French Army

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. In the coming weeks, visitors can look forward to seeing this section grow more and more.

Basic Stats:

• Strengths and Losses of the French Army
• Material Comparisons Between France and Germany
  (Coming Soon!)
• Battle Chronology (Coming Soon!)

Structure and Organization:

• Order of Battle (August 1914)
• Organization of a Line 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

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
• Bayonet Drill
• Rifle School
• Instructions For the Rifleman in the Trenches
• Hand Grenade School
• Sentry and Look-Out Duty

Infantry Combat Tactics and Operations:

• French Infantry Training
• 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