Misplaced Pages

#677322

37-580: Between 2013 and 2016, the Mucem welcomed 8.5 million visitors, including 2.2 million in its exhibition spaces. The museum is therefore presented as a tool for the attractiveness of the territory of the metropolis of Aix-Marseille-Provence. The museum is devoted to European and Mediterranean civilisations. With a permanent collection charting historical and cultural cross-fertilisation in the Mediterranean basin, it takes an interdisciplinary approach to society through

74-535: A local uprising against the governor, rather than for the defence of the city: their cannons pointed inwards towards the town, not outwards towards the sea. Two earlier buildings were incorporated into the structure of the fort: the twelfth century Commandry of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem , which served as a monastic hospice during the crusades ; and the fifteenth century tower of René I , King of Provence . In April 1790, Fort Saint-Jean

111-683: A major role in the liberation of Corsica (September – October 1943) and the Italian Campaign (1943–44) in the French Expeditionary Corps . During the French and German campaigns of 1944–45 the Army of Africa was expanded to 260,000 men (including 50% Indigenes and 50% white French settlers in North Africa, Pied-Noir ), including the 1st Motorized Infantry Division (Zouaves and Foreign Legion),

148-651: A neglected and disused state until it was passed to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in 1960. Classified as a historical monument in 1964, the damaged portions of the fort were reconstructed between 1967 and 1971. In 2013, the Fort Saint-Jean became part of the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM). The major buildings comprising the complex include: Army of Africa (France) The Army of Africa ( French : Armée d’Afrique [aʁme d‿afʁik] )

185-627: A substantial portion of the French Army between 1945 and 1962. The Foreign Legion and volunteers from the Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian tirailleur regiments served in the Indochina War between 1946 and 1954, along with nine tabors of the Moroccan Goumiers. Four regiments of Moroccan and Algerian spahis fought as infantry or halftrack armoured units. With Moroccan and Tunisian independence in 1956,

222-570: Is a fortification in Marseille , built in 1660 by Louis XIV at the entrance to the Old Port . Since 2013, it has been linked by two foot-bridges to the historical district Le Panier and to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations ; the latter being the first French national museum to be located outside Paris. Fort Saint-Jean was built on a site earlier occupied by the Military Order of

259-424: The 1st Armoured Division ( Chasseurs d' Afrique and Foreign Legion), the 2nd and 4th Moroccan Infantry Divisions (Moroccan Tirailleurs), and the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (Algerian and Tunisian Tirailleurs). In addition three groupes de tabors marocains of Goumiers served as independent units while artillery, engineer, commando, reconnaissance (mechanised Spahis and tank destroyer units were drawn from

296-541: The Fall of France . Officers of the African Light Infantry were seconded from other regiments as were some non-commissioned officers. Many NCOs were however former "Joyeux" who chose to remain with these unusual units and exercise authority, after they had completed their original terms of service. Camel mounted Meharistes plus Compagnies Sahariennes (desert infantry and later mechanised troops) were maintained in

333-546: The French colonial empire . The battalions of Infanterie Légère d'Afrique (African Light Infantry) were penal units made up of convicted military criminals from all branches of the French Army, who had finished their sentences in military prisons but still had time to serve before their terms of engagement were completed. The preference was not to return them to their original units where they might undermine discipline or brutalise their fellow soldiers. The first two battalions of

370-763: The Infanterie Legere d'Afrique were raised in 1832 for service in Algeria. Ironically known as les Joyeux (the "merry ones") these units were generally used for road and other construction work under harsh discipline. They were however used for combat service when circumstances demanded in Africa, Indochina and in France itself during World War I . Three battalions sent to France at the outbreak of World War II to work on fortifications, were rearmed in April 1940 and saw active service prior to

407-456: The Muslim rank and file of the spahis and tirailleurs, while Arab volunteers might appear amongst the ranks of the zouaves. Prior to World War I, one battalion of each of the four zouave regiments then in existence, was recruited in France. These battalions' bases were thereby providing a framework that could be expanded in the event of general mobilisation, and which were physically located closer to

SECTION 10

#1732848993678

444-685: The Sahara . The Foreign Legion provided mule mounted detachments for service in southern Algeria and, from 1940 to 1962, four of the Compagnies Sahariennes . In addition to the above, units or individuals from the mainland French Army were sometimes posted to service in North Africa, as were detachments of the Gendarmerie and the Tirailleurs Senegalais . At the outbreak of war in August 1914,

481-501: The Army of Africa in Algeria and Tunisia comprised nine regiments of Algerian Tirailleurs , four of zouaves, six of chasseurs d'Afrique , four of spahis and two of the Foreign Legion. In Morocco nineteen battalions of tirailleurs and nine of zouaves were on active service, along with elements of the Foreign Legion and the African Light Infantry. Large numbers of these troops were sent immediately to serve in France, mainly drawn from

