Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
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The First Zouaves...
On October 1st, 1830, the French set up the first Zouave Corps in North Africa!
The name "Zouaves" goes back to the Kabyle tribe of the Zuauas in the district of Zuaua (Zuavia) in the Algerian province of Constantine, who already provided mercenary troops at the time of the Ottoman Empire, who were famous for their bravery.
The commander of this first Corps des Zouaves is General Bertrand Clausel ...:
Gradually, the name "Zouaves" is used for all mercenaries recruited in North Africa in the French army (just as all black soldiers are generally referred to as "Senegalese").
The new troop, whose members are very familiar with the climate and local conditions, is deployed to conquer the colony of Algeria for France ...:
A special characteristic of the Zouave units is their eye-catching uniform based on Turkish-oriental costumes ...:
The first really known use of the Zouaves takes place during the Crimean War, where the mercenaries can distinguish themselves several times, for example in the battles on the Alma and at Inkerman ...
... as well as the storming of the "Malakow-Reduit" of the besieged fortress Sebastopol ...:
The reputation that the Zouvaves had acquired in the Crimea in particular prompted other countries to set up Zouave units, which, however, did not consist of North Africans, but merely adopted the colorful costumes of the French models - and not always the combat value of the "real" Zouaves possessed.
So the Union states ...
... as well as the Confederates ...
... various Zouave regiments during the US Civil War; Corresponding troops were also in other countries such as Brazil, Turkey and the Papal States.
Here is a Zuave who serves the Pope ...:
Zouaves from North Africa also fought on the French side in the first ...
... and World War II ....:
Zouaves waged their last war for France against their compatriots during the Algerian War of Liberation - as did their first!
The last French Zouave units were disbanded after Algeria gained independence in 1963.
On October 1st, 1830, the French set up the first Zouave Corps in North Africa!
The name "Zouaves" goes back to the Kabyle tribe of the Zuauas in the district of Zuaua (Zuavia) in the Algerian province of Constantine, who already provided mercenary troops at the time of the Ottoman Empire, who were famous for their bravery.
The commander of this first Corps des Zouaves is General Bertrand Clausel ...:
Gradually, the name "Zouaves" is used for all mercenaries recruited in North Africa in the French army (just as all black soldiers are generally referred to as "Senegalese").
The new troop, whose members are very familiar with the climate and local conditions, is deployed to conquer the colony of Algeria for France ...:
A special characteristic of the Zouave units is their eye-catching uniform based on Turkish-oriental costumes ...:
The first really known use of the Zouaves takes place during the Crimean War, where the mercenaries can distinguish themselves several times, for example in the battles on the Alma and at Inkerman ...
... as well as the storming of the "Malakow-Reduit" of the besieged fortress Sebastopol ...:
The reputation that the Zouvaves had acquired in the Crimea in particular prompted other countries to set up Zouave units, which, however, did not consist of North Africans, but merely adopted the colorful costumes of the French models - and not always the combat value of the "real" Zouaves possessed.
So the Union states ...
... as well as the Confederates ...
... various Zouave regiments during the US Civil War; Corresponding troops were also in other countries such as Brazil, Turkey and the Papal States.
Here is a Zuave who serves the Pope ...:
Zouaves from North Africa also fought on the French side in the first ...
... and World War II ....:
Zouaves waged their last war for France against their compatriots during the Algerian War of Liberation - as did their first!
The last French Zouave units were disbanded after Algeria gained independence in 1963.
