Figure 1.--The Tirailleurs Sénégalais were an important corps of the French colonial troops. We have several photos and postcards of them, also in private scenes. This postcards of a Tirailleur with his fa,o;y is imdated, but was probably taken about the time of World War I. They appear to be Senegalese, but the term Tirailleurs Sénégalais was a generic term used for all French colonial soldiers from Sub-Saharan colonies.

Senegal of all of France's colonies played an important role in the War. The French Army was fortified with the manpower of its colonies which contributed nearly 0.5 million men, helping to narrow the German manpower advantage. The most important part of what became known as the Force Noire was the Senegalese Tirailleurs. At the time of World War I they were aellestablished corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. They were first recruited from Senegal in French West Africa. Eventually they were recruited in other French African colonies. The term tirailleur translates variously as 'skirmisher' or 'sharpshooter', but was more of a generl term for colonial rifleman or infantry soldier. Although recruitment was not limited to Senegal, the Tirailleurs units took on the permannt adjective "sénégalais" since that was where the first black African Tirailleur regiment the French formed. The French first formed a Senegalese Tirailleur unit as they began colonize sub-Saharan colonies (1857). They served not only as a colonial security force, but used by the French in a number of wars, including World War I. The French introduced military conscription to French West Africa just before World War I (1912). The plan was to use colonial troops which were less expensive to recruit, would eventually take over the garrisoning of the colonies. Thiswould not only save money, but in emergencies would release French troops for service in Europe. The colonial troops could also augment French forces in Europe if necessary, although before the War broke out the French High Command did not undrstand just how important this would ve. The French conscription decree mandated compulsory military service for all African males between the ages of 20 and 28 years. The Force Noire was raised in West and Central Africa, especially in Senegal. Blacks from Sub-Saharan Africa contrinuted over 0.21 million men. The diference in climate exposed these men to European diseases and they died in higher numbers due to illness after deployment to the Western Front. Over half of the Fotce Noir (0.14 million) merre committed to Europe, primrily the western Froint. About 30,000 of these men were killed. Other Tirailleur regiments were raised in French North Africa from the Arab and Berber populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. They were variously killed Tirailleurs nord-africains or Turcos. Tirailleur regiments were also raised in Indochina, they were called Vietnamese, Tonkinese or Annamites Tirailleurs. French military policy towards the use of African troops in Europe changed out of necesity after the first few months of combat in World War I. The French high command realized that the War was not going to a short war of movement, but a protracted war of attrition (1915). As a result, France launched a major recruitment drive in its colonies, focusing on West Africa. They eventually raised 93 Senegalese battalions (1915-18). Of these 42 were commited to the Western Front in France. The French practive was combine battalions of white Colonial Infantry and African Tirailleurs into mixed 'regiments de marche'. The French found that the harsh conditions of trench warfarem especially during the winter, has a dispropriate impact on the un-acclimatized African soldiers. So the French began withdrawing the African soldiers to the south of France for training and re-equipping each winter. The arrangement yieldd benefits. The Force Noir suffere heavy losses in almost every major battle of the Western Front, few of which ere fouhght duriung the winter. Despite the losses, the discipline and morale of the Force Noir never waivered throughout the War. Another 0.18 men Africans and Indiochina provided labor needed by the war-time economy. Colonial troops, especially the Tirailleurs Senegalis also helped maintain French control of Indochina and Morocco. After the war they were used in the occupation of the Rhineland which the Germans considered to be a great insult. This lead to what the Germans called the Rhineland Bastards which the NAZIs picked up on in their rise to power.

Created: 6:51 AM 6/11/2017
Last updated: 6:52 AM 6/11/2017