French Expeditionary Corp (FEC) 
Corps Expéditionnaire Français en Italie (CEFI) 

Some bits and bobs about the CEF or CEFI = Corps Expéditionnaire Français en Italie or to their English speaking allies the FEC =  French Expeditionary Corps.   These are the chaps that breached the Cassino line in 1944.  

Thanks to Pierre Laevens who located and translated the bulk of this material. I've also borrowed some material published by Reda on the Crossfire discussion forum.   Finally I'd like to thank Pierre-André Dupuis who sent in some corrections.  

Uniform 

Vichy forces in North Africa wore the uniform in use in 1940.  

The 1st DFL fighting in north Africa were equipped by the British. The 1st DFL fought throughout the war.  

During the Tunisian campaign the Armée d'Afrique fought with French 1940 weapons and equipment.  After the campaign the French African Army (Armée d'Afrique) joined the Free French Forces of the Tchad and Egypt.  Following the Anfa agreement all French forces were equipped in the US fashion before being shipped to Italy.   

By 1944 the French uniform was an extraordinary mess with French, British and American uniforms all being in use.  Photos of French troops in overcoats with US webbing and US leggings but many have large thin cotton 'desert' scarves - the cheche - wrapped around their necks and all have French Adrian helmets covered with very rough string netting that breaks up the distinctive Adrian outline; later photos have a mix of Adrian and US helmets, with the US kit gradually predominating.  

As a rule of thumb French soldiers retained their traditional hat/helmet if they could.  There were a couple of reasons for this, basically to show: 

• the Allies that they where not fighting under the US command but as one of the Allies, and 
• the enemy that they were facing Frenchmen.   

French officers, for example, wore their Kepi if they still had one.  The Kepi had a Khaki cover to make it less visible, but none the less it made French officers conspicuous.  

Some troops retained the Adrian Helmet in preference to US equipment.  General de Montsabert of the 3 DIA (3rd Algerian Infantry Division) ordered his men to retain the Adrian so the Germans could tell they were  fighting French troops.  During the Italian campaign the 2 DIM and the 4 DMM also used the Adrian.  

In contrast the 1st DFL - a Free French unit - retained the British helmet to distinguish them from the Armée d'Afrique. 

The 2nd Armored Division (Gal Leclerc) were in US uniforms with the exception of an amoured regiment formed from marine troops (Fusiliers Marin called Saccos) who wore  the Bachi - the French hat of the navy with a red pompon (it would look great to have a Tank Destroyer with a sailor in the turret).  The 501 Regiment de Char de combat used the French tanker black berets, the Regiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) (the infantry regiment of the 2eme DB) used the Blue and Red colonial troops bonnet de police with the anchor.  In the attack on 12 May 1944 the CEF, including the Goumiers, wore British helmets to fool the Germans into believing this was an British attack, i.e. slower and more structured than the normal French affair.  

Colonial troops (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Syria) retained elements of their Colonial uniforms even if wearing otherwise British or American uniforms.  For example Moroccan Goumier were dressed with both traditional items (e.g. turban and djellabah) and standard uniform items. They were equipped by the US and used the WWI US helmets. The turban color identified the particular Goum.    

The Kepi was used on the battle field, by both the Foreign Legion and regular officers. The Fusilliers Marins from the DFL (not the same as the 2eme DB) never used any helmet in combat.  However, most other ranks would wear a helmet in combat, and reserve their Kepi, Fez, or Turban for when out of the line.  

Some troops also wore a sash : blue for Zouave and FFL, red for 'tirailleurs' (Algerian, Tunisian, Moroccan, Senegalese).

Organisation 

General commanding the CEFI: Alphonse Juin

2ième Division d'Infanterie Marocaine (2nd DIM or Moroccan Infantry Division) 
Gal André Dody 
Arrived in Italy in end November 1943

4th RTM Col Lappara succeeded by Col Bridot (Moroccan Skirmisher Rgt)

1/4 Battalion
2/4 Battalion
3/4 Battalion

5th RTM Col Joppé succeeded by Lt-Col Piatte

1/5 Battalion
2/5 Battalion
3/5 Battalion

8th RTM Col Molle succeeded by Col de Berchoux

1/8 Battalion
2/8 Battalion
3/8 Battalion

3rd RSM Col Pique-Aubrun (Moroccan Spahis Rgt, light armor M5)

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
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63ème régiment d'artillerie d'AFRIQUE (63rd African Artillery Rgt)

1/63 Squadron
2/63 Squadron
3/63 Squadron
4/63 Squadron

87th Engineers Battalion Lt-Col Berthezène

41ème groupe colonial de DCA (FTA 41st DCA group) Chief Squadron Blanchet/ Juigner/ Bescond

3ème Division d'Infanterie Algérienne (3rd DIA or Algerian Infantry Division) 
General Joseph de Goiselard de Monsabert  
Arrived in Italy in end december 1943

