Militaria Publishing House. 528 pages, approximately 1,000 photographs and illustrations, hardbound in linen with dust jacket. Format: 29.5 x 26.0 cm.

With more than 500 original artifacts, this illustrated volume presents for the first time the appearance of the French Army at the outbreak of the First World War, specifically at the time of mobilization in August 1914. Approximately 1,000 photographs across 528 pages provide the reader with a vivid impression of the various headgear, uniforms, and items of clothing and equipment, including cavalry equipment (saddlery). The original artifacts illustrated in this volume are drawn from the Musée de l'Armée in Paris and Salon-de-Provence (L'Empérie) and are supplemented by major public and private collections. The majority of the artifacts are presented to the public for the first time. All of this provides a well-structured and authentic picture of the French Army at the beginning of the war and during the initial engagements in the Battle of the Marne. With more than 300 carefully selected black-and-white photographs and ten contemporary original color photographs (“autochromes”), the reader gains a realistic impression of the appearance of the French Army in the Belle Époque. The volume demonstrates to the reader the colorfulness of the French Army at the beginning of the war in Europe, supplemented by the traditions of African and Arab units and their influence on uniforms. The orientally inspired dress of L'Armée d'Afrique, the uniforms of the Foreign Legion and colonial troops, and elegant officers' attire reflect both the fashions of the era and the prestige of military dress. The complete equipment of a colonial soldier before 1914—from his kepi to his knife—in nearly mint condition, each individual item stamped with the personal service number of the soldier, lends these objects a human and emotional dimension. The large number of artifacts available makes it possible to produce a second volume covering the period from the end of 1914 until 1918. It will present the extraordinary development of uniforms during the war and especially the introduction of the horizon-blue uniform which became so characteristic of the French soldier during the Battle of Verdun. This volume will also feature the personal uniforms and items of equipment of famous personalities and officers up to the rank of field marshal.

For deliveries to non-European countries, increased shipping costs may apply. We request consultation. Pour les livraisons dans des pays non européens, des frais d'expédition plus élevés peuvent s'appliquer. Nous demandons une consultation.

296466

€ 99,00

Laurent Mirouze, Stéphane Dekerle: The French Army in the First World War – to battle 1914

This monumental work by Laurent Mirouze and Stéphane Dekerle represents an unprecedented documentation of the French Army at the outbreak of the First World War. With over 500 original artifacts and approximately 1,000 photographs spanning 528 pages, this book offers an unparalleled glimpse into the equipment, uniforms, and appearance of French forces at the crucial moment of mobilization in August 1914.

The French Army entered World War I wearing uniforms that today symbolize the contrast between military tradition and modern warfare. The distinctive red trousers (pantalon garance) and dark blue tunics represented a continuity reaching back to Napoleonic times. This colorful dress, worn in the battles of 1914, proved fatal in an era when machine guns and modern artillery dominated the battlefield. The bright colors made French soldiers easy targets and contributed to the devastating casualties of the war's opening months.

The book documents not only the standard uniforms of the infantry but also the extraordinary diversity of French forces. Particularly noteworthy is the presentation of L'Armée d'Afrique, those troops stationed in North Africa whose uniforms displayed oriental influences. The Zouaves, Turcos (Algerian Tirailleurs), and Spahis wore colorful uniforms inspired by North African and Oriental traditions. The Zouaves were especially known for their baggy red trousers, short blue jackets, and characteristic fez or chéchia.

The Foreign Legion (Légion Étrangère), another formation extensively covered in the book, wore its own distinctive uniform with the famous white képi blanc, though this was not yet standardized at the war's beginning. In 1914, legionnaires still wore the same blue tunics and red trousers as regular infantry, supplemented by specific insignia and traditions.

A particular value of this book lies in its documentation of complete equipment sets. The French infantry of 1914 carried the Modèle 1893 leather equipment, consisting of cartridge pouches, haversack, water bottle, and knapsack. Armament included the Lebel rifle Modèle 1886, the first smokeless powder rifle adopted by a European army on a large scale. The characteristic bayonet with its long, narrow blade was another distinguishing feature of the French soldier.

The cavalry receives particularly detailed treatment in the book, including saddles and harnesses. In 1914, France still maintained significant cavalry forces, including Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Chasseurs à cheval, and the aforementioned Spahis. The Cuirassiers still wore their traditional steel cuirasses (breastplates), which proved largely ineffective against modern projectiles.

The Autochrome photographs included in the book are of inestimable historical value. The Autochrome process, developed in 1903 by the Lumière brothers, was the first practical color photography process. These early color images convey an authentic picture of the actual colors and appearance of French troops—something black and white photographs can never achieve.

The Battle of the Marne (September 1914), which serves as the book's temporal endpoint, was the war's first major turning point. The French Army, still in its traditional uniforms, helped stop the German advance on Paris. The terrible losses of these first war months—France suffered approximately 75,000 dead in August 1914 alone—led to radical rethinking regarding uniforms and tactics.

Artifacts from the Musée de l'Armée in Paris and the museum in Salon-de-Provence (L'Empérie) form the collection's core. Many of these objects are being presented to the public for the first time. Particularly moving is the example of a colonial soldier's complete equipment, where every single piece bears the soldier's personal registration number—a poignant reminder that behind every artifact lies an individual human fate.

The announced second volume will document the dramatic transformation of French uniforming, particularly the introduction of the horizon blue (bleu horizon) uniform from late 1914 and its standardization in 1915. This new uniform, in a light grey-blue color, would become the symbol of the French Poilu and was worn throughout the Battle of Verdun (1916) and until war's end. This development represents a fundamental shift in military thinking—the acceptance that camouflage and practical considerations were more important than traditional display.

The book also extensively covers officers' uniforms, which displayed considerably more variety and elegance than those of enlisted men. Officers typically wore tailored uniforms of superior quality, often from private tailors, and carried distinctive equipment including swords, map cases, and binoculars. The képi, the distinctive French military cap, varied significantly in quality and decoration between ranks.

Colonial troops receive special attention, reflecting their significant role in French military planning. Units from Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria brought not only different uniform traditions but also different tactical doctrines and esprit de corps. The Tirailleurs Sénégalais, despite their name, were recruited from throughout French West Africa and wore distinctive uniforms that set them apart from metropolitan troops.

The comprehensive treatment of equipment extends to the minutiae of military life: mess tins, personal hygiene items, writing materials, and the myriad small objects that soldiers carried. This attention to detail makes the book invaluable not only for military historians but also for researchers studying material culture and daily life in the early twentieth century.