of Isly and the Battle of Sidi Brahim , in which the 8 e battalion was almost completely wiped out. It was then given the honorary name "Bataillon de Sidi-Brahim".

Battle of Sidi Brahim

After the death of its creator on July 13, 1842, the troupe was renamed "Chasseurs d'Orléans" on July 19. It carried this name until the beginning of the Second Republic in 1848, when it was given the name "Chasseurs à pied".

Second empire

As the conflict of the Crimean War began to emerge, Emperor Napoléon III decided in 1853 to set up ten additional battalions and a guard battalion. A total of 12 hunter battalions were deployed in the Crimean War.

In addition, on September 28, 1855, two new hunter battalions were set up, the 21 e in Metz and the 22 e in Grenoble. Both were dissolved again in 1856.

On the occasion of the impending danger of war with Austria , a decree of March 14, 1859 ordered a further battalion of six companies and a depot battalion of four companies to be set up for each hunter battalion.

The "21 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied" was reorganized on November 21, 1870 in Saint-Denis . In the Franco-Prussian War , the 21 Jäger battalions and an additional 34 marching battalions were deployed. These were formed from the depot battalions. After the war, the number of battalions was set at 30, the former Guard Jäger battalion was given the number 24.

III. republic

The hunter battalions were deployed in several enterprises of the French colonization policy, for example in Tunisia in 1881, in Tonkin and Annam - where the "11 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied" was able to distinguish itself - and in Madagascar in 1895 , where a "40 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied ”.

specialization

Although the troops turned to a wide variety of special tasks over the years, the name or tradition was never shaken. When the troop specialization changed, the master numbers were always retained.

After the First World War , for example, the “9 e ”, “15 e ”, “18 e ”, “20 e ” and “25 e battalion de chasseurs à pied” were converted into mountain hunter battalions, while the “30 e alpine battalion” became one normal fighter battalion.

The "24 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied" became a mountain rifle battalion in 1888, then an armored fighter battalion, at the end of World War II a mechanized battalion and then a mountain battalion again, before being disbanded in 1991.

Whether armored (porté) , as a cycling troop (cycliste) , airborne (5 e aéroporté) or parachute unit (10 e parachutiste) - hunters always stayed on foot.

Alpine hunters

On the initiative of Lieutenant-Colonel Zédé and Commandant Arvers, who had considered the possibility of a war in the mountains in 1888, 12 hunter battalions were converted into mountain hunter battalions (bataillons alpins de chasseurs à pied) . These also received details on the war in the high mountains.

The 12 units were in two mountain corps (corps de montagne) summarized

  • the “14 e corps d'armée” in Lyon , consisting of the “11 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Annecy , the “13 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Chambéry , the “14 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Embrun, the “22 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Albertville, the “12 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins”, the “28 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” and the “30 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Grenoble
  • the “15 e corps d'armée” in Nice; it had the “6 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” and the “7 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Nice, the “23 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Grasse , the “24 e bataillon de chasseurs alpins” in Villefranche and the “27 e battalion de chasseurs alpins” in Menton

Each of the battalions consisted of six companies of 154 men each and was under the command of a chief de bataillon or lieutenant-colonel.

The special equipment required, especially at the beginning, has been continuously improved over time based on experience. An oversized beret was chosen as headgear, called a “tarte” or “galette” (both stand for “cake”), the badge was located above the right ear. This included a mountain stick with a raven's beak handle, ice ax , skis, and snowshoes .

The build-up of this mountain troop massively worsened relations with Italy , which in response joined the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary .

Loading to Morocco in 1912

The groups of cycling hunters

First attempts with bicycles took place in 1899 with provisionally set up units. These attempts were satisfactory and resulted in the 2 e , 4 e , 9 e , 18 e and 25 e BCP receiving a sixth company in 1913, equipped with foldable bicycles from the Gérard system. A cycling group was then initially set up by six battalions and assigned to the cavalry divisions. They not only kept their blue uniforms, but also the badges of their regular troops.

In total these were:

  • 1 he battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 2 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 4 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 13 e battalion de chasseurs alpins
  • 15 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 18 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 19 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 25 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 26 e battalion de chasseurs à pied
  • 29 e battalion de chasseurs à pied

In the course of the war four groups were disbanded, those of the 2 e BCP in 1923. The last five survived until May 5, 1929. Their awards were kept by the Dragoons, who belonged to the light cavalry divisions.