3rd RTA Col Gonzalès de Linarès (Algerian Skirmisher Rgt)

1/3 Battalion
2/3 Battalion
3/3 Battalion

4th RTT Col Roux KIA 27 junary 44 succeded by Lt-Col Guillebaud
Tunisian Skirmisher Rgt

1/4 Battalion
2/4 Battalion
3/4 Battalion

7th RTA Col Chapuis

1/7 Battalion
2/7 Battalion
3/7 Battalion

3rd RSAR Lt-Col Bonjour (Recon Algerian Spahis Rgt, light armor M5)

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
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67ème régiment d'artillerie marocaine (67th African Artillery Rgt)

1/67 Squadron
2/57 Squadron
3/67 Squadron
4/67 Squadron

83rd Engineers Battalion Chief Battalion Vilette / Colin
37ème groupe de FTA (FTA 37th DCA Group) Col Blanchet

4ème division Marocaine de Montagne (4th DMM or Moroccan Mountain Division) 
General François Sevez 
Arrived in Italy in February 44
The 4ième DMM, was nicknamed the "DeMeMe" (in French over accentuation of the spelling).  After the use of her mules by the British army it became The Royal Brêl - a Brêl is a mule in the Berber language.  

1st RTM Col Brissaud-Desmaillet (Tunisian Skirmisher Rgt)

1/1 Battalion
2/1 Battalion
3/1 Battalion

2nd RTM Col Buot de l'Epine succeeded by Col Deleuze

1/2 Battalion
2/2 Battalion
3/2 Battalion

6th RTM Col Cherrière

1/6 Battalion
2/6 Battalion
3/6 Battalion

4th RSM (Moroccan Spahis Rgt, light armor M5) 
Col Lambilly Kia 18 May 44 succeeded by Chief Squadron Dodelier

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services

69ème régiment d'artillerie d'Afrique (69th RAM Mountain Artillery Rgt) Lt-Col Cerisier 

1/69 Squadron
2/69 Squadron
3/69 Squadron
4/69 Squadron

82nd Engineers Battalion Chief Battalion Labouerie

1ére Division Française Libre (1st DFL or Free French Division) 
Gal Diego Brosset 
Arrived in Italy in April 1944)
Renamed 1st DMI Motorized Infantry Division 

1st Brigade Col Delange

13th DBLE Chief Battalion Bablon (Half Brigade of Foreign Legion)
I believe most of the Spanish fighting in the Foreign Legion were in this unit ??

1 BLE Battalion of Foreign Legion
2 BLE

22nd BMNA Bataillon de Marche Nord Africain (North African Battle Group*)

2nd Brigade Lt-Col Garbay

4th BM Bataillon de Marche
5th BM
11th BM

4th Brigade Col Raynal

21st BM
24th BM
BIMP Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique (Marine Infantry Battalion of Pacific)

1st RAC Lt-Col Maubert (Colonial Artillery Rgt)

1/1 Squadron
2/1 Squadron
3/1 Squadron
155 Group (Long Tom)

1st RFM Capitaine de Fregate Amyot d'Inville Kia 10 June 44 succeeded by Capitaine de Corvette de Morsier. Light Armor

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.

21ème groupe colonial antillais de DCA (FTA 21st West Indies AA Group) Chief Battalion Lanlo

Goums Marocains (Moroccan Goum) 
Gal Augustin Guillaume
Arrived in Italy between Novenber 43 and April 44.

1st GTM Groupe de Tabors Marocains (Moroccan Tabor Group) Col Leblanc

2nd Tabor Chief Battalion Roussel

51st Goum
61st Goum
62nd Goum

3rd Tabor Chief Battalion Colbert-Turgis

4th Goum
65th Goum
101st Goum

12th Tabor Chief Battalion Leboîteux

12th Goum
63rd Goum
64th Goum

3rd GTM Col Massiet du Biest

9th Tabor Commandant Picardat

81st Goum
82nd Goum
83rd Goum

10th Tabor Commandant Boulet-Desbarreaux

84th Goum
85th Goum
86th Goum

17th Tabor Commandant Alès Kia 5 june 44 / Commandant Parlange

14th Goum
18th Goum
22nd Goum

4th GTM Lt-Col Soulard succeeded by Col Gautier

5th Tabor Captain Parlange / Commandant Villemandy

41st Goum
70th Goum
71st Goum

8th Tabor Commandant Aunis succeeded by Cmdt Pantalacci

78th Goum
79th Goum
80th Goum

11th Tabor Commandant Pejorlas

88th Goum
89th Goum
93th Goum

General Reserve Artillery (ARG)

7th RCA Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique (African Light Cavalry  Rgt**) Lt-Col Van Hecke Tank Destroyer M10

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services

8th RCA Lt-Col Simon Tank Destroyer M10

1st Squadron
2nd Squadron
3rd Squadron
4th Squadron
E.H.R.
Auto Services

64th RAA (African Artillery Rgt) Col Latarse

1/64 Squadron
2/64 Squadron
3/64 Squadron

Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale du Levant (Colonial Artillery Rgt of the Levant) Col Missonier

1st Group
2nd Group

Groupe de Canonniers Marins (Marine Artillery Group)

1st Battery Capitaine de Frégate Le Coroller equiped with 155mm GPF (long range Fillioux) these are French guns that the Italians had taken from south France between 40/43 and retrieved after the landing of the allied forces.

