Zouaves

The zouaves are a type of unit of Infanterie, which existed in few armées : Ottoman Empire, France, Papal States, the United States, during one short period (1830-1962). They owe their name with the tribal confederation kabyle of the Zouaoua S (Igawawen in Kabyle). Those provided soldiers to the Turks and after the Prise of Algiers (1830), they enter to the service of the France. Little time after, the creation of the Algerian Riflemen, the Turcos , only trained of natives, changes the origin of the recruitment of the zouaves, who become a purely French body.

History of the French zouaves

Conquest of Algeria

October 1st 1830 the Clauzel general creates the body of the zouaves, formed of two battalions. Two squadrons of zouaves with horse are also trained, but integrated as of 1831 into the hunters of Africa. There was an attempt to incorporate the “Parisian Volunteers to them”, it was a failure and these volunteers formed the 67 {{E}} regiment of infantry.
From October 1830 in January 1831, they fight the bey de Tittery, and occupy Blida and Médéa. Their first noticed success takes place the July 3rd 1831 with the collar of Mouzaïa, when they cover the retirement of the garrison of Médéa.
A third battalion is created in 1837, and the first regiment, formed in 1842, is placed under the command of Lamoricière. They are still illustrated with the Bataille of Ouarensis (1842), with the Isly (1844), and take Zaatcha in 1849.

Campaigns of the Second Empire

By decree of the 1852, Napoleon III carries their manpower of three battalions to three regiments, then to four in 1854 (the fourth being affected with the imperial Garde). The zouaves are distinguished on several occasions at the time of the campaigns of the Second Empire.

Crimean War

The Crimean War is the first countryside of the zouaves apart from Algeria. In the Crimea, with the Battle of Alma, the 3 {{E}} regiment of zouaves takes by surprised the Russians by climbing rock escarpments, while seizing their artillery then while turning over it against them. This action largely took part to make turn the battle in favor of the allies.

It is in homage to this victory that is carried out the Zouave of the Bridge of Alma, over the Seine, in Paris. For its part, the marshal of Saint-Arnaud, which directed the French forces, paid homage to them while asking one of their company to escort his skin.

They still make prowesses at the time of the battles of Balaklava and Inkerman. And three of the seven regiments which take part in the catch of the Tour Malakoff are regiments of zouaves.

Countryside of Italy

In the same way, they are distinguished during the countryside from Italy, in particular the 3 {{E}} regiment of zouaves to the Bataille of Palestro, the May 31st 1859. Following this battle, the regiment promotes the king of the Piedmont Victor-Emmanuel, corporal of honor of the regiment.

Forwarding of Mexico

Two regiments take part in the Expédition of Mexico between 1862 and 1867.

War of 1870

The regiments of zouaves form regiments of walk, which are illustrated in particular with Frœschwiller-Wœrth; a battalion of the 3rd zouaves escapes even from Sedan.

III {{E}} Republic

After various adventures (see individual articles on each regiment), the four regiments of zouaves are reconstituted in 1872. They take part in operations of maintenance about various width in Algeria and Tunisia (Années 1880 and 1890, then with the pacification of Morocco (beginning 20th century).

Elements zouaves are sent to fight against the black Pavillons with the Tonkin (1883). 3rd occupies the Tonkin and the Annam (1887).

The zouaves also fight during the First World War. A site bears their name ( the valley of the Zouaves ) in remembering the hard combat which they led to Souchez in 1915. Several regiments are formed in 1939, after the declaration of war. The protocol of armistice of 1940 envisages their dissolution.

They are familiarly called the zouzous .

Currency

The currency of the French zouaves is: “ Être zouave is an honor. To remain is a duty . ”

Uniform

The uniform of the zouaves is rather complicated, and uncomfortable. The zouaves carried a fez (or Chéchia) with a coloured nipple (generally yellow, red, blue or green) and a turban, a jacket short and adjusted without buttons, a broad belt of three meters long fabric rolled up around the size, jodhpurses, of the white gaiters and the leggings. The belt was the element most difficult to put, the zouave often having to call for the aid one of his/her companions. The uniform zouave was however particularly adapted to the hot and hard climates of the Algerian mountain. The jodhpurses allowed a better air circulation than the pants, and the short jacket was fresher than the long wool shirts of the majority of the contemporary armies. One of the reasons of the small number of units of zouaves in the armies of the time was the additional cost of this particular uniform, higher than that of the uniforms to the cut simple and produced in great series of the other units.

