Figure 1.--Here we see a French postcard of an unidentified Tirailleurs Sénégalais. We do not know the country, but it is clarly in a tropical raea, it looks like along a coast. This is how the Tirailleurs Sénégalais weree unifirmed in Africa into the early-20th century with barefoot troops. Also note the cap. There were different caops, but this waa common. Notice that he is seving with his family in the compound. A reader writes, "This may loo looks a bit strange from a Wstern European perspective, but there are other photos showing similar situations. I think there might be an explanation, but I cannot be positive. Due to custom and culture, it would have been very difficult for a married man to stay away from his wife for a extended period. Perhaps this could have led to a search for another partner. To avoid worse consequences, it might have been better for the soldiers to have their families (wives and young children) with them." We suspect that the soldietrs were not short term enlistees, but the Army was a long terrm career choice.

Tirailleurs sénégalais were not all from Senegal. This was was the name given to all West and Central African regiments, essentially most Black Africans serving in the French army. Affrica was the major area of French colonial expansion. The term was used because Senegal was the first French colony in Sub-Saharan Africa. They were one of the larger French colonial units. In the 19th century these troops in Africa often went barefoot which was fairly standard in Africa at the time. Meaning that they largely retained thaeir African culture even while serving un the Frech Army. Of course when World War I broke out in Europe and they were transported to France, there was more exposure to French culture. During World War I, they were uniformed like other French soldiers when serving in France. French commanders rporterdly ommonly used them as shock troops. It is not entirely clear why. It may have been because the French wanted to limit casualties of white Frenchmen or the French saw Africans as more barbaric and this more adept at brutal hand to hand fighting. Perhaps a little of both. A major problen in World War I was the cold winter weather in the trenches of northerv France. Conditions the Africans were not acusuomed to growing uopmin tropical Africa. Inevitably some were captured by the Germans. We do not know if they were treated differently than white French POWs. When American units began arriving in France (1917), General Pershing was unsure how to use the segregated African American units. Some were turned over to the French because of their experience with Tirailleurs sénégalais. Others like the Harlem Hell Fighters fought as a proud part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The depleted French Army was more than happy to have African Americans. We believe they fought with white French officers. There may have been Black junior officers as in the AEF. Service in France was a cross-cultural experience for both the French and Africans as ell as the African Americans. There were incidents of racism, but also a spirit of toleration and mutual acceptance. It was part of the reason that Josephine Baker was such a sensation in France. Meaning the French attitude toward African soldiers was very different than American attitudes. World War I occured during a period of heightened racism in the United States and the Great Migration from the rural South to the urban North was beginning. The Africans did no suffer the post-War malaise that France did because of the huge casualties. his was because the Tirailleurs sénégalais and other colonial formations were a relatively small part of the French Army. After World War I, the Tirailleurs sénégalais were used as part of the French occupation forces in Germany which was deeply resented in Germany with the creation of what the Germans called the Rhineland Bastards. When the Germans invaded France in World War II (1940), large numbers of Tirailleurs sénégalais were captured. In the NAZIfied World War II Army, the Germans murdered many if not most, a poorly reported German war crime. Vichy to its shame made no effort to protect these men who were serving to save France.

Sub-Saharan African Colonies

France had contacts eithb Senegal dating back to the hight medieval era (th century). A primaru inyerest was ivory (14th century). European ciountrus did not at first stblish colonis, but raher coastal trafing posts. Freater interest began ih Drench acuisition of French sugar islands in the Caribbean and rise of the slave trade (17th cntury). France founded St. Louis (1659) and then seized the island of Gorée from the Dutch (1677). Gorée became a major prt od the Trans-Alantuic slave trade. Britasin dring the Napoleonic Wars captured Gorée (1803) and Saint-Louis (1809). This was an early step in the British camopaign o end the Atkantic Skave Trade begun (1807). The French had to commit to this if they wanted St. Louis and Gorée back. France began the actual colonization with the Franco-Trarzan War of (1825). This was an erly step in building the Second French Empire. It was an effort to establish control of the mouth of the Senegal river form the Aftrcan satte of Trarza. France began a firmal campaign to create a colonyn in Senegl (1850s). The first Senegalese Tirailleurs were formed in 1857 Early on the French begn using Africans from Senegal in its naval and military in a klrge ad hoc manner. Thid began an official policy with the first Senegalese Tirailleurs unit (1857). The first Senegalese Tirailleurs were recruited in Senegal, but as France expanded its empire, Tirailleurs sénégalais were recruited from other colonies in Wast and Central Africa. It became the name given to all West and Central African regiments, essentially most Black Africans serving in the French army. Affrica was the major area of French colonial expansion. The term was used because Senegal was the first French colony in Sub-Saharan Africa. They were one of the larger French colonial units. In the 19th century these troops in Africa often went barefoot which was fairly standard in Africa at the time. Meaning that they largely retained their African culture even while serving in the French Army.

North Africa

The Tirailleurs Sénégalais were primaily used as ascurity force in Frances Sub-Sagaran colonies in West and Central Africa. The Arab areas of North Africa were more restive, The most imprtant opf gthee colonies was Algerai. Morocco becan incursiins in Morocvom (1907), but the country became a protectorate with the Treaty of Fez (1912). German oppositiin resulted in a pre World ar Incident. The Arab areas were more restive than the Sub-Sasharan areas of the Empire. The Tirailleurs Sénégalais were thus used as part of the French security forces ouside of the areas where gthey were recruited..

World War I

Of course when World War I broke out in Europe and they were transported to France, there was more exposure to French culture. During World War I, they were uniformed like other French soldiers when serving in France. French commanders rporterdly ommonly used them as shock troops. It is not entirely clear why. It may have been because the French wanted to limit casualties of white Frenchmen or the French saw Africans as more barbaric and this more adept at brutal hand to hand fighting. Perhaps a little of both. A major problen in World War I was the cold winter weather in the trenches of northerv France. Conditions the Africans were not acusuomed to growing uopmin tropical Africa. Inevitably some were captured by the Germans. We do not know if they were treated differently than white French POWs. When American units began arriving in France (1917), General Pershing was unsure how to use the segregated African American units. Some were turned over to the French because of their experience with Tirailleurs sénégalais. Others like the Harlem Hell Fighters fought as a proud part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The depleted French Army was more than happy to have African Americans. We believe they fought with white French officers. There may have been Black junior officers as in the AEF. Service in France was a cross-cultural experience for both the French and Africans as ell as the African Americans. There were incidents of racism, but also a spirit of toleration and mutual acceptance. It was part of the reason that Josephine Baker was such a sensation in France. Meaning the French attitude toward African soldiers was very different than American attitudes. World War I occured during a period of heightened racism in the United States and the Great Migration from the rural South to the urban North was beginning.

Inter-War Era

The Africans did no suffer the post-War malaise that France did because of the huge casualties. his was because the Tirailleurs sénégalais and other colonial formations were a relatively small part of the French Army. After World War I, the Tirailleurs sénégalais were used as part of the French occupation forces in Germany which was deeply resented in Germany with the creation of what the Germans called the Rhineland Bastards.

World War II

When the Germans invaded France in World War II (1940), large numbers of Tirailleurs sénégalais were captured. In the NAZIfied World War II Army, the Germans murdered many if not most, a poorly reported German war crime. Vichy to its shame made no effort to protect these men who were serving to save France.

Created: 6:54 AM 8/19/2024
Last updated: 7:56 AM 8/25/2024