World War I and the Diables bleus (Blue Devil)

In 1913, the 31 e BCP was the last of the active battalions to be set up. During the First World War there were 71 battalions - 31 active, 31 reserve, 7 territorial alpine hunters and 9 marching battalions. Each infantry division should have at least one fighter battalion (BCA or BCP). Each active battalion set up a reserve battalion (41 to 71). For this purpose, seven territorial alpine hunter battalions and nine marching battalions were set up (32 e , 102 e , 106 e , 107 e , 114 e , 115 e , 116 e , 120 e and 121 e BCP). Then there were the ten cycling groups.

Chasseurs alpins 1918

During the fighting, the Germans referred to the hunters as “black devils” because of their blue-black uniforms, while the French themselves called them “blue devils” (Diables bleus) . (The blue uniforms were then replaced by the blue-gray infantry field uniforms.)

At the beginning of the Battle of Verdun , the 56 e and 59 e battalions des chasseurs à pied, under the command of Émile Driant, delayed the German advance in the forest of Caures by almost two days.

Several battalions were deployed outside France, such as the 58th battalion in the Orient Army (Armée française d'Orient) , the 6th battalion in Corfu and two others, the 46th and 47th battalion, on the Piave in autumn 1917 in support of the Italian.

Garrisons 1914

Target personnel of the hunter battalions

  • Kommandeur (French: Commander) was a Chef de Bataillon
  • 30 officers (32 with the alpine hunters)
  • 1,700 NCOs and crews (1,500 for the alpine hunters)
The BCP was composed of
  • 6 companies of 250 men each under the command of a captain
The company was divided into four platoons .
Each platoon consisted of two half-platoons of four corporal groups of 15 men each, commanded by a "Caporal".
Personal list

The company had:

  • to officers:
1 captain, 3 lieutenants , 1 sous-lieutenant or adjudant-chief
  • to sergeant ranks
1 sergent major , 1 adjudant , 1 sergent fourrier (supply sergeant ), 8 sergents
  • NCOs and men
1 caporal fourrier (supply sergeant), 16 corporals, 2 tambours (drummers), 2 clairons (hunting horn blowers), 1 medic, 4 porters, 1 tailor, 1 shoemaker, 1 cyclist, 3 drivers and 210 soldiers
In the "section hors-rang" (it was the battalion supply train)
Fireworkers (responsible for ammunition)
gunsmith
Clerk
Ordinances
Resupply NCOs
Hardware forge
butcher
driver

Awards

The hunters were honored as follows for their work during the First World War:

242 Honorable Mentions in Army Order
5 Fourragères the Legion of Honor (the 6 e 8 e , 16 e , 27 e and 30 e bataillon)
24 Fourragères of the Médaille militaire
41 Fourragères des Croix de guerre 1914–1918

losses

The total casualties of the hunters were around 82,000. Thus they were about 10,000 higher than the level of mobilization with about 72,000 men.

Interwar period

At the end of the war, the reserve , territorial and march battalions were disbanded. The remaining 31 active battalions were used in the occupation of the Rhineland , eight battalions were made available to the Second Polish Republic in 1920 to bring the Soviet offensive in the Polish-Soviet war to a standstill. The 6 e , 7 e , 13 e , 15 e , 23 e , 24 e , 29 e BCP and the 27 e BCP returned to France in 1924. In 1925 the 15 e , 23 e , 24 e , 25 e BCP and the 27 e BCA were used in Morocco , the 7 e BCP and the 13 e BCA were in Tunisia.

With a further reduction in the army, the Jäger battalions were reduced to 21 in 1929. In 1937, the 5 e and 17 e battalions were converted to "Bataillons de chasseurs portés" (equipped with the Lorraine 37L infantry tractor and the Unic P107 half-track vehicle ). They were intended for the infantry of the future in the reserve cuirassier divisions.

Second World War

Garrisons 1939

Chasseurs à pied
Chasseurs alpins
Chasseurs portés
Commandant Soutiras as Commander of the 7th Battalion in 1939

The hunters during the conflict

During the mobilization eight new battalions were set up, as well as 15 reserve battalions, as well as the “199 e bataillon de chasseurs de Haute Montagne” (199th high mountain hunter battalion) by the high mountain school in Chamonix and 10 battalions “Chasseurs pyrénéens” (Pyrenean hunters - No. 1 until 10).