518-401: The Army of Africa ranged from the spectacular "tenue orientale" of the spahis, tirailleurs and zouaves to the ordinary French military dress of the chasseurs d'Afrique, Foreign Legion, Artillerie d'Afrique and Infanterie Légère d'Afrique. Even the latter units were however distinguished by details such as sashes , white kepi covers and (for the chasseurs) fezzes which made them stand out from

555-471: The European settler community. At the same time, additional Muslim soldiers were to be incorporated into previously mostly European units such as the zouaves, until they made up to 25% of the total. Growing tensions within mixed units as the war continued, plus the threat of rebel FLN reprisals against Muslim volunteers, largely nullified this attempted reform. Towards the end of the period of French rule in 1959

592-607: The Fort Saint-Jean to the Esplanade de la Tourette, near the church of St Laurent in the Panier quarter. The museum, built "of stone, water and wind", was designed by the architect Rudy Ricciotti in collaboration with the architect Roland Carta. A cube of 15,000 square metres (160,000 sq ft) surrounded by a latticework shell of fibre-reinforced concrete , it houses exhibits on two levels, with an underground auditorium seating 400. The permanent collection and bookshop are situated on

629-548: The French and indigenous populations of French North Africa . The Oran, Algiers and Constantine Divisions existed as divisions until at least 1955–57; General de division Raymond Delange ( fr:Raymond Delange ) commanded the Algiers Division in 1955–57, also being assistant commander of the 10th Military Region. During the Algerian War they were upgraded to corps status. The Armée d’Afrique continued to provide

666-491: The Knights Hospitaller of Saint John, from which the new building derived its name. Fort Saint-Nicolas was constructed at the same time on the opposite side of the harbour. Commenting on their construction, Louis XIV said, "We noticed that the inhabitants of Marseille were extremely fond of nice fortresses. We wanted to have our own at the entrance to this great port." In fact, the two new forts were built in response to

703-454: The Muslim personnel of the tirailleur and spahi units recruited in both countries were incorporated into their new national armies. This reduced the Army of Africa to the all professional Foreign Legion; the colon (French settler) conscripts and reservists of the zouaves and chasseurs d'Afrique; and the career regulars and conscripts of the remaining Muslim units recruited in Algeria. In contrast to

740-518: The Muslim population of Algeria. In theory, from this date, all young Muslim males were called to undertake three years of compulsory military service upon reaching the age of 18. However only about 2,000 conscripts a year were obtained by this method, out of approximately 45,000 possible candidates and Muslim enlistment remained predominately voluntary in peacetime. Even during World War I the majority (89,000 out of 170,000) of Muslim soldiers who served were volunteers. As in France itself, military service

777-459: The ages up to modern times. The museum is built on reclaimed land at the entrance to the harbour, next to the site of the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean and a former port terminal called the J4. A channel separates the new building and the Fort Saint-Jean, which has been restructured as part of the project. The two sites are linked by a high footbridge, 130 m (430 ft) long. Another footbridge links

SECTION 20

#1732848993678

814-645: The fall of France, the Army of Africa was reduced to a level of 120,000 under Axis direction. General Maxime Weygand was however able to maintain and train a further 60,000 men in French North Africa disguised as auxiliary police , "provisional conscripts " and "unarmed workers". From the end of 1942, the Army of Africa was headed by French general Henri Giraud and fought in the Tunisia Campaign before its merger with General Charles de Gaulle 's Free French Forces . North African units subsequently played

851-399: The geographical threat of Germany. In addition to the corps listed above, the Army of Africa included technical and support branches - notably artillery, engineers and train. Stationed permanently in North Africa these comprised a mixture of French and indigenous personnel that varied according to recruitment availability. In May 1913 a limited form of selective conscription was applied to

888-708: The ground floor. There is a restaurant on the terrace at the top of the building with panoramic views of the bay of Marseille, the Corniche and the Prado. The exhibition devoted in 2022 to the Emir Abdelkader makes it possible to address, for example, issues of history and memory of a great figure in the Mediterranean. [REDACTED] Media related to Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée at Wikimedia Commons Fort Saint-Jean (Marseille) Fort Saint-Jean ( French pronunciation: [fɔʁ sɛ̃ʒɑ̃] )

925-508: The overthrow of Robespierre in 1794, about a hundred Jacobin prisoners held in the fort were massacred. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Fort Saint-Jean was in the possession of the French Army, who utilised it as a barracks and clearing station for the Army of Africa . During the years when the French Foreign Legion was based mainly in North Africa (1830 to 1962), the fort