List regiments of zouaves

Regiments of zouaves of the French Army

1 {{er}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1852, dissolved in 1949 and reformed for the period 1956-1960. Military Cross 1914-1918 (5 palms and a vermilion star) and Military Cross 1939-1945 (2 palms);

2 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1852 and dissolved in 1962). Legion of honor (obtained at the time of the Battle of Magenta), Military Cross 1914-1918 (5 palms and a star of money) and Military Cross 1939-1945 (2 palms);

3 {{E}} regiment of zouaves formed in 1852 and dissolved in 1962). Legion of honor (obtained at the time of the battle of San Lorenzo, Mexico 1863), Military Cross 1914-1918 (6 palms) and Military Cross 1939-1945 (2 palms);
Regiment of zouaves of the imperial guard: formed in 1864, become the 4 {{E}} regiment of zouaves in 1870 and dissolved in 1962. Legion of honor, Military Cross 1914-1918 (7 palms) and Military Cross 1939-1945 (2 palms);

8 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1914, dissolved in 1928, reformed in 1934-1940, again dissolved, it is reformed twice initially in 1946-1956, then during the Guerre of Algeria (1959-1962). Legion of honor and Military Cross 1914-1918 (7 palms and a star of money);
9 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1914 and dissolved in 1940; reformed in 1943 and again dissolved in 1962. Legion of honor, Military Cross 1914-1918 (6 palms and a star of money) and Military Cross 1939-1945 (2 palms).
11 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1939 and dissolved in 1940. Its currency: " Eye for eye, tooth for dent" ;
12 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1939 and dissolved in 1940;
13 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1919 and dissolved in 1940. Its currency: " With the sourire" See http://infaf.free.fr/ZOUAVE/indzoua_2.htm;
14 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1939 and dissolved in 1940;
21 {{E}} regiment of zouaves: formed in 1939 and dissolved in 1940 (regiment of instruction);
22 {{E}} regiment of zouaves;
23 {{E}} regiment of zouaves;
29 {{E}} regiment of zouaves.

Mixed regiments zouaves of the French Army

2 {{E}} regiment mixed zouaves and riflemen
4 {{E}} regiment mixed zouaves and riflemen: formed in 1915 and dissolved in 1918. Legion of honor and Military Cross 1914-1918 (6 palms);

Pontifical zouaves

The creation of the pontifical Zouaves takes place in 1860 with the call of the pope Pie IX; their organization is entrusted to the general of Moricière. After the entry of the Italian troops of Victor-Emmanuel II in Rome in 1870, they are used the Government as National defense at the time of the war free-Prussian, and are dissolved after the entry of the Prussians in Paris.

One of the pontifical zouaves most famous is John Surratt, implied in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

See also the articles on the pontifical Zouaves and the Canadian Battalion of the pontifical zouaves.

The United States

Several units of zouaves were formed by Americans at the time of the American Civil War: the Union equips with many regiments of zouaves (sometimes only zouaves only of name), and Confédérés has only one handle of it, primarily in Louisiana (Tigers zouaves, Coppen' S Zouaves, Louisiana zouaves). In north most famous are the 5 {{E}} regiment of volunteers of New York, called the zouaves of Duryee , the 11 {{E}} regiment of volunteers of New York, called the zouaves of feu', the 9th New York (Hawkin' S zouaves), the 10th New York (national Zouaves), the 62nd New York (Anderson zouaves), the 114th pennsylvania (Parcel Zouaves), the 165th New York, etc

11th was initially ordered by the colonel Elmer Ellsworth, was died in 1861, then hard started at the time of the First battle of Bull Run. 5th was regarded as a unit of elite of the army of Potomac, and was incorporated in the division of Sykes. In the Second battle of Bull Run, the 5th regiment of New York, accompanied by the 11 {{E}} regiment of New York (the national zouaves ), took part in the attack flanking of the body of Longstreet during ten minutes crucial, before being put out of combat: on 525 men, 120 were killed and 330 wounded during these ten minutes.

As from 1863, the uniform of zouave is given in reward to the deserving units of the army of north and there will be more units of zouaves at the end of the war that at its beginning. in the years the 1870/80 zouaves were gradually compared to the regular units of the US Army.

See too

Zouave of the Bridge of Alma
the riflemen
the expression To make the zouave .

External bonds

Book to be downloaded: ''' The Zouaves and the Hunters has Pied ''' Duc of Aumale, Henri of Orleans - under pseudonym - Mr. Levy brothers - 1859 - 184 pages
personal page devoted to the zouaves, [[rifleman] S and colonial in the Great War]
personal site devoted to [[4th regiment of zouaves]] the

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