WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.260 Hi, I'm Jesse Alexander, 00:00:01.260 --> 00:00:05.755 and thank you for supporting this companion episode of Glory and Defeat. 00:00:05.755 --> 00:00:09.105 Today let's take a look at France's colonial troops. 00:00:09.105 --> 00:00:13.815 In 1870, the French Empire had not yet reached its maximum extent, WEBVTT 00:00:13.815 --> 00:00:19.230 but France controlled large territories in today's Algeria and in Southeast Asia. 00:00:19.230 --> 00:00:23.010 The huge expansion of the empire would actually happen after WEBVTT 00:01:40.545 --> 00:01:45.485 German soldiers memoirs often include racist remarks about the North Africans, 00:01:45.485 --> 00:01:47.314 fear of the foreign, 00:01:47.314 --> 00:01:51.400 but also a reluctant respect for them as soldiers. WEBVTT 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:53.630 Both the Zouaves and the Turco wore 00:01:53.630 --> 00:01:58.540 very distinctive uniforms that made them unmistakable on the battlefield. 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:03.575 Both wore a short ornamented jacket over a waistcoat called a sedria. WEBVTT 00:02:03.575 --> 00:02:06.305 The Zouaves mostly wore dark blue with red, 00:02:06.305 --> 00:02:08.915 while the Turco had light blue with yellow. 00:02:08.915 --> 00:02:12.205 Blue or red bands were often wrapped around the waist. WEBVTT 00:02:12.205 --> 00:02:16.110 Both also wore a high red cap called the sheshia, 00:02:16.110 --> 00:02:18.495 which could be wrapped in a white turbine. 00:02:18.495 --> 00:02:22.795 In bad weather, the cloth could be used to protect the soldiers' faces. WEBVTT 00:02:22.795 --> 00:02:24.535 If it was cold or raining, 00:02:24.535 --> 00:02:28.295 they might also use their dark blue hooded cloaks made of felt. 00:02:28.295 --> 00:02:35.000 The wide trousers known as seruel were red for the Zouaves and light blue for the Turcos. WEBVTT 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:37.340 Both units also wore leather shoes, 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:39.935 gators, and sheepskin stockings. 00:02:39.935 --> 00:02:42.350 Thanks again for supporting Glory and Defeat, WEBVTT 00:02:42.350 --> 00:02:45.090 and I'll see you next week. WEBVTT 00:00:23.010 --> 00:00:27.510 the Franco-Prussian War partly as a way of compensating for the defeat. 00:00:27.510 --> 00:00:33.015 In 1870-71, the armies of the Second Empire and also the Third Republic, WEBVTT 00:00:33.015 --> 00:00:38.720 drew on the manpower of French colonists and native Algerians to provide soldiers, 00:00:38.720 --> 00:00:42.050 which made up some of the most famous and effective troops WEBVTT 00:00:42.050 --> 00:00:44.210 that the French had like the Spahis, 00:00:44.210 --> 00:00:47.285 Zephyrs, Zouaves, and Turco. 00:00:47.285 --> 00:00:51.410 The Zouaves were infantry mostly drawn from North Africa that included WEBVTT 00:00:51.410 --> 00:00:57.200 many French-born soldiers plus some adventurers and a few former criminals. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.490 There were also, of course, 00:00:58.490 --> 00:01:00.320 the famous Tirailleur Algeria, WEBVTT 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:01.805 or Algerian riflemen, 00:01:01.805 --> 00:01:03.980 also known as the Turco. 00:01:03.980 --> 00:01:09.260 The Tirailleur Algeria officers were all European origin Frenchmen who generally 00:01:09.260 --> 00:01:14.705 maintained a prejudice attitude to their men while respecting their fighting abilities. WEBVTT 00:01:14.705 --> 00:01:17.660 The Germans particularly feared the Turco, 00:01:17.660 --> 00:01:22.115 since many saw them as savage, merciless, and ill-disciplined. WEBVTT 00:01:22.115 --> 00:01:24.800 German troops were afraid of meeting the Turco on 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:28.445 the battlefield and especially of being captured by them. 00:01:28.445 --> 00:01:30.980 They often confused Zouaves, Turco, WEBVTT 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:34.400 and other colonial units since the different appearance of 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:40.545 non-European soldiers and their unusual uniforms was the focus of German impressions.