[fireman]

I am looking for info on French weapons,gear, uniforms etc. starting with WW1 and going on through the mid sixties. I have a few refernce books for WW1 but not much after that. I had a few websites booked marked but they seem to have gone away. I have googled a bunch but seem to be asking the wrong question. I can't find a lot of info on the web about this stuff.

If you guys have any good website to help me out, I would appreciate it. Reenactor sites are good too, those guys usually are quite knowledgeable. Also, if anyone can recommend some books I would appreciate it but english only please. The wife unit is fluent in French but I can't read abit.

thanks!

 

[1886lebel]

Here is my website ... It is getting redone at this time, I need to add alot to it, it has been years since its update.
http://www.reenactor.net/units/151ri/index.htm

Here is our sister unit on the East Coast ... the guy who did this has done a wonderful job on the website ... Some of the information was provided by me as well
http://www.151ril.com/content/home

Here is another fantastic wesbite in French on WWI uniforms and equipment. You can get the jist of what is there, click UNIFORMES ... this belongs to a friend of mine who reenacts in France ...
http://www.lesfrancaisaverdun-1916.fr/

There are some excellent books as well but all mine are in French. I actually learned French this way by reading it and figured it out, if I had a question I go to my friend here in town who helps me out.
If you have any question be sure to ask, I can help you in WWI French stuff

Patrick

 

[1886lebel]

Here are some I did forget were in English ...
Uniforms & Equipment of the French Armed Forces in World War I by Spencer Anthony Coil;
The French Army In the First World War - To battle 1914: Uniforms - Equipment - Armament, Volume 1 by Laurent Mirouze and Stéphane Dekerle
The French Army In the First World War - 1914-1918: Uniforms - Equipment - Armament, Volume 2 by Laurent Mirouze and Stéphane Dekerle

Patrick

 

[fireman]

Patrick...thanks!! I was hoping/thinking you might show up....since you are the resident Poilu!:thumbsup: Those are some good links. I am working my way through them.

 

[1886lebel]

As to beyond WWI ... not my realm of collecting or real interest. I am sure Ron will know about these

Patrick

 

[Frenchy24RI]

As to beyond WWI ... not my realm of collecting or real interest. I am sure Ron will know about these

Patrick

Patrick...
MERCI MON AMI!!!

Anyways...there is always the Osprey MAA series #315+ #318, French Army WW2, vol. 1+2, in English (my starter books!).
There is also French Aces of WW2 from Osprey, and MAA #238 foreign Volunteers of the Allied Forces.
Rearming the French by Marcel Vigneras is a good read, albeit no pictures, in relations to the Free French being supplied by the US.
Proud Promise- for the development of French semi-auto rifles.
Honor Bound- all about the venerable Chauchat.
French Order of Battle 1939-45, by George F. Nafziger, quite detailed about most units if not all of them.
French M1935 pistols by Medlin and Doane.
French Warships of WW2, Jean Labayle Couhat (sadly out of print but, you may get lucky)
Uniforms and Insignia of the Navies of WW2/ Naval Institute Press/ Andrew Mollo (also out of print)
Mountain Warriors...all about Moroccan Goumiers serving with the French (cant find the authors name right now).


Sadly, as Patrick has pointed out...theres' more books in French than English.
I too, am stuck with a limited knowledge of the French tongue, even though I learned CANADIAN French!
So, with that said, here are my recommendations for the books in French;
Gazettes des Uniformes #6, La Legion Etrangere 1831-1945/ all about the Legion from inception to the end of WW2.
Le Fusil-Mitrailleur Modele 1924 M29, all about the famous Chatellerault machine rifle that replaced the Chauchat/ Jean Huon+ Gaetan Brunel.
Le soldat Francais 1940, tome 1+2/ Olivier BELLEC (mine are signed by him!) the new 'BIBLES' of French Army 1939-40 collecting!!!

Thats' all for now...THERE WILL BE MORE!!!
I need sleep so, I'll post more later and hope this is a good start.
A Bientot,
Ron

PS- French language books will cost you...BUT WORTH IT!!!

 

[1886lebel]

Lets not forget my favorite book by my very good friend Eugene Medlin ... French Service Handguns 1858-2004 by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon
I will get to see him in March again at the gunshow here in Albuquerque to show him my latest aquistions ... an Officers 7 shot Star 1914 with a rolled French 75 Cannon on it, a 'Astra' 7 shot 'Ruby' which I purchased from Bob in St.Louis and a WWI configured 'Izarra' made 'Ruby' that I made a trade with vonmazur for one that was phosphated and painted with the black enamel which was used during WWII and later in Indochine.

Patrick

 

[fireman]

Frenchy, thanks for all that info. I have a number of the WW1 Osprey books that cover thet French. I will have to start picking up the books on WW2.

What can you guys recomend on the post ww2 period? I have the 2 Osprey books that cover Indochina and Algeria. Any websites?

Thanks!

 

[Frenchy24RI]

Frenchy, thanks for all that info. I have a number of the WW1 Osprey books that cover thet French. I will have to start picking up the books on WW2.

What can you guys recomend on the post ww2 period? I have the 2 Osprey books that cover Indochina and Algeria. Any websites?

Thanks!

As for post-WW2 period...
English;
Street without Joy, Bernard Fall, Indo and up to Dien Bien Phu
Hell in a Very Small Place, Bernard Fall/ BEST book in English about the fall of DPB !!!

French; (pardon me if I've got mixed time periods in both English and French text lists)
Les Paras Francais en Indochine 1945-1954/ Eric Adam+ Patrice Pivetta/ BEST BOOK on this subject!!!
Batailles Pour La France 1939-40/ Patrick De Gmeline
Guide practique des Decorations Francaises actuelles/ BEST BOOK all about French medals...military and civilian

I have decided to skip Algeria for my collection but...can recommend some books about Operation Daguet 1990-91, and current day Afghanistan, if you want?
All books listed in this thread by me are in my reference library.
There are several others I still need to further my research!
I may post more books, as I remember where I put them!
As for websites...some of our other 'regulars' on this board will be quite helpful as well.

a bientot,
Ron
'Frenchy'

 

[Frenchy24RI]

@Patrick...

I did not forget about the French Service Hanguns book. ;-)

Ron