In February 1940 the 4 e and the 16 e BCP were converted into "Bataillons de chasseurs portés". In April battalions 5 and 27 were deployed in Norway and fought in the Battle of Narvik .

After the armistice of Compiègne of remaining in the 100,000-man army Vichy government by hunters on foot nor the one he BCP in Belley , the two e BCP in Jujurieux , the 8 e BCP in Magnac-Laval , the 10 e BCP in Neuville-sur-Ain , the 16 e BCP in Limoges and 30 e BCP in Confolens . The Alpine hunters continued to use the 6 e BCA in Grenoble, the 13 e BCA in Chambéry, the 20 e BCA in Digne-les-Bains, the 24 e and 25 e BCA in Hyères and the 27 e BCA in Annecy.

Belonging to the Forces françaises libres , there was a short-lived hunter battalion in England, which was established by the French soldiers evacuated from Narvik. In 1941 it belonged to the "1 re division française libre" (1st Free French Division).

The "33 e bataillon de chasseurs à pied" was set up on July 1, 1941 in the Camp de La Valbonne (Ain) as a brief unit . It was intended for use in Syria and was disbanded on July 15.

All battalions were disbanded after the occupation of the rest of France by Germany and Italy in November 1942, as was the entire so-called armistice army.

The former professional soldiers formed a number of the units of the Maquis , so the "Maquis des Glières" (the Plateau des Glières is an alpine region in the Haute-Savoie department ), mainly from the former members of the 27 e BCA. After the liberation, a number of the FFI units were divided into about 20 hunter battalions and used to fight the German bases on the Atlantic coast.

post war period

1945 to 1962

After the end of the war, there were 19 battalions of fighters in the French army. The 1 er , 5 e , 17 e and 31 e BCP were stationed in France, the 2 e , 4 e , 8 e , 16 e , 19 e , 20 e , 24 e , 29 e and 30 e BCP belonged to the occupation force in Germany, while the 6 e , 7 e , 11 e , 13 e , 15 e and 19 e BCA belonged to the 27th Mountain Division, which was stationed in Austria.

Indochina War

In this war only one marching company of the hunter troop was involved. It was drawn up from the 6 e , 1 er , 13 e BCP and the 27 e BCA on January 1, 1947 and commanded by Capitaine Desserteaux. However, in 1947 the 10 e BCP in Morocco formed the “10 e bataillon parachutiste de chasseurs à pied” (10th parachute battalion of hunters on foot), which was deployed in Tonkin from 1950 . This battalion was disbanded in August 1952 and incorporated into the new South Vietnamese Army as the “3 e bataillon de parachutistes vietnamiens” (3rd Vietnamese Parachute Battalion).

Algerian war

Quite different after the outbreak of the Algerian War, now several new hunter units have been set up. Their total number temporarily reached 27 battalions. Of the three battalions in the Center d'instruction (training center) in Granville (Manche) were set up, the 28 operated e BCP in the sector of Sidi Aïch (vallée de la Soummam ) , the 29 e BCP was based on El Kseur stationed ( in addition the Commando de chasse de PK 17 ) with the operational area at the Soummam and the 31 e BCP in the Tiaret region .

In Tunisia, the 12 e , 14 e and 25 e BCP operated in the El Kef region .

After 1962

After the end of the Algerian War, the hunters were reduced again. They have now been divided into two groups, the Chasseurs alpins and the Chasseurs portés . The latter were initially only equipped with armored personnel carriers and became chasseurs mécanisés by setting up their own tank destroyer companies with AMX-13s . The alpine hunters also kept the name battalion, while the hunters on foot were now called "Groupe de chasseurs".

The Groupes de chasseurs mécanisés initially consisted of the 1 er , 2 e , 8 e , 16 e , 24 e and 30 e GC, the Alpenjäger still consisted of the 6 e , 7 e , 11 e , 13 e and 27 e BCA. In addition there were the reserve battalions 15 e , 22 e , 53 e and 67 e BCA as well as the 10 e , 29 e and 31 e BCP, as well as the 41 e GC.

