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Post by jms on Oct 5, 2021 19:07:21 GMT -5
I have read that the fighting in Indochina was done mostly without the use of units from Metropolitan France. If someone from a Metro unit wanted to go to the war zone, was there a specific unit for them to be attached to?
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Post by lew on Oct 6, 2021 11:29:22 GMT -5
No. I'm not sure on the exact process of that period, but they would be distributed to whatever unit required manpower- Tirailleur, engineer, etc... I believe applicants could state a preference, but I'm more familiar with Algerian-era recruitment and conscript induction.
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Post by craigtx on Oct 7, 2021 8:41:04 GMT -5
IIRC, it was conscripted personnel could not be used in Indo. The professional soldiers from Metropolitan France were assigned as officers for Colonial units, and La Legion. My prime example would be Gen. (Then Col.) Marcel Bigeard who commanded 6e BCCP. I'm not sure about other ranks. But no conscripted soldiers. I can't recall if Algerie used conscripts, or not.
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Post by lew on Oct 7, 2021 10:10:19 GMT -5
Craig's got it: no conscripts to Indo. Those drafted during that time frame would staff units in France, Germany, Algeria, and elsewhere overseas. Of course, plenty of conscripts saw service during the Algerian War since that area was legally part of the Metropole.
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Post by jms on Oct 7, 2021 17:49:30 GMT -5
OK, so no draftees were sent to Indochina. Now, if someone was a volunteer, a private let's say, in the regular French army and wanted to fight in Indochina, what would he have to do? I know it's an odd question but it is something I got to thinking about the other day. I mean, he couldn't get into the Legion if he was already in the regular army, right? I don't know if anyone ever tried it but was just curious about it. Would they let him get into a colonial unit?
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Post by lew on Oct 8, 2021 10:20:55 GMT -5
Yes, he would go to some colonial unit. French citizens could not enlist in the Legion (without a workaround, that is).
As you noted, there were Metropolitan units sent over, primarily engineering detachments and 1e RCP.
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