French colonial troops in 1940?

[Kelvin]

Was it true over 80,000 West Afrian troop fought in 1940 ?

[Loïc]

if they "fought" all I don't know, the total of black Africans serving in the French Army in Metropolitan France and Overseas seems to reach ~120 000 men

[fraserk]

Hi All

I am getting the impression that the make up of French forces in 1940 were quite mixed up. So a 'Colonial' division would contain 'white' regiments, and a colonial regiment may contain white and colonial companies.

Is this the case?

how would I find out more about the make up of these units?

[Bronsky]

if they "fought" all I don't know, the total of black Africans serving in the French Army in Metropolitan France and Overseas seems to reach ~120 000 men

As of 1 April 1940, non-North African colonial troops numbered 259,453 of which 194,000 in the colonies, 8,400 in Lebanon-Syria, 31,000 in North Africa a,d 26,000 in France (11,000 in combat units, the rest in rear-area formations).

[Loïc]

thanks Bronsky for these figures

I am getting the impression that the make up of French forces in 1940 were quite mixed up. So a 'Colonial' division would contain 'white' regiments, and a colonial regiment may contain white and colonial companies.

Is this the case?

"Colonial Infantry" was the name of the Marine Infantry since 1901 only French citizens (metropolitan or people from the "Old Colonies" : West Indies Guyane Réunion) served in these units, the indigenous served with the Senegalese or Indochinese Tirailleurs Regiments or Battalions
it is true that during the Great War some RIC had indigenous battalions or even indigenous companies inside French Battalions

in 1939-1940 with the Regiments of the Colonial Divisions stationned in France :

-the "RIC" Colonial Infantry Regiments : French stock, "white" "european" if you want but don't forget that blacks whites or mulattos from the "Old Colonies" were French citizens too and can serve too in the RIC

-the "RTS" Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiments : basically indigenous (from black Africa) units with French officers and NCO's and a small number of French soldiers
according to Lee Sharp The French Army 1939-1940 Volume V Anti-Aircrat Cavalry & Colonial Units
a RTS had 81 French and 3 Indigenous Officers, 324 French and 49 Indigenous NCO's, 176 French and 139 Indigenous Corporals, 761 French and 1592 Indigenous soldiers

-the "RICMS" Senegalese Mixed Colonial Infantry Regiments : created during the spring 1940 by the replacement in some RIC of 2 Battalions by 2 black Africans Tirailleurs Battalions, similar to these RIC of the Great War with 2 Indigenous Battalions and one "European" Battalion

-case of the 42nd and 52nd Colonial Machine-Gun Half-Brigade, raised with the nucleus of the 42nd Malagasy and 52nd Indochinese Machine-Gun Battalions mixed with French reservists, each Half-Brigade had 80 % of French soldiers and 20 % Indigenous (Malagasy in the 42nd, Indochinese in the 52nd)

-Malagasy soldiers were sent in some Colonial Artillery Regiments or Engineer Battalions & Auxiliary Companies

Regards

[fraserk]

Amazing - I am finding it so hard to get a clear picture of the make up of a 'Colonial' Division or Regiment, and I can see now that it is all mixed up.