After the abolition of compulsory military service, there was another drastic reduction in the number of troops. All reserve battalions were disbanded. Since the Gebirgstruppe seemed more important, remained three battalions exist, the 7 e , 13 e and 27 e BCA, to the 24 e BCA in Tübingen, in October 1993 for stem force the "Center d'instruction et d'entraînement au combat en montagne “(Mountain Combat Training Center - CIECM) in Barcelonnette, but was also dissolved with this in 2008.

Of the “Chasseurs à pied” only the “16 e bataillon” remained, which was relocated from Germany to France in 2010 and is stationed in Bitche .

On July 1, 2016, the 5 e régiment de dragons , which had previously been responsible for the operation of the combat troop training center “Center d'entraînement au combat” (CENTAC), was withdrawn, reintegrated into the ranks of the combat troops and replaced by the “1 er groupe de chasseurs ”. The center is now called: "Center d'entraînement au combat, le 1 er bataillon de chasseurs" (CENTAC / 1 er BC) ". Since it is a school, all members wear the uniform of their unit and only then that blue hunter uniform if they are released from the hunter troop.

Maintenance of tradition

Corps flag

Drapeau des Chasseurs in storage in Vincennes
Drapeau des Chasseurs in Vincennes on September 17th, 2011

The hunters are organized in battalions or groups that do not belong to any regimental association. The hunters only carry one flag in the style of the regimental flag, but without numbers in the laurel wreaths at the four corners. The first flag was presented to the 2nd battalion on May 4th 1841 by King Louis-Philippe. The honorable deeds of all battalions were consequently immortalized on this flag.

The shaft is crowned by a tip that is attached to a sleeve. Engraved on it: RF and Chasseurs à pied .

Inscriptions on the flag leaf
  • Front: "République Française - Bataillons de Chasseurs à pied"
  • Back: "Honneur et Patrie". A laurel wreath in each of the four corners.

Inscriptions on the red field

Blaregnie 1940
Norvège 1940

Inscriptions on the blue field

Isly 1844
Sidi Brahim 1845
Sébastopol 1854–1855
Solférino 1859
Extreme Orient 1885–1888
Madagascar 1895
Maroc 1912-1914
Grande Guerre 1914-1918

Inscriptions on the blue field

Les Glières 1944
Indochine 1950-1952
AFN (1952–1962)

The Fanions

Fanion of the 13 e BCA

Since there was only one flag for all battalions, the so-called fanions were used to distinguish between the individual battalions. They were originally green and yellow and are now blue and yellow. They have a dimension of 50 × 50 centimeters and differ only in the battalion number and the decorations attached to it. The flagstick is inserted into the gun barrel of the flag bearer (drapeau porté) . At the top of the flagpole is a hunter's horn made of silver-plated metal as a flag tip. Some battalions had special badges in the opening of the horn, for example the 1st battalion a rooster, the 8th battalion a marabout , the 24th battalion the imperial eagle, the 30th battalion a chamois. For several years now, the names of the battles in which the battalion participated gloriously have not been affixed to the Fanion.

The "24 e groupe de chasseurs" kept the green and yellow original of the Chasseurs de la Garde impériale and also preserved its tradition.

The Uniform (La Tenue)

“Tenue Solférino” by the Chasseurs alpins

The hunters wear a blue uniform with the respective association badge attached. It is a silver-colored hunting horn (cor de chasse) with the battalion's specific badge inserted into the opening. The uniform ("Tenue Solférino") differs fundamentally from the khaki-colored one (called "Terre de France") of the rest of the army.

The vest is yellow, as is the piping on the trousers. The kepi is dark blue with yellow lacing for the crew, silver for the officers, the major and the chief adjudicator, and gold for the adjudants and the officer candidates. (The hunters have silver-colored badges of rank above the gold-colored ones.) Depending on the occasion, green epaulettes with yellow crescent moons are put on. The "Chasseurs portés" wore a dark blue beret like the rest of the troops, the remaining battalion of the "Chasseurs mécanisés" wore a black beret.

The alpine hunters wear their own uniform for parades or on special occasions. It consists of a blouson with knee breeches, white knee socks made of wool and ski boots. Then there is the oversized beret (tarte) . Another option is to wear a snowsuit. In this case, the hunters appear with the clothes described above, but all in white.

