Military music – Heritage and remembrance

Republican guard’s drum fanfare. ©J. Robert

Since the inception of the armed forces, music has been used as a living expression of the human needs of the men, whether in active service or at leisure. A reflection of the military's relations with the nation, military musical art with its songs and orchestras remains one of the testaments to military culture and heritage.

This article explains its role and its purpose.

The navy infantry band. Source: SGA/DMPA - Jacques Robert

The unification of the Resistance

On the 27th January 1943, Henri Frenay, the leader of ”Combat”, Emmanuel d'Astier
de la Vigerie, the leader of ”Libération Sud” and Jean-Pierre Levy, the leader of
”Franc-Tireur”, signed the official document signifying the birth of the ”United
Résistance Movements” (MUR). Then there was the creation of the National
Council for the Résistance (CNR) which met on the 27th May 1943
in rue du Four in Paris.

History of the Senegalese tirailleurs

12 January 1918. The flag of the 43rd Battalion of Senegalese Tirailleurs, decorated with the fourragère. Source: L’album de la guerre 1914-1919. © L’illustration

L'internement : La France des camps (1938-1946)

The camp de Drancy. The arrival of a convoy

La première bataille de la Marne

La France en guerre 1939 - 1940

1918 : les Belges à la reconquête de la Belgique

Les marraines de guerre

Viscountess Benoist d'Azy, wartime godmother to fort de Douaumont

La bataille de Verdun

The role of Navy officers in the Resistance (1940-1944)

Épaulettes d'officiers de marine (capitaine de frégate).

Navy officer’s epaulettes (frigate captain). Source: DR