Zouaves

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Zouaves prisoners of war in World War I under German guard

The members of historical infantry units called themselves Zouaves . The name comes from the Kabyle tribe of Zuauas in the district Zuaua (Zuavia) in the Algerian province of Constantine back, already in the days of the Ottoman Empire mercenaries presented, who were famous for their bravery.

history

At the beginning of the conquest of Algeria , France set up a Corps des Zouaves on October 1, 1830 , under the command of General Bertrand Clausel . The term Zuave was soon used generally to refer to mercenaries recruited in North Africa. The Zouaves wore eye-catching uniforms based on Turkish-Oriental costumes.

During the Crimean War , Zouave regiments distinguished themselves in the battles of Alma , Inkerman and Malakoff and established the legendary reputation of these units.

The Zouaves developed into a regular infantry force of the French army with an elite character from the middle of the 19th century. A large part of the conscripted European residents of French North Africa were drafted into the Zouave regiments , but also French from the mother country. As a result of Algerian independence, the last Zouave units were disbanded in 1963.

Zouave regiments from other states

At times, other countries saw themselves compelled to set up Zouave units, which, however, did not consist of North Africans, but merely adopted the colorful costumes of the French models. The Union states as well as the Confederates established various Zouave regiments in the American Civil War ; Corresponding troops were also in Brazil , the Papal States and Turkey .

Others

In Paris, Georges Diebolt created the sculpture of the Zouave of the Pont de l'Alma .

photos

literature

  • Michael Solka, MA: The Zouaves in the American Civil War. American Studies, 2003, ISBN 3-89510-089-7 .

Web links

Commons : Zuaves  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Zuave  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Entry Zuaven in: Wilhelm Rustow: Military Handbook , Second Volume, page 450. Zurich 1859 (Google Books)