The "5 e chasseurs à pied aéroporté" and the "10 e chasseurs à pied parachutistes" wore a dark blue beret, in addition to their individual badge, a half wing in the hunting horn.

“Tenue Solférino” of the Chasseurs à pied

war cry

Certificate of the “hunter's baptism” at the 8 e groupe de chasseurs in Wittlich

Each battalion has its own battle cry called the “refrain”. They were not only different in the text, but also in the melody. In the fight, the “refrain”, blown by the Clairons , was the only means of communication when there was no communication. The leadership was able to determine where the individual battalions of hunters were. Every newcomer to the hunter troop must be able to recite all 32 refrains (31 of the battalions active in 1913 and the 40th battalion, which only existed temporarily) by heart before he is baptized as a hunter (baptême chasseur) and finally accepted into the troop. During this baptism, the aspirant has to wash down a heaping tablespoon of salt from a champagne bottle with a few strong sips and then force himself through the opening of a hunting horn in full gear. In the case of aspirants who are accepted into the hunter troop on an honorary basis, the 32 “refrains” are not recited.

The tradition calls for the refrain of each battalion to be called out in turn before each morning roll call.

  • 1 He battalion: Si l'septième de ligne a of couill's au cul, Le Chasseur Premier les lui a foutues!
  • 2nd e battalion: Le Commandant a mal aux dents, mes enfants! Le Commandant a mal aux dents, mes enfants!
  • 3 e battalion: V'la l'3ème, v'la l'3ème qui rapplique au galop, V'la l'3ème, v'la l'3ème qui rapplique sac au dos!
  • 4 e battalion: Quatrième battalion, Commandant Clinchant, Toujours en avant!
  • 5 e battalion: Cinquième battalion, ventre à terre, Commandé par Certain Canrobert, en avant!
  • 6 e battalion: Le Sixième est là! Il est un peu là!
  • 7 e battalion: battalion, battalion, battalion: de fer! Battalion, battalion, battalion d'acier!
  • 8 e battalion: T'as beau courir, tu n'me rattrap'ras pas! T'as beau courir, do n'me rattrap'ras pas!
  • 9 e battalion: Marie, j'ai vu ton cul tout nu! Cochon, pourquoi l'regardes-tu?
  • 10 e battalion: Dixième Bataillon, Commandant Mac Mahon, N'a pas peur du canon nom de nom!
  • 11 e battalion: Onzième Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins, Onzième bataillon d'lapins!
  • 12 e battalion: Ah c'qu'il est beau, c'qu'il est beau l'douzième, Ah c'qu'il est beau, c'qu'il est con c'con là!
  • 13 e battalion: Sans pain, sans fricot, Au treizième on n'boit que de l'eau!
  • 14 e battalion: La peau d'mes roulettes pour une casquette, La peau de mes rouleaux pour un shako!
  • 15 e battalion: Je fum'rais bien un'pipe, Mais je n'ai pas d'tabac
  • 16 e battalion: Seizième Bataillon de Chasseurs à pied, Seizième Bataillon d'acier!
  • 17 e battalion: Cré nom d'un chien, nous voilà bien partis! Cré nom d'un chien, nous voilà bien!
  • 18 e battalion: Encore and Biffin d'enfilé, rompez! Encore un Biffin d'enfilé!
  • 19 e battalion: Trou du cul, trou du cul plein d'poils sales, Trou du cul, trou du cul poilu!
  • 20 e battalion: Vingtième Bataillon, Commandant Cambriels, Les Chasseurs aux pieds ont des ailes!
  • 21 e battalion: En voulez vous des kilomètres, en voilà! En voulez vous des kilomètres, en voilà!
  • 22 e battalion: Encore un Biffin, d'tombé dans la merde, Encore un Biffin d'emmerdé!
  • 23 e battalion: V'la l'vingt-troizième, nom de Dieu! Ça va barder !!
  • 24 e battalion: Tout au long du bois j'ai baisé Jeannette, Tout le long du bois j'l'ai baisée trois fois!
  • 25 e battalion: Pas plus con qu'un autre, nom de Dieu! Mais toujours autant! (or "content")
  • 26 e battalion: Tu m'emmerdes et tu m'fais chier, Tu m'dis ça, c'est pour blaguer!
  • 27 e battalion: Si vous avez des couilles, Il faudra le montrer!
  • 28 e battalion: Saute Putten, t'auras d'la saucisse! Saute putti, t'auras you boudin!
  • 29 e battalion: C'est le Vingt neuvième qui n'a pas de pain, Qui crève de faim, qui march 'quand même!
  • 30 e battalion: Il était un p'tit homme, Tout habillé de bleu, nom de Dieu! (or "sacrebleu")
  • 31 e battalion: Trente et unième, l'dernier v'nu, Pas l'plus mal foutu!
  • 40 e battalion: Trou du cul… de la rein des Hovas

