3e RMZT
The 3rd Regiment Zouaves and Tirailleurs were members of the 45th Infantry Division, 91st Brigade. The regiment was the successor to the 1st Regiment of Zouaves.
At mement the date of the creation of the unit is documented in two different sources as being two different dates...one in '15 and one in '17...we are still trying decipher the documentation.
At mement the date of the creation of the unit is documented in two different sources as being two different dates...one in '15 and one in '17...we are still trying decipher the documentation.
Tirailleurs or Turcos
There were two distinct types of soldiers that made up the RMZT regiments; zouaves and Tiraillerus, the former being primarily from mainland France and the later coming from the French states of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. This made the RMZT regiments very ethnically diverse. The Tirailleurs alone consisted of French citizens, ranging from white europeans living in the French colonies to individuals of North African decent.
Recruitment was generally voluntary, although a selective form of conscription was introduced in Algeria in 1913 and continued until the end of French rule in North Africa. During the Crimean War, the tirailleurs acquired the nickname of "Turcos" (Turks) by which they were widely known over the next hundred years. The name reportedly arose from comparisons between the Tirailleur troops and the Turkish allies serving alongside the French and British forces at the siege of Sebastopol.
These men had a very rich military history. France couldn't have ever asked for a more dedicated group of soldiers. Throughout their history the Tirailleurs fought with bravery and tenacity that has been unrivaled throughout world history. First raised in 1841 as battalions of tirailleurs indigenes, the locally recruited Algerian infantry were organised into three regiments of Algerian Tirailleurs by a decree dated 10 October 1855 (during the Second French Empire). They fought with distincting in every campaign from that date trough WWI. The Algerian tirailleurs served with great distinction in the Crimean War, the Franco-Austrian War (Italian campaign of 1859), the French Intervention in Mexico and the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), as well as in various French colonial campaigns in Tunisia, Indochina, Morocco, Madagascar and Algeria itself.
2,800 Algerian Tirailleurs fought in the Crimean War... More than 1,000 of them never returned to Algeria.
The Algerians confirmed their fighting reputation during the war against Austria in 1859, especially at the bloody battles of Magenta and Solferino. A provisional regiment composed of 1,100 Algerian tirailleurs fought for the duration of the war... This regiment lost 44 officers and 587 men in two months.
This was followed by the Franco Prussian war. There the Algerian Tirailleurs fought with incredible courage and tenacity against the German invaders and paid a high price for fighting with such courage. Fighting with an almost fanatical courage, the Turcos fought to the last man.
An example of their undaunting courage was their performance during the Battle of Wörth/Froeschwiller. The 2nd Tirailleurs Algeriens suffered 93% casualties! Colonel Pierre Suzzoni's 2nd Algerian Tirailleur regiment held the wooden salient below Froeschwiller against the best efforts of two German Corps, the Algerians simply would not yield. "We will all die here, if need be", Colonel Suzzoni had told his men in the morning, and most of them did. With 2,900 troops in the morning, the Algerians were reduced to a rump of 250 by the afternoon, enclosed, as one tirailleur put it, "in a circle of iron and fire." Suzzoni himself was killed by a shell splinter at 2:30 in the afternoon as were most of his officers. (The Franco-Prussian War - The German conquest of France in 1870-1871 by Geoffrey Wawro, page 131)
Recruitment was generally voluntary, although a selective form of conscription was introduced in Algeria in 1913 and continued until the end of French rule in North Africa. During the Crimean War, the tirailleurs acquired the nickname of "Turcos" (Turks) by which they were widely known over the next hundred years. The name reportedly arose from comparisons between the Tirailleur troops and the Turkish allies serving alongside the French and British forces at the siege of Sebastopol.
These men had a very rich military history. France couldn't have ever asked for a more dedicated group of soldiers. Throughout their history the Tirailleurs fought with bravery and tenacity that has been unrivaled throughout world history. First raised in 1841 as battalions of tirailleurs indigenes, the locally recruited Algerian infantry were organised into three regiments of Algerian Tirailleurs by a decree dated 10 October 1855 (during the Second French Empire). They fought with distincting in every campaign from that date trough WWI. The Algerian tirailleurs served with great distinction in the Crimean War, the Franco-Austrian War (Italian campaign of 1859), the French Intervention in Mexico and the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), as well as in various French colonial campaigns in Tunisia, Indochina, Morocco, Madagascar and Algeria itself.
2,800 Algerian Tirailleurs fought in the Crimean War... More than 1,000 of them never returned to Algeria.
