Vichy French Moroccan Spahis

[Tannenberg]

Hello chaps, I'm wondering if any-one can help me here....I'm looking for pictorial referrences of Vichy French Moroccan Spahis....the more the merrier 

I'd also be interested to know what their platoon make-up was, weapons used, uniforms, etc.

Cheers,

Marco
 

[Hammers]

If you know some French:
Musee de Spahis

http://a.senlis.free.fr/ams01.html

I imagine you've seen the movie "Days of Glory"(?). A great film about Algerians fighting in North Africa, Italy and France. Realistic like Saving Private Ryan.

[Plynkes]

I imagine you've seen the movie "Days of Glory"(?).

The original French title is Indigènes.



This is somewhere (again) where H. and I part company. I thought it was a bloody awful film. Worthy enough idea to tell the story of the contribution against Nazism made by a largely forgotten group of soldiers. But that alone does not a watchable film make. Disappointed. 

[Hammers]

Perhaps 'great' is an exaggeration, just as I find 'awful' an exaggeration. I enjoyed it on the merits of portraying an ethnic group in the war. It is however lacking in direction and drama.

Now, I admit that it is certainly not a Saving Private Ryan film, but it is *not* a "Misfit Brigade" film either which is my definition of bloody awful. 



(A shit film based on a even shittier book using Russian tanks as a shit-poor proxy German tank killers).

[Tannenberg]

Thanks for the pointer Hammers....The Armed Forces of World War Two book has an excellent image of one, but seems to be the only one I can find.  My French is extremely rusty....in fact, rusty would be an understatement,   I will soldier on though.  Thanks again for your help, which is very much appreciated 

[traveller]

If I am not mistaken there should be an image is the Osprey MAA title covering the Vichy forces. I will check when I return to base camp Traveller by the end of the week

[Tannenberg]

Hi there traveller!
Thank you very much for your help here.  Does this particular Osprey publication have information on how the platoons were made up? 
Anyway, I will await your reply at the end of the week 
Many thanks 

[traveller]

I would doubt they have details on platoon level. If you are lucky there might be images that could be interesting. This is the title I am thinking of:

http://books.google.com/books?vid=1855326663

[Tannenberg]

Once again Traveller, thank you for your help here   It looks like it could just do the job!!!  Any further pointers for information on the Vichy French Moroccan Spahis will be very much appreciated.     

[traveller]

Locked up in my hotel with nothing better to do I found this in a google search for the Allied Spahis, if the source can be trusted, would be strange if the Vichy ones had be organised differently already in 1940:

Escadron de Spahis (Cavalry Company) (Mechanised Company)
On the 30 of June 1940. Captain Jourdier and his Escadron de Spahis Marocains escaped from Syria to
join the British troops in Palestine. This company also includes the famous Escadron Tchekeress.
- Rated Colonial
- A Free French Cavalry Squadron consists of 1 Company HQ, 1-4 Cavalry Platoons and 0-
2 Spahis Portes Platoons (not for Escadron Tchekeress)
· Company HQ: Company Command Rifle team, 2ic Command Rifle team, 2 Light
Trucks with optional AAMG for 30 points. The Command teams are mounted in the
Escadron Tchekeress for -10 points.
· Cavalry Platoons: Command Rifle/MG team (mounted), 2-3 Cavalry Sections each
of 3 Rifle/MG teams (mounted). Full strength: 155 points, 2 Sections: 110 points.
· Spahis Portes Platoons: Command Rifle/MG team, Anti-tank Rifle team, Light Truck
with AAMG, 2-3 Sections each of 2 Rifle/MG teams and Light Truck with AAMG.


Source: http://membres.multimania.fr/casawargame/download/ewfrench.pdf

[Arlequín]

I would also doubt that they were organised any differently than their 1940's counterparts. My source for all things French 1940 is oddly enough entitled... France 1940

[Tannenberg]

Traveller and Jim....thank you both for your pointers and the links.  'France 1940'...this is an excellent source of information (!!!)....funny how you always over look the most simple and obvious of titles/links.  Once again thanks for this  

[Tannenberg]

By the way chaps, if you ever come across any more photos or images, on the web, of the French Vichy Spahis, then that would be something more than fantabulous!   Thanks again.

[traveller]

By the way chaps, if you ever come across any more photos or images, on the web, of the French Vichy Spahis, then that would be something more than fantabulous!   Thanks again.

I got something for you. Send me a PM with your email 

[Tannenberg]

The necessary details have been sent on to you my good man