CHASSEURS A PIED

Chasseurs a Pied (hunters on foot) were a small branch of the French Army whose training emphasized marksmanship and scouting.  They were generally distributed in battalion strength, one per infantry division to assume the role of sharpshooters and skirmishers. This role became less important as the war bogged down and movement ceased.  They were assigned to their place in the trenches like the infantry.  They were however frequently given difficult assignments in some of the most dangerous places.  One good example is that of Colonel Emile Driant's 56th and 59th Battalions who held the Bois des Caures which was then the tip of the French salient at Verdun.  They were initially struck by the intense bombardment and assault which opened the German effort to take Verdun in February, 1916.  Although not considered "elite", they did earn a nasty reputation from those German units who were unfortunate enough to find themselves face to face with a Chasseur Battalion.  The Germans called them "Blue Devils" because of their pugnacious, combative spirit and almost legendary marksmanship abilities.  The Chasseurs were especially active in the Vosges region of France where the terrain was more mountainous and conditions were better suited for their training.  The Chasseurs a Pied and Chasseurs Alpins (mountain hunters), were especially active in these areas and held long stretches of the line around the Hartmann Willerkopf/ Linge sector, scene of some of the most bitter fighting of the war in near alpine conditions.

      The Chasseur uniform at the start of the war consisted of a tunic and trousers in dark blue wool called "Gris de fer bleute" or steel iron blue.  The tunic was based on the regular army model but featured a larger collar and longer turned back cuffs for extra warmth when needed.  Their trousers were made of the same material and usually piped in yellow.  They wore dark blue puttees and a dark blue oversized beret called a "tarte" until helmets were issued with the hunting horn emblem which was their symbol.  They were issued the same weapon and equipment as the infantry except the Chasseur Alpins who were also issued skis and alpenstocks when needed.  During the middle and latter part of the war when the French Army was experiencing supply difficulties, Chasseurs were issued overcoats of horizon blue with hunting horn buttons and collar insignias piped in dark green.