Zouaves
Toy Soldier Collector International|February - March 2020
Mike Williams builds and paints ICM’s 1:35 scale French Army of 1914 four figure set
Zouaves

The French Army which went to war in August 1914 must have been a truly fantastic but archaic sight, with its uniforms displaying all of the panache and elan of its inherent overpowering doctrine of ‘offense’ at the core of all its thinking resonated in its dress and personal equipment, and in reflecting this paramount here were its Zouaves.

The Zouaves had deep North African roots, with the colonial French in 1830 wanting to raise a regiment of initially Berber volunteers from the native Zwawa group of tribes in Algeria, but having French officers and NCO’s. However, it was later decided that the pool of recruits should be expanded to include volunteers of any ethnicity, so the first Zouave Regiment (Regiment de Zouaves) was a mixture of Berber, Arab, and European. But by 1842 the Zouaves began to be recruited almost exclusively from indigenous European stock, but they still retained and emphatically displayed their exotic North African roots through their outlandish uniforms.

While all the other major powers had adopted subdued utilitarian camouflaged dress by the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, the French had retained uniforms virtually unchanged from a generation before during the Third Republic era, as seen in the disastrous Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, even reminiscent of its Napoleonic origins.

All branches of the French Army in August 1914 were outfitted in what can only be described as flamboyant and truly garish colours, with for example its core metropolitan Regiment d’Infanterie (line infantry regiments) displaying all the splendour of a peacetime army on parade, with its traditional prominent garance (red) trousers and kepi counterpoised by dark blue greatcoats predominating.

Denne historien er fra February - March 2020-utgaven av Toy Soldier Collector International.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February - March 2020-utgaven av Toy Soldier Collector International.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA TOY SOLDIER COLLECTOR INTERNATIONALSe alt
John Jenkins Designs
Toy Soldier Collector International

John Jenkins Designs

An iconic World War II fighter aircraft and a heavyweight from the annals of military history are among the latest new releases from John Jenkins Designs (JJD).

time-read
2 mins  |
February - March 2021
Surprising Canadians
Toy Soldier Collector International

Surprising Canadians

Guy Elliott looks at the largely unknown military history of his native land.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February - March 2021
W. Britain
Toy Soldier Collector International

W. Britain

A leading manufacturer since 1893, Britains needs little introduction to even the most casual of toy soldier collectors. Under the leadership of Ken Osen, the company is still going strong, expanding its existing product lines and seeking opportunities to introduce even more exciting new ranges.

time-read
2 mins  |
February - March 2021
Thomas Gunn Miniatures
Toy Soldier Collector International

Thomas Gunn Miniatures

Reviews of new metal figures to arrive in the hobby by George Philips

time-read
4 mins  |
February - March 2021
The Last Sake
Toy Soldier Collector International

The Last Sake

Eduardo Fernandez paints a large-scale bust.

time-read
8 mins  |
February - March 2021
The World of Model Soldiers, Part 1
Toy Soldier Collector International

The World of Model Soldiers, Part 1

Colin Luxford takes a tour of the world in miniature, starting with Europe and Asia.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February - March 2021
King & Country
Toy Soldier Collector International

King & Country

Reviews of new metal figures to arrive in the hobby by George Philips.

time-read
4 mins  |
February - March 2021
GNM Miniatures
Toy Soldier Collector International

GNM Miniatures

Hougoumont North Gate diorama

time-read
2 mins  |
February - March 2021
Dressing the Kiddies
Toy Soldier Collector International

Dressing the Kiddies

Keith Nairn-Munro presents the second part of his study of the uniforms and history of the Scots Guards up to the Great War.

time-read
6 mins  |
February - March 2021
A Family Enterprise
Toy Soldier Collector International

A Family Enterprise

George Phillips speaks to Abram Simon about the past, present and future of New Zealand-based Fleurbaix Toy Soldiers.

time-read
6 mins  |
February - March 2021