"Battle for Corsica, Sept/Oct 1943" Topic

In link

Interesting link.

It is also a gold mine for early Free French and Goumiers uniforms equipment and weapons.

Cheers to all.

early Free French ?
for me early Free French are 1941-1942 :p
but it's a gold mine indeed

You're right Passajaire, I should rather say "transtional" as they did not already completly change uniforms by that time of the war and part of the Goumiers weapons are still obsolete french Berthier mixed with the second rank US weapons provided to the new french army(Springfield A3 rifles mostly, Thomson 1928s and Colt pistols. A Colt MG bandolier can also be seen at some moment.)
The 75mm Pak seen on the movie and captured during the fiercest fight of the campaign is now displayed as a trophie nearby of the Goumiers memorial.
link
Cheers.

I admit that I know almost nothing about this interesting, brief, successful invasion/campaign. I do look forward to learning a bit more …

"Transitional" is perhaps the right word. "Early" Free French were largely equipped with British kit, "late" Free French (post Tunisia campaign) were re-equipped by the US with American kit, but in both cases keeping what they could of the sparse French kit available to them as a means of retaining some identity.

From what I saw in the video these troops were former Armee d'Afrique forces. They were mostly equipped with French kit. Not only the rifles, but the uniforms, manteaux, etc., and of course the Goumiers in their distinctive garb. I only saw one British helmet in the whole video. Interestingly it seemed all the helmeted troops had Adrian helmets. I did not see a single colonial sun helmet.

At about 2:20 in the video a Stuart tank drives by. Interestingly this is clearly an M5 Stuart. Looking at the tank(s) in the vid, I did see what might be the markings of the 2eme Reg. de Cuirassiers. Was this unit on Corsica? Did they operate M5 Stuarts? It was my understanding that French armored units operating Stuarts were provided mostly with the M3A3 by the US.

And then at about 2:35 in the video we see a Russian ML-20 152mm howitzer! Well isn't THAT a surprise? I know that many Axis garrison units were provided with captured equipment, but that was usually the captured equipment that was considered sub-standard by comparison to German kit. I hardly expected to see this, surely a prized, valuable, and fairly uncommon gun in Axis hands, on Corsica.

All in all an interesting find.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

a very interesting series of films. worth watching till the end.

Hi Mark.

Very interesting comment.

The invasion of Corsica was not planned, but with the unexpected surrending of Italy, Italians providing the bulk of occupation forces in Corsica, both the local résistance and the french command in Algiers grabbed the opportunity.

At this point, occured a franco-french affair as the operation was conducted by general Giraud in Algiers who did not warn nor report to his alter ego by this time, general Degaulle in London….

Allies priority was Sicily and no transport, nor air support were allocated for the operation which was conducted with a few french destroyers and what was available …

The lead force was a commando unit, the 1st "Bataillon de Choc", followed by mountain troops from the 4th Morrocan mountain div, and later supported by M5 of the 2nd Spahis, as the comment of the movie says.

There were no english helmets, sorry … All the equipment of the Goum was given by the US, including the old 1917 helmets and trench knifes as you can see.

Goumiers had a special status. They were not french troops but moroccan troops, led by french officier, sort of gift of good will from Morocco to France. They were to form the core of the future and actual morroccan army.
All their US outfit and weapons (obsolete …) were a personal gift from presidant Roosvelt to the King of Marocco.

As you see, Mark, even images can induct to mistakes, but you are very right about the fact that at this point of the war, US was starting to provide the French with all their equipments and weapons.

Traditional headgears, as you noted, tended to remain french all the war long, mostly for purpose of national pride, with képis, calots (sercvice caps) and, as far as available, Adrian and tankist helmets.

Cheers.

… supported by M5 of the 2nd Spahis, as the comment of the movie says.

Can you give me a reference for where the unit is identified? I thought I had listened and understood it well enough, but I clearly missed this reference.

