Creation of a specialized corps in 1856 These companies lacked specialized personnel trained for combat on land. An Imperial
decree dated 5 June 1856, created the
Fusiliers marins, whose formation and training were undertaken by a battalion stationed at
Lorient, Brittany. This specialized corps was put under the command of the captains and sergeants-at-arms of the various
naval vessels of the
French fleet, and was the direct ancestor of the modern
Fusiliers. Since that date, the
Fusiliers have participated the following conflicts: • The
military colonial campaigns of the end of the 19th century, • The expeditions in China, Cochinchina, Tonkin and Madagascar, • The European conflicts in 1870, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945. During the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870, following the disaster of
Sedan, several brigades of
Fusiliers marins and naval artillerymen were engaged in combat at
Bapaume and subsequently participated in the defense of Paris, notably at the Bourget and at L'Haÿ-les-Roses. This force formed part of the Government
Armée versaillaise () employed in the suppression of the
Paris Commune in 1871. department, in November 1914 A detachment of
Fusiliers marins defended the French Legation (diplomatic mission) in Peking during the
Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Amongst their officers was
enseigne de vaisseau Paul Henry and
Pierre Alexis Ronarc'h, who, in 1914, would serve as
Counter-Admiral and
Commandant of the
Brigade de Fusiliers Marins BFM attached to the
32nd Army Corps. The
Brigade de Fusiliers marins distinguished themselves at
Dixmude, on the Yser, at Longewaede, Hailles and Laffaux during the early stages of World War I. Three French ships have been
named after Dixmude. The
Fusiliers marins participated in the campaigns of
Free France. They initially formed a battalion then the
1er Régiment de Fusiliers Marins 1e RFM at the corps of the
1st Free French Division (1er DFL) and the
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos (
1er BFMC) who served in 10 (Inter-Allied)
Commando. The 177
Commandos Kieffer who disembarked on 6 June in Normandy, were Fusiliers Marins forming part of the Free France Forces. Other Fusiliers Marins, drawn from the former Armée de Vichy, formed the
Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins (
RBFM) which served efficiently as part of the
2nd Armored Division. On 30 April 1945 the
Fusiliers marins played a role in the liberation of the
Île d'Oléron. Disembarked at 0620 at Gatseau, an FM detachment advanced slowly through forested terrain facing stern resistance. In 1945, the Far Eastern Marine Brigade (BMEO) was created with personnel from the
RBFM and the
1er RFM, and was part of the
French Far East Expeditionary Corps. The Marine Brigade formed riverine brigades (
flottilles fluviales) in 1945–1946. They became the
Dinassaut, which were created by
General Leclerc in 1947 in order to replace the
flottilles fluviales created by Jaubert, and operated in Tonkin and Cochinchina from 1947 to 1954. In 1956, with operational cadres serving in Algeria, the Demi-Brigade of Fusiliers Marins (DBFM) was created to play a leading role in securing the borders between Algeria and Morocco until 1962. This demi-brigade was under the command of Vessel Commander (CV) Ponchardier. File:LPDF 61 10 les fusillers marins de Dixmude.jpg|
Fusiliers marins decorated after the
Battle of the Yser Image:Commandant Ducuing 061030-N-5555T-019.jpg|Inspections at sea are often carried out by
Fusilliers marins. ==Uniforms==