The french expeditionnary corps

What do you know about the FEC of general Juin which fought around monte Cassino and Rome? I know they launched brillant attacks on monte Belvedere and monte majo but the french also raped many girls, especially the moroccans.

It was one of first great french campaign since the disastrous defeat of 1940 and the french soldiers won the respects of other allies. But i still don't know how many soldiers the FEC numbered (I already saw 100000, 120000 or 150000) by June 1944.

 

Here is an ORBAT I found.

Organisation

General commanding the CEFI: Alphonse Juin
2ième Division d'Infanterie Marocaine (2nd DIM or Moroccan Infantry Division)
Gal André Dody
Arrived in Italy in end November 1943

4th RTM Col Lappara succeeded by Col Bridot (Moroccan Skirmisher Rgt)

1/4 Battalion
2/4 Battalion
3/4 Battalion
​

5th RTM Col Joppé succeeded by Lt-Col Piatte

1/5 Battalion
2/5 Battalion
3/5 Battalion
​

8th RTM Col Molle succeeded by Col de Berchoux

1/8 Battalion
2/8 Battalion
3/8 Battalion
​

3rd RSM Col Pique-Aubrun (Moroccan Spahis Rgt, light armor M5)

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services
​

63ème régiment d'artillerie d'AFRIQUE (63rd African Artillery Rgt)

1/63 Squadron
2/63 Squadron
3/63 Squadron
4/63 Squadron
​

87th Engineers Battalion Lt-Col Berthezène
41ème groupe colonial de DCA (FTA 41st DCA group) Chief Squadron Blanchet/ Juigner/ Bescond
​

3ème Division d'Infanterie Algérienne (3rd DIA or Algerian Infantry Division)
General Joseph de Goiselard de Monsabert
Arrived in Italy in end december 1943

3rd RTA Col Gonzalès de Linarès (Algerian Skirmisher Rgt)

1/3 Battalion
2/3 Battalion
3/3 Battalion
​

4th RTT Col Roux KIA 27 junary 44 succeded by Lt-Col Guillebaud
Tunisian Skirmisher Rgt

1/4 Battalion
2/4 Battalion
3/4 Battalion
​

7th RTA Col Chapuis

1/7 Battalion
2/7 Battalion
3/7 Battalion
​

3rd RSAR Lt-Col Bonjour (Recon Algerian Spahis Rgt, light armor M5)

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services
​

67ème régiment d'artillerie marocaine (67th African Artillery Rgt)

1/67 Squadron
2/57 Squadron
3/67 Squadron
4/67 Squadron
​

83rd Engineers Battalion Chief Battalion Vilette / Colin
37ème groupe de FTA (FTA 37th DCA Group) Col Blanchet
​

4ème division Marocaine de Montagne (4th DMM or Moroccan Mountain Division)
General François Sevez
Arrived in Italy in February 44
The 4ième DMM, was nicknamed the "DeMeMe" (in French over accentuation of the spelling). After the use of her mules by the British army it became The Royal Brêl - a Brêl is a mule in the Berber language.

1st RTM Col Brissaud-Desmaillet (Tunisian Skirmisher Rgt)

1/1 Battalion
2/1 Battalion
3/1 Battalion
​

2nd RTM Col Buot de l'Epine succeeded by Col Deleuze

1/2 Battalion
2/2 Battalion
3/2 Battalion
​

6th RTM Col Cherrière

1/6 Battalion
2/6 Battalion
3/6 Battalion
​

4th RSM (Moroccan Spahis Rgt, light armor M5)
Col Lambilly Kia 18 May 44 succeeded by Chief Squadron Dodelier

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services
​

69ème régiment d'artillerie d'Afrique (69th RAM Mountain Artillery Rgt) Lt-Col Cerisier

1/69 Squadron
2/69 Squadron
3/69 Squadron
4/69 Squadron
​

82nd Engineers Battalion Chief Battalion Labouerie
​

1ére Division Française Libre (1st DFL or Free French Division)
Gal Diego Brosset
Arrived in Italy in April 1944)
Renamed 1st DMI Motorized Infantry Division

1st Brigade Col Delange

13th DBLE Chief Battalion Bablon (Half Brigade of Foreign Legion)
I believe most of the Spanish fighting in the Foreign Legion were in this unit ??

1 BLE Battalion of Foreign Legion
2 BLE
​

22nd BMNA Bataillon de Marche Nord Africain (North African Battle Group*)
​

2nd Brigade Lt-Col Garbay

4th BM Bataillon de Marche
5th BM
11th BM
​

4th Brigade Col Raynal

21st BM
24th BM
BIMP Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique (Marine Infantry Battalion of Pacific)
​

1st RAC Lt-Col Maubert (Colonial Artillery Rgt)

1/1 Squadron
2/1 Squadron
3/1 Squadron
155 Group (Long Tom)
​

1st RFM Capitaine de Fregate Amyot d'Inville Kia 10 June 44 succeeded by Capitaine de Corvette de Morsier. Light Armor

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
​

21ème groupe colonial antillais de DCA (FTA 21st West Indies AA Group) Chief Battalion Lanlo
​

Goums Marocains (Moroccan Goum)
Gal Augustin Guillaume
Arrived in Italy between Novenber 43 and April 44.