I did get the reference to the Battalion de Choc (though I did not know this was a commando unit) and the troops being from the Armee d'Afrique. But I didn't hear anything about the 2nd Spahis … only the reference to the tanks catching up to the advance and taking the lead (when the tanks appear in the video).

There were no english helmets, sorry … All the equipment of the Goum was given by the US…

Goums with pan-style helmets are clearly seen. Are you saying these are US M1917 helmets? Interesting!!

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Mark,

I apologize, bad comment of mine, I get it wrong!
The comment (in the rushes) states "chars légers du 4eme Rgt de Spahis Marocains" and not the 2nd.
I know your interesst in armour but I could not say more about.
Do you want me to search the french web for?

The Bataillon de Choc had been intended and trained on the model of the british SAS by the french army in Algeria early 1943.
They preceded the invasion in Corsica but for the rest of WWII it mainly fought as a shock infantry unit like the US Rangers.
After WWII the "Choc" turned to its initial vocation and became the commando force of the french secret services.
Their very first special ops took place in Indochina as early as 1945 against the Japaneses and the Communists.
Their emblem is "Bagheera" the black panther of Kipling.
Their swimmers were responsable for the disaster in New Zealand in the 8Os …
And three of their gallant NCOs have been killed in action last week in … Lybia!

Only the true Free French, from 1940 to the invasion of Northern Africa were provided with british kits and weapons.
This includes the forces fighting in Syria, Lybia and Madagascar.
But also some Navy ships as you can see in the movie.

After nov 42 the new french army relied entirely on US lease.
Only the few units formed in England and part of the british army, the french Commandos and SAS squadrons remained equiped by the british army.

The mentioned gift from Roosvelt to the king of Morocco included the helemts, I am pretty certain about this.
It was also a deliberate ingerence in the french domestic affairs … But it was difficult for the french government to disagree.
Apparently the equipment granted included M1917 helmets and webbings; M1918 trench knives; M1928 Thomsons; 1903 A3 Springfields and Colt MG and 1911 pistols (not A1!).

Cheers.

about the 4th RSM ; 2 squadrons were sent to Corsica :
1st Squadron : 3 light tanks platoons ( each with 5 tanks , M3 A3 and some M5 )
2nd Squadron :M3 scout cars , jeeps and M3 Halftracks
i'm not sure but it seems that the scout cars were in a typically french 3 color scheme

about the Helmets , the goums were issued US M1917 helmet, to supplement the adrian helmet …
and a current mistake is that the 1st Free French Division ( renammed 1st DMI who was not sent to Corsica ), even if equipped by the USA, retain their British helmets till the fight for Strasbourg .
the main rule is :
1st DMI : British helmet
Morrocan or Algerian Infantry : Adrian Helmet
Metropolitan Infantry : US helmet ( Kepi or Adrian Helmet for NCO and Officers sometimes )
Some units such as the Bataillon de Choc, and some motorized units used the French Mle 1935 helmet .

but the rules …

an other picture :

BTW, the 4th Moroccan Spahi Regiment was the Recce unit of the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division …

Spahis regiments organized in 4 squadrons
1st sqd : light tanks
2nd – 3rd – 4th squadrons : recce with jeeps – scout cars and latter added a M8 scott to each platoon and exchanged some scout cars for half tracks ..

Lou paasejaire

Many thanks for our informations.

If you look carefully the movie and the rush you'll be able to see, or rather to glance at, at least two scout cars, and I believe some sequences to be also filmed from a scout car.
May be the camo scheme is visible, I will check again more carefullY.

I did not know that the 1st div retained their english helmets all the war long.

Cheers.

the 1st Free French Division tried to be "different" of the De Lattre chiken … as they called the armée d'Afrique troops .
they even used the British divisional arm of service marking patches on the vehicles …

"Les voyous à Degaulle" …

Would had said my grand father who was a "chicken" captain gunner with the 3rd DIA, then the 5th DB after the landing in Provence, 63rd RAA.

Cheers.