Marechal Foch,  Supreme Allied Commander

French General Pau

French General Debeney

French Cuirassiers (heavy cavalry) helping a wounded comrade at St. Quentin
The Cuirassiers are heavy cavalry suited for battle, not scouting.  The wore steel Cuirasses and helmets with horsehair plumes, carrying a long, double-edged stabbing sword.  The French had 12 regiments of Cuirassiers.

Algerian troops serving in the French Army, referred to as the "Terrible Turcos" due to their fierce fighting reputation.
The "Turcos" were of Berber origin and wore the characteristic red "fez" hats.  They are impetuous and fierce fighters and French generals had difficulty holding them back when to charge heavily fortified positions would have been foolhardy.

French sharpshooters
The French army had 10 battalions of sharpshooters highly skilled in mountain warfare and are the best trained of the French infantry.  In an ambush, they tied themselves to trees so if wounded, they would not drop and betray their position.  They trained continuously in the French Alps.

French infantry marching past the monument to Napoleon
French infantry wear the characteristic red caps and trousers that have been the uniform of French soldiers since Napoleon's day.  these troops are passing by a monument to Napoleon near Vauchamps, where he defeated the Prussians in 1814.

French Cavalry resting in a village square
These French cavalry are trained to fight either on horseback or afoot.  Many of them carry bamboo lances, said to be even stronger than steel.  The term dragoon comes from the old carbine they used to carry into battle.

French Hussars at Rouen, France
The Hussars are light cavalry intended for scouting and use smaller horses than the Cuiraissers.    Many racehorses were seized by the French government for use by these troops.  These troops are marching by the ancestral home of William the Conqueror at Rouen.

French artillery with their famous 75 millimeter guns at the battle of the Marne
These French big guns are superior to any other field artillery in this war.  Their bore is only 2.95 inches, but the initial velocity and accuracy are greater than the German guns and their lightness makes them more mobile in action.

French Aviation Corps
The aeroplane has revolutionized modern warfare and this war has seen its' first effective use.  They get spectacular note in news columns by dropping bombs on enemy lines, but prove most effective in scouting enemy positions, preventing surprise attacks and getting range for artillery.  The French army is equipped with the swiftest monoplanes in Europe.

French Aviator Georges Guynemer
He was referred to in the press as the "Ace of Aces" because of his 53 air victories.  He was shot down seven times and survived, despite having no parachute.  He was only 22 when he died during a mission, but he was already a French national hero.

Morale postcard showing the allies of England, America and France

German troops assaulting a French village defended by French troops

The Eiffel Tower in Paris

French infantry retreat from a German armored train assault

German troops assaulting French troops in trenches

French Troops defend their position against a German assault

French and German troops in hand to hand combat

French troops repel a German assault in the snow

A French sentry

French tanks parading in Paris

French troops repel an assault in a French village

Massed French and German troops in hand to hand combat

French and German troops battle hand to hand

French troops defending a hill against a German assault with a Zeppelin viewing the battle

French Motor Pigeon Bus
This a a cigarette card showing the major means of communication from the battlefield to the HQ.  The pigeons are housed in cages on the roof of the bus.  The practice of using carrier pigeons is an ancient one, but the use of buses to take them to the battlefield is a new tactic.

French Motorized Balloon Lorry
This cigarette card shows a motorized balloon observation unit that can give quick direction of fire for artillery rounds via a telephone wire from the balloonist to artillery units.  When deflated, it is carried on the truck.

French Army observation balloon

French Army Dirigible

French Army Dirigible

French Motorized Artillery
These guns were a marvel for their time.  The car was lifted off the ground by four jacks, which kept the recoil from deflating the wheels.  The gun had a rapid pace of fire and was totally self sufficient, carrying the gun, shells and the operators.

Mata Hari - Exotic Dancer and secret agent?
Mata Hari was a Dutch subject who traveled extensively between European countries during WWI and was finally accused of being a spy and was arrested by French police.  She was put on trial, accused of spying for Germany and consequently causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers. She was found guilty and was executed by firing squad on 15 October 1917, at the age of 41.