The Algerians confirmed their fighting reputation during the war against Austria in 1859, especially at the bloody battles of Magenta and Solferino. A provisional regiment composed of 1,100 Algerian tirailleurs fought for the duration of the war... This regiment lost 44 officers and 587 men in two months.
This was followed by the Franco Prussian war. There the Algerian Tirailleurs fought with incredible courage and tenacity against the German invaders and paid a high price for fighting with such courage. Fighting with an almost fanatical courage, the Turcos fought to the last man.
An example of their undaunting courage was their performance during the Battle of Wörth/Froeschwiller. The 2nd Tirailleurs Algeriens suffered 93% casualties! Colonel Pierre Suzzoni's 2nd Algerian Tirailleur regiment held the wooden salient below Froeschwiller against the best efforts of two German Corps, the Algerians simply would not yield. "We will all die here, if need be", Colonel Suzzoni had told his men in the morning, and most of them did. With 2,900 troops in the morning, the Algerians were reduced to a rump of 250 by the afternoon, enclosed, as one tirailleur put it, "in a circle of iron and fire." Suzzoni himself was killed by a shell splinter at 2:30 in the afternoon as were most of his officers. (The Franco-Prussian War - The German conquest of France in 1870-1871 by Geoffrey Wawro, page 131)
Their next large scale engagement was to be the Great War. Not much changed for the Turcos in 1914 as mobilization began. The 1914 uniform and equipment was almost identical to the 1870 gear.
Regiments of North African Tirailleurs are, together with regiments of Zouaves, among the most decorated regiments in the French Army during the war, just after the Colonial Infantry Regiment of Moroccan and the Foreign Legion March Regiment.
Regiments of North African Tirailleurs are, together with regiments of Zouaves, among the most decorated regiments in the French Army during the war, just after the Colonial Infantry Regiment of Moroccan and the Foreign Legion March Regiment.
Tiraileur unforms at the start of the Great War (WWI)
Zouaves
The history of the Zouaves is a fascinating and romantic adventure. From their creation in the deserts of Algeria in 1830 to the fields of the Marne in 1914, the Zouaves embodied the color, romance and allure of the French army and its exploits in North Africa.
The regiments of Zouaves saw combat in every theater of war in which the French army fought, always gaining more laurels and adding to the glory and mystique.
Corps Militaire
The Zouaves can trace their lineage to same decree which created the other famous French regiment from North Africa- the Foreign Legion. Formed initially in August 1830 as a loose grouping of volunteers, the Zouaves were first organized into a "corps militaire” by order of the French Governor of Algeria, Clauzel, in September 1830. This “corps militaire” was comprised of a polyglot of peoples; French "volunteers of the Chart", Spanish, Arab, Berber, etc. Of the indigenous peoples the most numerous and most warlike were the zouaoua of the conféderation des zouaoua. This confederation of Berber tribesmen resided in a region known as the Grand Kabylie, of Djurara Mountains. The zouaoua had sold their services to the Deys of Algeria for centuries and now offered them to the French.
The regiments of Zouaves saw combat in every theater of war in which the French army fought, always gaining more laurels and adding to the glory and mystique.
Corps Militaire
The Zouaves can trace their lineage to same decree which created the other famous French regiment from North Africa- the Foreign Legion. Formed initially in August 1830 as a loose grouping of volunteers, the Zouaves were first organized into a "corps militaire” by order of the French Governor of Algeria, Clauzel, in September 1830. This “corps militaire” was comprised of a polyglot of peoples; French "volunteers of the Chart", Spanish, Arab, Berber, etc. Of the indigenous peoples the most numerous and most warlike were the zouaoua of the conféderation des zouaoua. This confederation of Berber tribesmen resided in a region known as the Grand Kabylie, of Djurara Mountains. The zouaoua had sold their services to the Deys of Algeria for centuries and now offered them to the French.
Corps des Zouaves
The zouaoua name would be basis for the name of this new corps. Shortened and made more French, the word Zouave was first officially used in the Royal Decree 31 March, 1831. This ordinance authorized the formation of the “corps des zouaves” of 2 battalions. As exotic as the name sounds, the Zouaves were already predominantly French. The two battalions of the corps des zouaves were organized each with 10 companies; 8 companies were French, 2 indigenous. By 1833 the 2 indigenous companies were to have 12 French soldiers to act as NCOS.
