4thTunisian Infantrymen Regiment (4éme RTT)

In a moving book recently published by 'View Design International' in Tunis , Paul Nicolas a French history lover from the city of Metz , has paid tribute to the 4th Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment (4éme RTT) who valiantly fought for France during WWII.The book which is entitled "Sidi Brahim des Neiges" (Sidi Brahim of the Snows), provides the reader with a vivid account of the major episodes of the 4th Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment, the most distinguished French regiment during the war.

The book which is 137 pages long took the author 3 years to write, and was achieved thanks to the aid of the French service of war veterans, the ministry of national defence, the French Cooperation Institute, and the Embassy of France in Tunisia.Talking about how the idea of the book first came to him, Paul Nicolas said that one day he was walking in the Eastern part of France, he found an engraving in a bloc of granite planted some 1362 meter high in the Vosgian pass of Hohnek reading, "4th Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment : combats December 5 to 14, 1944" .This engraving he said, triggered his interest in the regiment, whose men left everything behind them to defend France against the Nazis. Their heroic feats of arms, fight against the bitter cold and a staunch enemy, were eventually rewarded as they were the first French regiment to enter Germany on March 19, 1945.The book which retraces the brotherhood of arms between Tunisian and French soldiers, is also a reflection of the bonds that tie together Tunisia and France, "as well as a tribute to those valorous Tunisian fighters to whom France owes its freedom and that of future generations", says Paul Nicolas.

The author adds that the book is part of that 'shared memory' between both countries which calls for looking at history objectively, without any judgment or passion. During a recent trip to Tunisia , he also met with some of the survivors of the regiment who shared with him their memories of the most dramatic episodes of their combats.According to Mr Philippe Arouy who is in charge of the French Association of 'anciens combattants' (former war veterans), some 62,000 Tunisian soldiers fought in France during WWI , 15,200 were killed during the war and many made prisoners. An additional 20,000 fought in France during WWII.

allAfrica.com: Tunisia: New Publication Pays Tribute to Tunisian Infantrymen Regiment During WWII (Page 1 of 1)

 

I am always impressed by how willing and how hard others fought for the French. I would love to know more about this unit.

 

Rome, Metz, Alsace, Germany etc... Later they fought in Indochina too. They were very brave men.

Pictures here including tieir march in Rome: Les chemins de mémoire, à la découverte des hauts lieux de mémoire français

 

Thanks for additional info. I would like to read more about them .

 

A lot of stuff is available unfortunately I can't find much in English. Have you seen the film INDIGENES? It's about the colonial troops in the French army, you'd like that one.

 

The RTT was affected to the 3rd DIA (Division d'infanterie algerienne), one of the most glorious french great unity. The traditions of those french soldiers who came from the empire to serve, kill and be kill on the motherland are still keep by the 3rd armored brigade.

This division was the spearhead of the offensive against the east of Rome.

 

It is indeed interesting, though not entirely unique. It is pretty well established, that certain groups of soldiers, who would otherwise be regarded as "lesser" or 2nd class citizens under the auspices of colonial authorities in times of peace, often tend to be more reckless and take more risks in times of war, as to be able to prove their worth towards those they feel take them for granted. I don't think it would be unfair either, to say that perhaps some colonial troops within the French army probably felt this was a necessary path towards independence of their own lands. Without a doubt they felt it would earn them the respects and the rights of any other man as a reward for their services.

In the American army, certain groups of soldiers/airmen that would fall under such a category, for example would be the Tuskeegee airmen, the 442nd "Go for Broke" outfit, and the many African-American unit the segregated US military. I imagine within the British army of WW 2, there were also commonwealth or "lesser" units which fought with suicidal bravely to gain the respect of their superiors and the British soldiers.

These people had a lot of pressure on them. The weight of history, the indignation of being treated as 2nd class citizenry on their own lands, the hope for a better future for their children, and under the eyes of all of their people, counting on them to reap the just rewards of a hard fought victory and their rightful place in a postwar society.

 

This is quite well said Asterix. These men have been fully recognized a few years ago only when their war pensionS were finally compeNsated to the same level as every other vetran from the French army.

 

Yes, but the things about the pensions are very complex. It is not only the bad european who punished the good native soldier. It is unfair but after the independance of the different countries, the different governments of these countries asked for the "cristallisation" of the pensions, but i don't know why France obey, these people were french soldiers, are french veterans who fought under the french flag, under the orders of the french government, for france so france must have given them the pensions at all cost, it is a duty for france to respect her soldiers or veterans. And those veterans weren't rewarded as they deserved by the country they served.

 

This happened in other countries too. As usually it is a matter of money, now that they are almost all gone a "gesture" has been done. At least their memories will remain vivid among people like us who are interested in their action and respect them as veterans, not "just" natives.

 

They weren't just natives, they were french soldiers, native who served or died for france. They deserve our respect and the motherland was quite ingrate with the soldiers that served her.

 

agreed clems. Not not people remember them and it's a shame, but that's the way things are, so many other fine people are forgotten today, maybe I'll buy the book. It will be may way to show them my respect and say thank you.