Kriegsgefangene - Tirailleurs

Following the colonization of Africa, French troops recruited hundreds of soldiers from their colonies in the north and west to fight for the French Army. Fighting along side the French soldiers, zouaves, turcos, spahis and tirailleurs were initially formed into their own battalions but soon intermingled with the French troops on the battlefield. They were particularly active during the Second Empire, when they represented France in the Crimean War, the Italian Campaign and Franco-Prussian War. Their participation in the French army ended in 1962 when Algeria won its independence from France. These two Senegalese tirailleurs sitting cross-legged beside a standing French tirailleur, were photographed in Munich around 1871. Following the colonization of Africa, French troops recruited hundreds of soldiers from their colonies in the north and west to fight for the French Army. Fighting along side the French soldiers, zouaves, turcos, spahis and tirailleurs were initially formed into their own battalions but soon intermingled with the French troops on the battlefield. They were particularly active during the Second Empire, when they represented France in the Crimean War, the Italian Campaign and Franco-Prussian War. Their participation in the French army ended in 1962 when Algeria won its independence from France. These two Senegalese tirailleurs sitting cross-legged beside a standing French tirailleur, were photographed in Munich around 1871. Photographer unknown. Writing on back of photograph partly illegible.