The baptism of fire for the corps des zouaves was the battle of Mouzaia, 21 November 1831. And from this point the names and battles are as exotic as they are obscure; Médéa, Zaatcha, the Seige of Constantine, Milianah, etc. The performance of the corps de zouaves was such that a 3rd battalion was raised in November 1837. The battalions were posted in the three provinces of Algeria; the 1st battalion Alger, the 2nd Battalion Oran and the 3rd Battalion Constantine.
Régiment de Zouaves
The Royal Ordinance of 8 September, 1841 authorized a regimental-headquarters (états- major) for the corps des zouaves and thus the Regiment of Zouaves was created and brought simultaneously into the normal French army command. It still retained three battalions but now of 9 companies. This new organization saw two further steps to the Zouaves becoming a uniquely French regiment. First, the 8th company would be the only company which allowed indigenous soldiers; and all NCOs were to be French. The second step towards a purely French Zouave regiment was the organization of a new corps which was to recruit specifically among the indigenous peoples who had formally joined the Zouaves; the new corps was named Tirailleurs Algériens. The Tirailleurs were created as a "special corps of infantry where the French make a portion in the role of officers and non-commissioned officers". In time, all native troops would be moved the Tirailleurs Algériens and the Zouaves would cease to recruit among indigenous people.
The three battalions continued to be stationed in the 3 provinces of Algeria.
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The zouaoua name would be basis for the name of this new corps. Shortened and made more French, the word Zouave was first officially used in the Royal Decree 31 March, 1831. This ordinance authorized the formation of the “corps des zouaves” of 2 battalions. As exotic as the name sounds, the Zouaves were already predominantly French. The two battalions of the corps des zouaves were organized each with 10 companies; 8 companies were French, 2 indigenous. By 1833 the 2 indigenous companies were to have 12 French soldiers to act as NCOS.
The baptism of fire for the corps des zouaves was the battle of Mouzaia, 21 November 1831. And from this point the names and battles are as exotic as they are obscure; Médéa, Zaatcha, the Seige of Constantine, Milianah, etc. The performance of the corps de zouaves was such that a 3rd battalion was raised in November 1837. The battalions were posted in the three provinces of Algeria; the 1st battalion Alger, the 2nd Battalion Oran and the 3rd Battalion Constantine.
Régiment de Zouaves
The Royal Ordinance of 8 September, 1841 authorized a regimental-headquarters (états- major) for the corps des zouaves and thus the Regiment of Zouaves was created and brought simultaneously into the normal French army command. It still retained three battalions but now of 9 companies. This new organization saw two further steps to the Zouaves becoming a uniquely French regiment. First, the 8th company would be the only company which allowed indigenous soldiers; and all NCOs were to be French. The second step towards a purely French Zouave regiment was the organization of a new corps which was to recruit specifically among the indigenous peoples who had formally joined the Zouaves; the new corps was named Tirailleurs Algériens. The Tirailleurs were created as a "special corps of infantry where the French make a portion in the role of officers and non-commissioned officers". In time, all native troops would be moved the Tirailleurs Algériens and the Zouaves would cease to recruit among indigenous people.
The three battalions continued to be stationed in the 3 provinces of Algeria.
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Régiments de Zouaves
On 13 February, 1852 the Régiment de Zouaves was disbanded and each of the three battalions was to form the core of a new regiment. These new regiments would remain in the provinces of the original battalions. The 1re bataillon became the 1re Régiment de Zouaves in Alger; the 2e bataillon became the 2e Régiment de Zouaves in Oran and the 3e bataillon became the 3e Régiment de Zouaves in Constantine.
Zouaves de la Garde Impériale
By the decree of 1 May, 1854 a regiment of Régiment de Zouaves de la Garde Impériale was created. This regiment would exist until the Franco-Prussian war when, with the fall of Napoleon III, the regiment would be disbanded and re-formed as the 4e Régiment de Zouaves
On 13 February, 1852 the Régiment de Zouaves was disbanded and each of the three battalions was to form the core of a new regiment. These new regiments would remain in the provinces of the original battalions. The 1re bataillon became the 1re Régiment de Zouaves in Alger; the 2e bataillon became the 2e Régiment de Zouaves in Oran and the 3e bataillon became the 3e Régiment de Zouaves in Constantine.
Zouaves de la Garde Impériale
By the decree of 1 May, 1854 a regiment of Régiment de Zouaves de la Garde Impériale was created. This regiment would exist until the Franco-Prussian war when, with the fall of Napoleon III, the regiment would be disbanded and re-formed as the 4e Régiment de Zouaves