1st GTM Groupe de Tabors Marocains (Moroccan Tabor Group) Col Leblanc

2nd Tabor Chief Battalion Roussel

51st Goum
61st Goum
62nd Goum
​

3rd Tabor Chief Battalion Colbert-Turgis

4th Goum
65th Goum
101st Goum
​

12th Tabor Chief Battalion Leboîteux

12th Goum
63rd Goum
64th Goum
​

3rd GTM Col Massiet du Biest

9th Tabor Commandant Picardat

81st Goum
82nd Goum
83rd Goum
​

10th Tabor Commandant Boulet-Desbarreaux

84th Goum
85th Goum
86th Goum
​

17th Tabor Commandant Alès Kia 5 june 44 / Commandant Parlange

14th Goum
18th Goum
22nd Goum
​

4th GTM Lt-Col Soulard succeeded by Col Gautier

5th Tabor Captain Parlange / Commandant Villemandy

41st Goum
70th Goum
71st Goum
​

8th Tabor Commandant Aunis succeeded by Cmdt Pantalacci

78th Goum
79th Goum
80th Goum
​

11th Tabor Commandant Pejorlas

88th Goum
89th Goum
93th Goum
​

General Reserve Artillery (ARG)

7th RCA Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique (African Light Cavalry Rgt**) Lt-Col Van Hecke Tank Destroyer M10

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services
​

8th RCA Lt-Col Simon Tank Destroyer M10

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services
​

64th RAA (African Artillery Rgt) Col Latarse

1/64 Squadron
2/64 Squadron
3/64 Squadron
​

Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale du Levant (Colonial Artillery Rgt of the Levant) Col Missonier

1st Group
2nd Group
​

Groupe de Canonniers Marins (Marine Artillery Group)

1st Battery Capitaine de Frégate Le Coroller equiped with 155mm GPF (long range Fillioux) these are French guns that the Italians had taken from south France between 40/43 and retrieved after the landing of the allied forces.
2nd Battery Lieutenant de Vaisseau Jourden / Capitaine de Corvette Acloque
​

* a Bataillon de Marche - translated as Battle Group - is a general term use by French for assembling diverse elements from different units it is near the German kampfgruppe but as is name implies it is at most an over strengthen battalion.
** Chasseur literally means Hunter, but historically just represented the equivalent of Light Cavalry in the British army. Given these Chasseurs had Tank Destroyers the designation of Hunter takes on a new meaning.
Regiment equivalent. from 1500 to 3000 men.
The CEFI artillery is equipped with 105 HM2, 155 GUN, 40 BOFOR.
All senior officers and most junior officers of the colonial units where "white" French. Junior officers and NCOs were either French or native depending of the area they came from.
FTA is Forces Terrestre Antiaériennes (AA Ground Forces)
EHR is Escadron Hors Rang (Outstanding Squadron). The EHR is the squadron whose function is to run the day to day activities of a unit. It is responsible of the supply and the administration, all but the mechanical duties. In each fighting squadrons there is a PHR, a platoon who had the same functions as the EHR.

French Expeditionary Corp (FEC) / Corps Expéditionnaire Français en Italie  (CEFI )

 

I found this also,


The Corps Expeditionnaire Francais, fought in the Italian campaign between 1943-44, before being withdrawn to participate in 'Operation Dragoon'. It was a Corps that had an approximate strength of 99,000 men and consisted of the following units;
1st Moroccan Infantry Division
2nd Moroccan Infantry Division
3rd Algerian Infantry Division
4th Moroccan Mountain Division
4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment

Their commanding officer, General Alphonse Juin,issued a proclamation on May 14th 1944 that he hoped would spur his men to victory and break the stalemate on the Gustav line. However,his proclamation would become highly controversial as it condemned the local population in the immediate path of the French advance, to become the victims of truly barbaric behaviour.

Here is part of the transcript issued to the troops,
"Beyond these mountains, beyond those enemies who tonight you will kill, there is one earth rich and wide with women, wine and houses. If you succeed to advance beyond that line without leaving a single enemy alive, your general promises, swears and proclaims to you that those houses, women and wine, all that you may encounter will be yours, for your pleasure and will be so for 50 hours. And you will be able to have it all, to take it all, to destroy and carry away if you win, for you have deserved it."

