"Francs Tireurs in the Franco Prussian War" Topic

Being a DBA/DBA-HX gamer I am able to do lots of armies, thus my many, many questions, and for so many different periods. I have just plunged into the Franco Prussian War and am having trouble understanding who the Francs Tireurs were and what their uniform was. DBA-HX shows them as Jagers in their army list.

From what I've been able to find, they were a sort of para-military force, and served more as guerrillas than as regulars. Also that the Prussians executed them when ever they captured them for being non-military.

I am using Essex figures and they make two versions of this guy, one with a kind of slouch hat turned up on one side, and the other in a kepi.

For uniforms I am at a complete loss. I have checked the NY Library site and it shows a few plates which I believe are supposed to be them, but they look nothing like the Essex figures.

Can anyone help me understand who these guys were and any uniform information on them.

Thanks,

Terry

Mostly they are the guys up against the wall. Think of an 1870 version of the Maquis (Underground).

From LoveToKnow 1911

FRANCS – TIREURS (" Free-Shooters"), irregular troops, almost exclusively infantry, employed by the French in the war of 1870-1871. They were originally rifle clubs or unofficial military societies formed in the east of France at the time of the Luxemburg crisis of 1867. The members were chiefly concerned with the practice of rifle-shooting, and were expected in war to act as light troops. As under the then system of conscription the greater part of the nation's military energy was allowed to run to waste, the francs-tireurs were not only popular, but efficient workers in their sphere of action. As they wore no uniforms, were armed with the best existing rifles and elected their own officers, the government made repeated attempts to bring the societies, which were at once a valuable asset to the armed strength of France and a possible menace to internal order, under military discipline. This was strenuously resisted by the societies, to their sorrow as it turned out, for the Germans treated captured francs-tireurs as irresponsible non-combatants found with arms in their hands and usually exacted the death penalty. In July 1870, at the outbreak of the war, the societies were brought under the control of the minister of war and organized for field service, but it was not until the 4th of November – by which time the levee en masse was in force – that they were placed under the orders of the generals in the field. After that they were sometimes organized in large bodies and incorporated in the mass of the armies, but more usually they continued to work in small bands, blowing up culverts on the invaders' lines of communication, cutting off small reconnoitring parties, surprising small posts, &c. It is now acknowledged, even by the Germans, that though the francs-tireurs did relatively little active mischief, they paralysed large detachments of the enemy, contested every step of his advance (as in the Loire campaign), and prevented him from gaining information, and that their soldierly qualities inproved with experience. Their most celebrated feats were the blowing up of the Moselle railway bridge at Fontenoy on the 22nd of January 1871 '(see' Les Chasseurs des Vosges by Lieut.-Colonel St Etienne, Toul, 1906), and the heroic defence of Chateaudun by Lipowski's Paris corps and the francs-tireurs of Cannes and Nantes (October 18, 1870). It cannot be denied that the original members of the rifle clubs were joined by many bad characters, but the patriotism of the majority was unquestionable, for little mercy was shown by the Germans to those francs-tireurs who fell into their hands. The severity of the German reprisals is itself the best testimony to the fear and anxiety inspired by the presence of active bands of francs-tireurs on the flanks and in rear of the invaders.

"DBA-HX shows them as Jagers in their army list."

You could treat them as jagers, but personally I'd use some HoTT definitions and model them as lurkers or sneakers.

There are some uniforms in the Osprey Franco-Prussian War book – they often wore some sort of uniform, often with a kepi and short jacket – the good thing is, you can sort of free-form it

The appropriate Osprey book is MAA 237, French Army 1870-71, Franco-Prussian War 2 Republican Troops.

link on page 10 of this listing.

Jim

You might need a knowledge of French for this link

There's this from the Irregular Catalogue link

Scroll down on this page to below the toy soldiers link

My own inclination is to go with a semi-uniform look on the principal that these were quasi-military clubs and would try to look uniform; say same jacket and a small range of hats, vary the trousers a bit.

Gentlemen, This is all absolutely excellent help! I am delighted and now can't wait to do these elements up. I do have the two Osprey booklets on the French in the war ordered and hope to have them shortly.

Martin, as it seems they were very much a guerrilla type force, I agree either take a HotT approach or at present I am more inclined to go with the DBN approach for guerrillas as they seem to blend very well with DBA-HX.

Gentlemen, my sincere thanks!

Terry

I received my copy of the Osprey book The French Army 1870-71, volume 2, and although little really on uniforms, it does give great insight into the Republic period army.

The last color plate shows a Franch-Tireur in a light gray jacket and trousers with apple green collar, cuffs and seam stripe on the trousers and the slouch hat. So that gives me one of my two elements. They also show one in a more typical looking French uniform in dark blue with a kepi so I will have to get some of them for the second element as Essex also makes this guy. And I am sure further effort will turn up some additional uniform possibilities.

