Zouaves September 1914

Two more finds on Facebook.

The first shows men from 4me Zouaves fighting outside Lassigny in Picardie, early September 1914, during the Race to the Sea.

The second is a magazine picture depicting the death of the Kaiser's nephew during the Battle of Charleroi, August 1914.

To me, these demonstrate the great contribution of African regiments during the opening weeks of the Great War. Zouaves and Tirailleurs (and the Colonial Infantry) were successfully used to blunt the German offencive, the Schlieffen knock-out blow, and gave to France and the Allies a breathing space needed to field their forces.