| Added by |
 Alain Martineau
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| General Description | Les Invalides, officially known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides (The National Residence of the Invalids), is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's original purpose. The buildings house the Musée de l'Armée, the military museum of the Army of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d'Histoire Contemporaine, as well as the burial site for some of France's war heroes, notably Napoleon Bonaparte. |
| Front Description | The French Army that advanced with so much courage and confidence to meet the Germans in 1914 had changed little from the days of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. Despite attempts to reform their uniform the French infantrymen still wore the traditional red trousers, a conspicous blue greatcoat, a heavy pack and a long, unwieldy bayonet. The dark blue greatcoat was double breasted with two rows of brass but tons. A tunic was worn under the greatcoat. The front skirts of the greatcoat were folded and buttoned back to make movement easier. On the front of the greatcoat collar, a regimental number was embroidered, again blue on red. The red trousers were encased in black, laced leather gaiters. These and a kepi cover were the only differences peculiar to the field uniform. In drill order the gaiters were brown. For footwear the infantryman wore half boots and an additional pair of boots was carried on the haversack. The haversack itself was extremely unpractical. Made of black canvas, it required constant waterproofing and endless polishing. |
| Height | 148.00 mm |
| Width | 103.00 mm |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