This just keeps getting better and better!!! Thanks again all,

Terry

Terry

'Tradition'magazine also has some information. Back issues are available. Can't remember the UK store but I think google will find them.

Chad

I have two questions concerning the Franco Prussian War.

1. I have Bavarian infantry figures form different manufacturers. Some figures have a plume on the left side of the helmet, some figures do not. My question is: Did only the Jager battalions wear a plume (green) on the helmet or did line infantry also wear a plume on the left side of the helmet. If line infantry did wear the plume, what color was it? Was it in the regimental piping color?

2. I am painting some Baden infantry for the Franco Prussian War. There is a vague reference in the Franco Prussian War German troops Osprey book on the Baden infantry equipment being the same as the Prussian equipment.
I am painting some Baden infantry for the Franco Prussian War. There is a vague reference in the Franco Prussian War German troops Osprey book on the Baden infantry equipment being the same as the Prussian equipment.

Much like in the Napoleonic Wars, during the Franco Prussian War, Prussian infantry regiments had three battalions: two of musketeers (with white belts and harness) and one of fusiliers (with black belts and harness).

As I mentioned earlier, there is a vague reference in the Osprey Book on Baden infantry equipment being the same as the Prussian equipment. However, all the pictures I have seen of Baden infantry in the Franco Prussian War shows them with black belts and harness.

My question is this: During the Franco Prussian War, were the belts and harness of Baden infantry black, or did Baden infantry regiments, like the Prussians, field two battalions with white belts and harness and one battalion with black belts and harness?

Thanks.

You can email me at stahmassebi@nrahq.org

Chad47, Your tip is very exciting. I immediately did a search for a source for the old Tradition journals and managed to find them in London and they are winging their way to me as I type this post. I can't wait to get/see them. FYI for others who may want to seek this information there are several issues that cover the French army, and although I am not able to tell what the information is yet, journal 63-67 I believe (going from memory) cover the army in general, and Journal 72 has an article specific to the Franc-Tireur. That one will be devoured first when they come it!!!!! Many thanks Chad!!!!

I painted a decent sized quantity of Essex 15mm francs-tireurs using information from a couple of magazine articles and the Osprey book mentioned above. Between them I was able to depict several specific unit uniforms, and for the rest I used what seemed plausible colours based on the almost universal 'Austrian' style costume. I recall that at least one of the articles was from an issue of 'Practical Wargamer'. As noted above many units were ununiformed, so you could realistically use the LKM/Freikorp Communards, and some Communard units wore france-tireur style uniforms. If you also have Garde Nationale figures you can recreate the Commune of 1871.

Terry

No problem. Glad to help. I have all the issues you mention and found them very useful. There is also an article on the French Marines in one issue.

Chad

Henry, Sounds great. Do you have any pictures of your figures, as I'd love to see them! Any idea which issue of 'Practical Wargamer' the article was in, as I'd very much like to get a copy of it. Yes, I will be doing some Garde Natioinale, as DBA-HX gives two army lists one for the Imperial army and one for the Republic army, and I plan to do both.

I am not familiar with the LKM/Freikorp Communards. Who were they?

Chad, an article on the French Marines sounds useful too. Do you recall which issue?

I was looking through the L&H plates last night and there is one plate that shows a few Franc Tireur's and the one I keep seeing in a cream-white hat, jacket and trousers, one, which I also found a plate for on the NY Library site. They look more like ice cream salesmen than soldiers though!!! But might just have to do them anyway.

More thanks!!!

Terry

Terry

Not specifically, but it was after issue 64. Also in an issue after issue 67 there is an article on the Franc Tireur of the Army of the Vosges with 5-6 illustrations.

Sorry I can't be further help.

Best

Chad

Terry

I 'googled' the mag. Issue 72 for both articles

Chad

Chad, Thanks for the additional info. I am pursuing hte copy of Practical Gamer and hope to locate it.

Terry

Terry – I'll hunt around and get back to you if and when I find the mag(s).

Thanks Henry! I have not heard back from my enquiry so am at a dead end, and sure would like to get the info.

Terry

Eureka! There are two relevant issues of Practical Wargamer: Volume 12 numbers 1 and 6. The first has an article on Garibaldi's Army of the Vosges, which was in large part constituted from a heterogenous assortment of franc-tireur units, and was the formation I intended to represent when I bought my figures. The article includes uniform descriptions, colour plates and a full order of battle. Issue 6 has a more generalised article on franc-tireurs, and has some descriptions of specific uniforms quite adequate for figure painting purposes.

I hope you find the mags and find them useful.

Franc Tireurs during the FPW

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Franc tireurs des Deux-Sevres
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