The Fusiliers Marins are specialized French naval infantry trained for combat in land and coastal regions. The Fusiliers Marins are also in charge of providing protection for naval vessels and key French Navy sites on land.
reinforcement of protection duties provided by Naval forces.
The Fusiliers Marins should not be confused with the Troupes de Marine of the modern French Army. The latter corps has undergone several changes in role from marine infantry to colonial troops to overseas forces. It has however remained as an essentially land force while the Fusiliers Marins have throughout their history been an integral part of the French Navy.
In 1627, Cardinal Richelieu undertook the creation of a Naval Regiment, intended to provide soldiers for service on naval ships. Their roles were to include combat on both land or sea, under the orders of the officers of the ship. These sea-going soldiers formed part of the ship's company and helped with its sailing. The basic units were the Compagnies Franches de la Marine: separate detachments of about 70 men, each commanded by a royal lieutenant des vaisseaux, supported by two ensigns. The marine companies served in the French colonies of the period and particularly in Nouvelle-France. These formations existed under differing titles until 1825, when they were dissolved by a royal ordinance decreeing that landing parties be made up of sailors. The Régiments de la Marine were subsequently succeeded by the Troupes de la marine, which later became the colonial troops of the French Army, specifically raised for overseas service.
Creation of a specialized corps in 1856
These companies lacked specialized personnel trained for combat on land. An Imperial decree dated 5 June 1856, created the Fusiliers Marins, whose formation and training were undertaken by a battalion stationed at Lorient, Brittany. This specialized corps was put under the command of the captains and sergeants-at-arms of the various naval vessels of the French fleet, and was the direct ancestor of the modern Fusiliers Marins. Since that date, the Fusiliers Marins have participated the following conflicts:
The expeditions in China, Cochinchina, Tonkin and Madagascar,
The European conflicts in 1870, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, following the disaster of Sedan, several brigades of Fusiliers Marins and naval artillerymen were engaged in combat at Bapaume and subsequently participated in the defense of Paris, notably at the Bourget and at L'Haÿ-les-Roses. This force formed part of the Government Armée versaillaise employed in the suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871. A detachment of fusiliers marins defended the French Legation in Peking during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Amongst their officers was enseigne de vaisseau Paul Henry and Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h, who, in 1914, would serve as Counter-Admiral and Commandant of the Brigade de Fusiliers MarinsBFM attached to the 32nd Army Corps. The Brigade de Fusiliers Marins distinguished themselves at Dixmude, on the Yser, at Longewaede, Hailles and Laffaux during the early stages of World War I. Three French ships have been named after Dixmude. The Fusiliers Marins participated in the campaigns of Free France. They initially formed a battalion then the 1er Régiment de Fusiliers Marins 1e RFM at the corps of the 1st Free French Division and the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos who served in 10 Commando. The 177 Commandos Kieffer who disembarked on 6 June in Normandy, were Fusiliers Marins forming part of the Free France Forces. Other Fusiliers Marins, drawn from the former Armée de Vichy, formed the Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins which served efficiently as part of the 2nd Armored Division. On 30 April 1945 the Fusiliers Marins played a role in the liberation of the Île d'Oléron. Disembarked at 0620 at Gatseau, an FM detachment advanced slowly through forested terrain facing a stern resistance. In 1945, the Far Eastern Marine Brigade was created with the RBFM and the 1er RFM. Based on the request of generalLeclerc, the Marine Brigade formed river brigades in 1945-1946. They became the Dinassaut, which operated in Tonkin and Cochinchina from 1947 to 1954. In 1956, with operational cadres serving in Algeria; the Demi-Brigade of Fusiliers Marins was created to play a leading role in securing the borders between Algeria and Morocco until 1962. This demi-brigade was under the command of Vessel Commander Ponchardier. The French Fusiliers Marins are a specialised marine corps of the French Navy, similar to the Royal Marines of the Royal Navy, the Spanish Navy Marines, the San Marco Marine Brigade, and the United States Marine Corps of the United States Navy.
Uniforms
The Naval Fusiliers wear a dark blue beret in their combat dress uniforms, pulled right with their own distinctive badge worn over the left eye or temple. Along with the Naval Commandos, they are unique among French forces in wearing the beret this way. When wearing regular dress uniforms, the sailor cap is used by junior ratings and the peaked cap by senior petty officers and officers.