962-469: The peacetime garrisons of Algeria and Tunisia. In 1914 33,000 Muslim Algerians were already serving with the spahis, tirailleurs and other units of the Army of Africa. In the course of the war a further 137,000 enlisted either as volunteers (57,000) or as wartime conscripts (80,000). Of the total of 170,000, 36,000 were killed. On 22 April 1915 the first German use of chlorine gas on the Western Front

999-414: The personnel breakdown of a typical regiment of tirailleurs Algerien had stabilised at about 60% Muslim and European volunteers, enlisted under contract ( engages ); plus 20% European and 20% Muslim conscripts ( appeles ). The Armée d’Afrique was formally part of the French metropolitan army comprising a separate army corps. It is noted that in 1873 the term Armée d'Afrique was used with reference to

1036-471: The proportion of officiers indigenes was fixed at nine out of a total of 67 in each of these regiments. In 1956, in the course of the Algerian War , a new policy of greater racial integration was adopted in the remaining units of the old Army of Africa. Algerian tirailleur regiments were to be made up of roughly 50% "Frenchmen of North African stock" (i.e. Arab and Berber Muslims) and an equivalent number of French volunteers and conscripts, largely drawn from

1073-580: The remainder of the French Army. Some of these features have survived as parade dress to the present day; notably the white cloaks and red sashes worn by the 1st Spahis, and the white kepis, fringed epaulettes and blue sashes of the Foreign Legion. The fanfare-nouba (regimental band) of the 1st Regiment of Tirailleurs still wears the full traditional tenue orientale ; comprising white turbans, light blue zouave style jackets braided in yellow, red sashes and wide light blue or white Moorish trousers (see colour photograph above). The adoption of khaki uniforms, unlike

1110-411: The traditions of their respective branches. In addition some units of engineers ( 31e régiment du génie ), signals ( 41e régiment de transmissions ) and transport ( 511e régiment du train ) have been accorded ties of tradition with the old Armée d’Afrique . These appear however to be arbitrary linkages which do not reflect any real regimental continuity. The uniforms of the various branches making up

1147-583: The troops of the 19th Army Corps (19e Corps d'Armée). It was one of 21 army corps of the Metropolitan Army formed in 1870. It was the only corps whose military district did not cover mainland France. As such it was separate from the French Colonial Forces which came under the Ministry of Marine and comprised both French and indigenous units serving in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere in

Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-868: The war in Indo-China, the Algerian War of 1954–62 was fought largely by conscripts and reservists from France itself. With the exception of a reduced Foreign Legion and one regiment of Spahis, all regiments of the Armée d’Afrique were disbanded or lost their former identity between 1960 and 1965. A small unit of the Infanterie Légère d'Afrique was maintained in French Somaliland until that Territory became independent in 1977. However, one regiment each of Chasseurs d'Afrique, Tirailleurs and artillery ( 68e Régiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique ) have been re-established to maintain

1221-563: Was a final stop-off point for recruits for the Legion destined for basic training in Algeria. During World War II Fort Saint-Jean was occupied by the German military in November 1942. In August 1944, during the liberation of Marseilles, the explosion of a munitions depot within the fort destroyed much of its historic battlements and buildings. Although returned to the French Army, Fort Saint-Jean remained in

1258-421: Was an obligation of citizenship and all physically fit male settlers of French origin were required to undertake two years of compulsory service (three years from 1913). Officers of all branches of the Army of Africa were predominantly French Europeans, though a certain number of commissioned positions up to and including the rank of captain were reserved for Muslim personnel in the spahis and tirailleurs. In 1932

1295-779: Was an unofficial but commonly used term for those portions of the French Army stationed in French North Africa ( Morocco , Algeria and Tunisia ) from 1830 until the end of the Algerian War in 1962, including units made up of indigenous recruits. The Army of Africa included indigenous Arab or Berber volunteers; ( spahis , Goumiers and tirailleurs ); regiments largely made up of pied-noir French settlers doing their military service ( zouaves and chasseurs d'Afrique ); and non-French volunteers ( Légion étrangère ). The divisions were not absolute and (for example) volunteers or conscripts from mainland France might choose to serve with

1332-556: Was directed against the French 45th Division, consisting of zouaves, Algerian tirailleurs and African Light Infantry. As had been the case in 1914, substantial numbers of the Army of Africa were moved to mainland France on the outbreak of World War II. In May 1940 14 regiments of zouaves , 42 regiments of Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan tirailleurs , 12 regiments and demi-brigades of the Foreign Legion and 13 battalions of African Light Infantry were serving on all fronts. Following

1369-406: Was seized by a revolutionary mob who decapitated the chevalier de Beausse , commander of the royal garrison, when he was captured after refusing to surrender the fortress. During the subsequent French Revolution the fort was used as a prison, holding Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans , and two of his sons, Louis-Charles, Count of Beaujolais , and Antoine Philippe, Duke of Montpensier . Following

#677322