The Army Beret: A Historical Presentation

1
The Army BeretA Historical Presentation

• LTC James Corum, USARPh.D. Military History

2
Purpose of this Briefing

• To support the Chief of Staff, US Army, and the
  decision to make the beret the standard hat of
  the US Army.
• To provide a historical overview of how and why
  the beret has become such a popular part of the
  military uniform in the 20th Century.

3
The Origin of the Berets Popularity The French
Army

• In 1918, the French Army was victorious on the
  battlefield. The French Army was tactically
  innovative and performed superbly in the 1918
  final offensives.
• In the period after World War I, the French Army
  was generally regarded as the worlds best.
• However, a period of malaise set in. There were
  few funds for training and operations. Living
  conditions for professional soldiers were poor.
  Morale was down.

4
The Beret Adopted To Boost Morale

• Given the lack of funds and morale problems of
  the French Army in the interwar period
  outstanding officers, such as Army Commander in
  Chief Maurice Gamelin, helped raise morale by
  updating and improving the uniform. One of the
  major changes by the interwar French Army, was
  the adoption of the beret as a primary uniform
  hat.

5
French Troops in the Maginot Line circa 1937

6
Interwar French Army - US Army Today How Similar?

• There are several important similarities between
  the interwar French Army and the US Army of
  today. One of the striking similarities is the
  emphasis on force protection as a top priority.
  The French had a low casualty tolerance as part
  of their doctrine just like the US Army today.
  The French doctrine led LArmée Française to
  concentrate on strong fortifications.

7
Force Protection Doctrine Worked!! Few soldiers
in the Maginot Line were killed or wounded in the
campaign of 1940. Almost all of the troops were
in good condition when they surrendered to the
Germans who outflanked and surrounded them. The
beret was the headgear of choice in the Maginot
Line.
Maginot Line, ca 1938
8
Frances leading warriors in the 1940 campaign
also wore the beret. Although facing difficult
odds against the Germans (11 ratio in ground
troops and only a
French Generals, Spring 1940
11.3 advantage in tanks and 21 advantage in
artillery -Some of these generals managed to hold
the line for hours before their divisions
completely collapsed.
9
Marquise de Crussel, the official mistress of the
Prime Minister who had enormous influence in
the government- reportedly favored the beret.
Prime Minister and statesman Eduard Daladier
shows solidarity with the troops by wearing a
beret while visiting the front in 1939.
10
Norway 1940- Frances first major campaign of
World War II. The importance of a snappy uniform
and hat to troop morale cant be overestimated.
One can scarcely imagine that these soldiers have
just suffered a humiliating defeat and have
abandoned virtually all of their equipment to the
Germans.
French retreat from Namsos, May 1940
11
June 1940 This surrendering French soldier is
wearing his beret in the high and tight manner
of the US Army. His durable beret kept his head
warm in the cold winters during his 5 years of
forced labor in Germany.
12
After 1940, the Beret served as the uniform of
the fascist Vichy regime.
Vichy Air Force, circa 1942
13
The beret was also the uniform hat of the
fearsome Vichy MILICE -Internal Security forces.
Milice arresting people suspected of disloyalty
to the regime, circa 1943
14
The Post World War II French Army

• After World War II, the French Army changed much
  of their uniform but retained the pre- WWII
  beret.
• The beret saw service in Indochina and Algeria.

15
Indochina 1945-54. The Beret was the primary
headgear of the French forces. The VIET MINH were
highly impressed by the martial appearance of the
French Army.
French on parade in Hanoi, circa 1950
16
Indochina- Dien Bien Phu, Nov 1953. Many of the
French troops wore their berets during the
momentous siege of Dien Bien Phu.
If this soldier survived the battle, he probably
wore his beret into captivity.
17
Algeria 1954-62 Again the Beret was standard wear
-- even in the field.
18
Even in defeat, the French Army maintained a
first-rate martial appearance.
French forces proudly wear berets on the way to
embarkation as they withdraw from Algeria, 1962.
19
The Beret in Other Armies

• After the beret became standard wear in France,
  other armies adopted the hat.
• In the Spanish Civil War, both sides wore the
  beret into battle.

20
The Republican forces lost most of the big
battles. However, during the Summer and Fall of
1936, beret-wearing soldiers successfully
liquidated over 10,000 enemies of the state-
nuns, priests, businessmen, landowners.
Troops of the Spanish Republic.
21
Entire divisions wore the beret into battle. The
Spanish Nationalist Army is one of the more
successful armies that wore the beret.
Spanish Nationalist troops give the fascist
salute after a victory, April 1938
22
The Berets Enduring Popularity

• Throughout the 1960s, the beret became the
  standard hat in many nations around the globe
  including some famous fighting forces.

23
South Vietnamese Regional Force soldier- Mid 1960s
24
The Beret in theThird World Forces

• By the end of the 1960s, the beret had become the
  headgear of choice in many newly independent
  third world armies who tried to adapt the proud
  traditions of the French Army to their own
  forces.

25
Soldier of the Congo Republic, in beret,
finishing off wounded civilians. Stanleyville,
Congo, Summer 1960
26
The Beret A Proud Symbol for 70 Years

• The French Army has had a great effect upon many
  armies in doctrine and uniform.
• The US Army has been heavily influenced by the
  French Army ever since the French were our
  primary teachers in war in 1917-1918.
• The beret has served the French well through
  three republics (Third, Fourth and Fifth) and one
  fascist dictatorship (Vichy). It is an enduring
  symbol.
• For the French Army in the Disaster of 1940, the
  Debacle in Indochina and the Defeat in Algeria-
  The beret was there!