2nd Battery Lieutenant de Vaisseau Jourden / Capitaine de Corvette Acloque

* a Bataillon de Marche - translated as Battle Group - is a general term use by French for assembling diverse elements from different units it is near the German kampfgruppe but as is name implies it is at most an over strengthen battalion.

** Chasseur literally means Hunter, but historically just represented the equivalent of Light Cavalry in the British army.  Given these Chasseurs had Tank Destroyers the designation of Hunter takes on a new meaning.  

Regiment equivalent. from 1500 to 3000 men.

The CEFI artillery is equipped with 105 HM2, 155 GUN, 40 BOFOR.  

All senior officers and most junior officers of the colonial units where "white" French. Junior officers and NCOs were either French or  native depending of the area they came from.

FTA is Forces Terrestre Antiaériennes (AA Ground Forces)

EHR is Escadron Hors Rang (Outstanding Squadron).  The EHR is the squadron whose function is to run the day to day activities of a unit. It is responsible of the supply and the administration, all but the mechanical duties. In each fighting squadrons there is a PHR, a platoon who had the same functions as the EHR.

I used Chief Battalion but it should be Chief of Battalion it is not a rank it is a position, usually the rank is that of commandant or the equivalent depending of the type of the unit, infantry, colonial unit, artillery, navy and the like (a same rank could have a different name). The position could be held by higher rank, it could be also held by lower rank for an emergency situation. I haven't translated the rank of the French navy because i don't know the ranks in the allied navies and the equivalencies between army and navy.

The Goum were from Morocco; a soldier is called a Goumier.  The troopers were Moroccans and the officers where French. When created in 1908 the Goumier were "supplétif"  or irregulars, however, with time they became regular troops with an exotic uniform. They were  well trained and professional fighters, specialising in mountain warfare. The Moroccan organisation was: 

Groupe de Tabors (GTM) Maroccains (Moroccan Tabors Group)

3 x Tabors (~ Battalion; 500-800 men) 

Command 
3-4 x Goum (~ Company) 

100-200 men
1 x Platoon of muleteers  

Crossfire Orbats

Use the French organisation in Crossfire except ... 

French Foreign Legion (FFL): The FFL had the best of the officers and were an entirely professional force, so in Crossfire Veteran (at least for rallying), with good quality officers (like Germans). 

Colonial troops: They had more impetus for close combat. So treat them as Reckless like Japanese or Russian infantry when charging.  The North African troops fighting in Italy would also be Veteran and have good officers.   

Line infantry would have Dependent command control.  First line infantry would be Regular.  Second Line infantry may be regular in close combat and green for rallying. 

Figures 

Peter Pig, Essex and Battle Front can all contribute figures.  The packs of heads from Peter Pig will be particularly useful.  

For Vichy French just use 1940 French figures. 

For French in US uniform use any US figures and do some head swaps so some Officers have Kepi and some men have Adrian Helmet.   For additional variety you could mix in Peter SCW Republicans in Adrian Helmet or 1940 French figures, or you can reserve them for particular support units like artillery.  

Use Peter Pig SCW Moroccans as Moroccan Tirailleurs.  

Goumiers with their mix of native, British and US equipment pose the greatest challenge.  Me I'd cheat and just use Peter Pig SCW Moroccans for these guys as well.   

Sources 

http://france1940.free.fr  for all and army organisation

1ère DFL 

http://freefrench.free.fr/spahi/dfl/odb/italie.htm [French]

http://site.voila.fr/LARMINAT/page2.html [French]

CEF by Marcel AMATRUDA - http://www.piedsnoirs-aujourdhui.com/campit2.html [French]

French Orbat in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia in 1940 - http://france1940.free.fr/oob/oob.html#Algérie 

Goumier, Goum, Tabors - http://www.farac.org/php/article.php3?id_article=64 

Insignia of the Goums - http://www.goum.ovh.org/pres/insign.htm [French] 

Monte Cassino - http://www.mindspring.com/~gif212/ 

The Italian Campaign - http://members.aol.com/ItalyWW2/History.htm

But according to Reda the most valuable source would be the two Osprey on the WWII French army. Everything is described especially colors, etc...

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