Uniforms What made Zouaves "Zouaves"?

We Have Them On Our Own Ground: Zouaves at Gettysburg

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During the decades leading up to the Civil War state militia, where they still existed, had largely morphed into fraternal rather than military organizations. Their uniforms reflected that. Showy drill performances much like Shriner parade drill teams were very popular. Ellsworth’s “Zouave Cadets” were a theatrical rather than a military company in reality. They traveled the country putting on performances. It must have been something to see them high stepping at full speed through their evolutions.

There were Zouave units in the French army from 1830 to 1962. They were some of the most decorated units in the army. During WWII, German soldiers in Italy were appalled when knife weilding Berber tribesmen who had infiltrated through ‘impassible’ mountains came howling out of the dark. Because of their unbridled sexual appetites, their women accompanied them. American troops called them ‘Gomers’ a corruption of their real name. Apparently, the only difference in appearance between men & women was the lack of a beard. Both habitually wore their boots hung around their necks when on the march. They were people that gave Zouave its military reputation.

Zouave was a corruption of Zawar, the region from which Berber tribesmen were first recruited by the French. The Ottomans had made use of them for generations.
 
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There were Zouave units in the French army from 1830 to 1962. They were some of the most decorated units in the army. During WWII, German soldiers in Italy were appalled when knife weilding Berber tribesmen who had infiltrated through ‘impassible’ mountains came howling out of the dark. Because of their unbridled sexual appetites, their women accompanied them. American troops called them ‘Gomers’ a corruption of their real name. Apparently, the only difference in appearance between men & women was the lack of a beard. Both habitually wore their boots hung around their necks when on the march. They were people that gave Zouave its military reputation.

Zouave was a corruption of Zawar, the region from which Berber tribesmen were first recruited by the French. The Ottomans had made use of them for generations.

The Goumiers were completely different from the Zouaves.

WW2 Gomiers:
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WW2 Zouaves
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