The reserve battalions, the territorial battalions and the marching battalions had their own battle cries. B .:

  • 32 e battalion (marching battalion): Si j'avais du pinard, j'en boirais bien une goutte! Si j'avais du pinard j'en boirais bien un quart!
  • 53 e bataillon (reserve battalion of the 13 e BCA): Sans fricot, sans pain, au 53 on n'boit qu'du vin!
  • 87 e bataillon (Territorial Battalion ): Le commandant a dit mes enfants vous êt 'de sacrés lurons!

The refrain read: Les chasseurs en avant, l'artillerie au milieu, les bifins, les bifins en arrière. Les chasseurs en avant, l'artillerie au milieu, les bifins, les bifins à la queue .

(The hunters in front, the artillery in the middle and the infantry, the infantry in the rear guard. The hunters in front, the artillery in the middle and the infantry, the infantry in the tail.)

Special vocabulary

The hunters used a few terms that are not found in the rest of the French army:

  • "La fanfare" instead of "musique du bataillon"
  • "Caisse claire" instead of "le tambour" (drummer)
  • "Le quartier" instead of "la caserne"
  • "La tenue" instead of "l'uniforme"
  • "Le manteau" instead of "la capote" (which was the official name for the hooded coat)
  • "Jonquille" (daffodil) instead of "jaune" (yellow)
  • bleu-cerise (blue-cherry) instead of rouge (red), except for the red of the flag, the fourragère or a lady's lips
  • "La fanfare ne joue pas mais sonne" (the music doesn't play, it blows)
  • "La tarte" instead of "le béret" (for the alpine hunters)
  • The parade march is 140 steps per minute instead of the 114 steps of the infantry.

Known members of the hunter troop

Others

The two existing hunter regiments 1 er régiment de chasseurs and 4 e régiment de chasseurs are units of hunters on horseback (Chasseurs à cheval) and belong to the cavalry.

literature

  • Yvick Herniou, Éric Labayle: Répertoire des corps de troupe de l'armée française pendant la Grande Guerre. Volume 2: Chasseurs à pied, alpins et cyclistes. Units d'active de reserve et de territoriale. Éditions Claude Bonnaud, Château-Thierry 2007, ISBN 978-2-9519001-2-7 .
  • Les Chasseurs à pied. In: Revue historique de l'armée française. Special no. 2, Paris 1966.
  • Arnaud de Vial: La Guerre d'Algérie. Volume 1: De Cherchell aux djebels. Éditions Jeanne d'Arc, Le Puy-en-Velay 2010, ISBN 978-2-36262-010-2 (about the prestigious school that trained all reserve officers involved in the Chasseurs battalions during the Algerian War). Volume 2: Le Courage des morts , L'histoire vécue du 31 e BCP en Algérie, 1959–1962 , L'histoire vécue du huitième Groupe de Chasseurs Portés en 1962 au moment de l'affaire des missiles de Cuba. Éditions Jeanne d'Arc, Le Puy-en-Velay 2010, ISBN 978-2-911794-84-1 .
  • Yvick Herniou: Ephéméride des chasseurs. Éditions Muller, Paris 1993, ISBN 978-2-904255-17-5 .

Footnotes

  1. ^ Législation militaire 1763. In: www.1789-1815.com .
  2. ↑ To what extent this was carried out is not known.
  3. ↑ Les Chasseurs à pied. In: Revue historique de l'armée française. Special no. 2, Paris 1966, p. 28.
  4. ↑ This rank has not existed since 1971.
  5. ↑ "Major" is not a rank, but the designation for the oldest sergeant rank of the battalion.

Web links