French Corps Francs.
As in WW1, each front line unit was required to form a Groupes Francs or Corps Francs; basically a commando unit, consisting of 30-40 volunteers. These units were used for patrolling in 'no-man's land' and as raiding parties to obtain intelligence.
As in WW1, each front line unit was required to form a Groupes Francs or Corps Francs; basically a commando unit, consisting of 30-40 volunteers. These units were used for patrolling in 'no-man's land' and as raiding parties to obtain intelligence.
When undertaking these duties, the men wore light field order, discarding items such as packs and gas masks. Often, but not always, membership of a corps francs unit was indicated by the wearing of a blue star on the upper left sleeve. In addition to standard weaponry such as the MAS 36, M16 carbine and the FM24/29 being used, the MAS38 and the 9mm Erma-Vollmer sub-machine guns and even shotguns were also in evidence. These latter weapons were considered particularly useful in the close-quarter fighting that could be expected whilst on patrol.
The photographs here show firstly, a Corps Francs member dressed in the 1938 pattern, five-button, veste-bourgeron. This was worn as an additional layer of protection over the top of a regulation jumper or vareuse and was made from a cotton twill fabric. The trousers were made from the same fabric and were also loose-fitting, with the intention that they be worn over the regular uniform trousers. The standard M26 Adrian helmet has a cotton cover to aid camouflage. This soldier carries OF and F1 grenades and an FM24/29 magazine haversack stuffed with additional grenades. The ammunition pouches and webbing are the 1916 pattern.
The second uniform depicted consists merely of the M36 woollen jumper with collar, an M35 helmet with infantry / motorised infantry badge, belt-mounted M37 ammunition pouches without suspenders and the ANP31 gas mask haversack. There are many photographs taken in the Autumn of 1939 and late Spring of 1940 showing Corps Francs in this version of light field order.
The second uniform depicted consists merely of the M36 woollen jumper with collar, an M35 helmet with infantry / motorised infantry badge, belt-mounted M37 ammunition pouches without suspenders and the ANP31 gas mask haversack. There are many photographs taken in the Autumn of 1939 and late Spring of 1940 showing Corps Francs in this version of light field order.