French Army

      Joseph Lesage, 1916

The following pages contain information regarding various facets of the French army of 1914-1918. To this aim, a broader understanding of the army the 151e R.I. was apart of -- it's organization, structure and operation -- is attained. Additionally, cultural elements have been included to better illustrate the daily life of the average French foot-soldier. Visitors can look forward to seeing this section grow more and more.

Please see the Recommended Reading for sources on the French army of 14-18.

General Information:

• Strengths and Losses of the French Army
• Chronology of Operations on the Western Front

Structure and Organization:

• Order of Battle (August 1914)
• Listing of French Regiments and Battalions, 1914-18 (Coming Soon!)
• Organization of an Infantry Division
• Organization of a Territorial Division
• Organization of an Infantry Regiment
• Organization of an Infantry Company
• Organization of a Machine-Gun Section in 1915
• Rank Structure of the Infantry
• The Military Regions of France and the System of National Conscription
• French Regiments and Their Garrisons in 1914
• Dissolution of French Regiments, 1916-1918

Field Entrenchments and Obstacles:

• General Layout of a French Trench System (1916-1918)
• French Trench Construction Methods
• French Shelters in the Trenches and in the Rear
  
• French Wire-Entanglement and Obstacle Construction
  

School of the Infantry Soldier:

• Movements Without Arms
• Movements With Arms
• Inspections - Equipment, Clothing and Arms
• Bayonet Drill
• Rifle School
• Instructions For the Rifleman in the Trenches
• Hand Grenade School
• Sentry and Look-Out Duty

Infantry Combat Tactics and Operations:

• Combat of the Section and Group
• French Army Signaling System Part I: Morse Code and Gesturing
• French Army Signaling System Part II: Illuminating Fireworks and Other Signaling Devices
• Commands By Signals and Whistles
• Properties of the Machine-Gun

Archive Editions of the 151st RI Unit Newsletter: "La Pilule Amère"

• La Pilule Amère No. 1
  

  "Trench Journalism of the French Army" -- " '...We are all condemned...we are the sacrificed.' : The Mentality of the ‘Poilus’ in the Great War" -- "All Creatures Great and Small: Listing of the Uniform and Equipment of the French Infantry Soldier."

• La Pilule Amère No. 2
  

  "Christmas in the Trenches" -- "Les Tranchées Françaises: Appearance of French Trenches in the Great War"

• La Pilule Amère No. 3
  

  "A Brief (Unscientific) Study of Geology and Topography on the Western Front" -- "Winter in the Trenches: Cold, Rain & Mud" -- "Barda Brief: The Tent-Canvas"

• La Pilule Amère No. 4
  

  "A Day in the Trenches: Fatigues, Patrols & Raids" -- " 'The burdens to be borne are formidable...': Relief Marches and the Gear of the French Infantryman" -- "Le Boire et le Manger: The Food of the French Army" -- "Barda Brief: French Army Boots"

• La Pilule Amère No. 5
  

  "1915: The Killing Year"

• La Pilule Amère No. 6
  

  "Poilu Slang" -- "Barda Brief: The M2 Mask"

• La Pilule Amère No. 7
  

  "Poilu Slang" -- "Barda Brief: The Adrian Helmet"

• La Pilule Amère No. 8
  

  "Poilu Slang" -- "The French Army in the Battle of the Somme, 1916"