In what became known as 'The Battle of the Garigliano',
the French attacked through the Aurunici mountains and succeeded in their objective of outflanking the defenders of the Gustav line and reaching the area of Pontecorvo by 21st May 1944. However,the campaign became infamous due to the atrocities perpertrated mainly by soldiers of two units of the C.E.F., these being the 2nd Moroccan infantry division and the 4th Moroccan mountain division. There were reports of widespread rape in the villages of Patricia, Pofi, Isoletta, Supino and Morolo.

Additionally, in the village of Lesola which was captured on May 21st 1944, 50 women were raped as well as children and even the elders. The women here were assaulted and raped by pairs of Moroccan soldiers, which left them with serious lesions and injuries to their private parts.

The worst atrocities were reported at the town of Esperia in the Ciociaria region, which fell on May 17th 1944. It is estimated that 3,500 women between the ages of 8-85 years of age were brutally raped, and that 800 of the local men who attempted to protect their womenfolk were raped and then impaled. Even the local priest, Don Alberto Terulli did not escape, thus being raped, tortured and eventually murdered. The official newspaper of the Vatican, 'Osservatore Romano' was the first to condemn the atrocities of the Moroccan 'goumiers', and the pope requested the Allied high command not to send the French to liberate Rome. It was shortly after these atrocities became known that the C.E.F. was withdrawn from the Italian front in readiness for the invasion of Southern France.

The French military immediatly investigated some of the allegations against the Moroccan soldiers,resulting in 15 of the 40 put on trial being shot on 26th June 1944. Unsurprisingly, charges were never brought against General Juin whom many believe was the instigator of the atrocities. By the end of the war a further 360 French colonial troops were found guilty of various crimes committed during the war,with 40 shot and the rest having heavy prison sentences.

After the war the subject of the French atrocities was still very much an emotional and contentious issue in Italy,leading to the writing of a novel,'La Ciociaria' which was later made into a film of the same name starring Sophia Loren.In 1965 a local Italian politician lobbied the French government to try and get compensation for the Italian victims, some of whom were still suffering, having been driven insane by their experiences at the hands of the Colonial French troops. Compensation was eventually forthcoming thus acknowledging the guilt of the French military.

 

Well done guys , it couldn't have done better.

 

Yes, thank you very much.

During the war (without 1940), approximatively 460,000 men were mobilized in Africa, including 168000 pieds-noirs, 233,000 native of oversea France, 20000 metropolitan who escaped from France, and 35000 corsicans.

But were they any tank ?

 

for those who don't know what a pied noir is = a European settler in North Africa who was born in Algeria, Tunesia or Morocco. They were usually French (many descendants of Alsatian refgees of the1870 war) .Others had Italian or Spanish origins.

 

They were relatively few in morocco, a bit more in Tunisia but the real land of the pieds-noirs was algeria.

 

Im not sure what you mean?

 

No sorry, I didn't saw the mentions about the tanks in your post.

 

A few years ago, I put together some uniforms to depict soldiers of the FEC, and in the process I restored two WW 2 helmets and repainted them with the correct insignias. It was a fun project for a weekend.

The first image is a US helmet, with the FEC tricolor on the right side. The colors were sometimes on the left, or in a few instances on both sides.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc76/poilu-1940/Free%20French%20helmets/DCP_1318.jpg


These images are of a WW 2 British shell, with the Cross of Lorraine painted on it's side. These were painted up as such mostly during the North African campaign, but they went on to be issued to soldiers of the FEC, mainly the renowned Goumiers.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc76/poilu-1940/Free French helmets/DCP_1319.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc76/poilu-1940/Free French helmets/DCP_1321.jpg

 

But the FEC mainly used Adrian helmet 1926, except the goumiers. Are your sure the first helemt is not from the 1st french army?

 

It's true many in the FEC wore the French Adrian helmet, with the front badges plucked out. There were however several artillery support units, HQ, and rear echelons which did have the US M1 helmet. I have a nice picture of a French soldier in Italy calling for artillery, and he is wearing this helmet. I will try to locate it and post it here.

Yes, you're right the French 1st Armee in 1944-45 had them as well. there were also many who still wore the British helmet, the old French helmet, and even the little groups commando wore the m35 French tanker helmet.

 

The goumiers also wore US M1917 helmets, close to he british brodie helmet.

 

Very true, but those were not painted with any insignia as they were distributed mostly after the North African campaign. That is not to say it never happened, I just have not read or seen any evidence of this yet.

 

No Prob there clems.

 

Metropolitans = from continental france

Pieds noirs= French from North Afica

Natives: North African Muslims, Senegalese

Corsicans: French from the Island of Corsica (liberated in 1943)

 

I was responding to clems comment about tanks Skipper .

 

The french soldiers were decisive in the battle for gustav lines also. They took monte Santa croce, monte Belvedere, monte Majo and the Liri Valley.

What is your opinion about the french soldiers in this campaign ?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LpZbJVIRL4

 

Here is the fictionalised version of the attack on the Arunci
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P45TTGT2XhY&list=PL5mR0PxdNDZ7rlAic_Y5r-4O7LqOqinVn