Sammy Flex the Unproblematic King
@sammyflex.bsky.social
Amateur historian, temporarily exiled from Paris 🇺🇸 🇫🇷
(Cover image: 6e Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains, Viticuso, Italy, Feb. 1944)
(Cover image: 6e Régiment de Tirailleurs Marocains, Viticuso, Italy, Feb. 1944)
December 1954: The 8e Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux (BPC) on patrol in the Aurès mountains.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #Algérie
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #Algérie
December 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
December 1954: The 8e Bataillon de Parachutistes Coloniaux (BPC) on patrol in the Aurès mountains.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #Algérie
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #Algérie
#OnThisDay 17 Dec 1939 French gold reserves carried aboard the battleship Dunkerque arrive in Halifax, Canada, for safekeeping. This is the second of three convoys bringing French gold across the Atlantic.
#WWII #WW2 #France #Canada #Halifax #MilitaryHistory #NavalHistory
#WWII #WW2 #France #Canada #Halifax #MilitaryHistory #NavalHistory
December 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
#OnThisDay 17 Dec 1939 French gold reserves carried aboard the battleship Dunkerque arrive in Halifax, Canada, for safekeeping. This is the second of three convoys bringing French gold across the Atlantic.
#WWII #WW2 #France #Canada #Halifax #MilitaryHistory #NavalHistory
#WWII #WW2 #France #Canada #Halifax #MilitaryHistory #NavalHistory
I believe- though I'm not an artillery expert- that those are the charges used to propel the projectile. They were divided into increments and depending on the desired range the crew might employ a reduced charge. Here's an excerpt from the M7 Priest technical manual:
December 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I believe- though I'm not an artillery expert- that those are the charges used to propel the projectile. They were divided into increments and depending on the desired range the crew might employ a reduced charge. Here's an excerpt from the M7 Priest technical manual:
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [5/5]
Evacuation of wounded by Dodge ambulance to army hospital in Ergersheim, Lower Rhine dept.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
Evacuation of wounded by Dodge ambulance to army hospital in Ergersheim, Lower Rhine dept.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
December 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [5/5]
Evacuation of wounded by Dodge ambulance to army hospital in Ergersheim, Lower Rhine dept.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
Evacuation of wounded by Dodge ambulance to army hospital in Ergersheim, Lower Rhine dept.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [4/5]
Riflemen and engineers advance cautiously on a forested road, 4th photo depicts impact of incoming German artillery.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
Riflemen and engineers advance cautiously on a forested road, 4th photo depicts impact of incoming German artillery.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
December 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [4/5]
Riflemen and engineers advance cautiously on a forested road, 4th photo depicts impact of incoming German artillery.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
Riflemen and engineers advance cautiously on a forested road, 4th photo depicts impact of incoming German artillery.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [3/5]
105mm artillery support from M7 Priests of the 33e Batterie, XIe Groupe, 64e Régiment d'Artillerie de Division Blindée.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
105mm artillery support from M7 Priests of the 33e Batterie, XIe Groupe, 64e Régiment d'Artillerie de Division Blindée.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
December 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [3/5]
105mm artillery support from M7 Priests of the 33e Batterie, XIe Groupe, 64e Régiment d'Artillerie de Division Blindée.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
105mm artillery support from M7 Priests of the 33e Batterie, XIe Groupe, 64e Régiment d'Artillerie de Division Blindée.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [2/5]
Mine clearance by engineers of the 13e Bataillon du Génie (BG).
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
Mine clearance by engineers of the 13e Bataillon du Génie (BG).
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
December 14, 2025 at 2:54 PM
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [2/5]
Mine clearance by engineers of the 13e Bataillon du Génie (BG).
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
Mine clearance by engineers of the 13e Bataillon du Génie (BG).
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace #OTD
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [1/5]
1&2: M4A3 "Douaumont II", 3e Cie., 501e RCC. Commander+Driver WIA later this day.
3&4: 9e Cie., Rgt. de Marche du Tchad.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace
1&2: M4A3 "Douaumont II", 3e Cie., 501e RCC. Commander+Driver WIA later this day.
3&4: 9e Cie., Rgt. de Marche du Tchad.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace
December 14, 2025 at 2:52 PM
#OnThisDay 14 Dec 1944 French 2nd Armored (2e DB) on the offensive in the Witternheim-Benfeld sector, south of Strasbourg. [1/5]
1&2: M4A3 "Douaumont II", 3e Cie., 501e RCC. Commander+Driver WIA later this day.
3&4: 9e Cie., Rgt. de Marche du Tchad.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace
1&2: M4A3 "Douaumont II", 3e Cie., 501e RCC. Commander+Driver WIA later this day.
3&4: 9e Cie., Rgt. de Marche du Tchad.
#WWII #WW2 #MilitaryHistory #France #Alsace
December 1950, men of the 27e Bataillon de Marche de Tirailleurs Sénégalais (BMTS) construct fortifications at Đa Phúc, near Hanoi. Here the tirailleurs string barbed wire with the help of Vietnamese laborers. [2/2]
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
December 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
December 1950, men of the 27e Bataillon de Marche de Tirailleurs Sénégalais (BMTS) construct fortifications at Đa Phúc, near Hanoi. Here the tirailleurs string barbed wire with the help of Vietnamese laborers. [2/2]
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
December 1950, men of the 27e Bataillon de Marche de Tirailleurs Sénégalais (BMTS) construct fortifications at Đa Phúc, near Hanoi. This post became part of an airfield, which is now part of Noi Bai International Airport. [1/2]
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
December 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
December 1950, men of the 27e Bataillon de Marche de Tirailleurs Sénégalais (BMTS) construct fortifications at Đa Phúc, near Hanoi. This post became part of an airfield, which is now part of Noi Bai International Airport. [1/2]
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
#Vietnam #Indochina #France #ColdWar #Decolonization
Beautiful shot of a Martin B-26 Marauder in flight, December 1944. I think this plane likely belongs to the Groupe de Bombardement II/20 "Bretagne", which means this is likely over northern Italy, but I'm not 100% certain.
#WWII #WW2 #AviationHistory #MilitaryHistory #France
#WWII #WW2 #AviationHistory #MilitaryHistory #France
December 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Beautiful shot of a Martin B-26 Marauder in flight, December 1944. I think this plane likely belongs to the Groupe de Bombardement II/20 "Bretagne", which means this is likely over northern Italy, but I'm not 100% certain.
#WWII #WW2 #AviationHistory #MilitaryHistory #France
#WWII #WW2 #AviationHistory #MilitaryHistory #France
#OnThisDay 13 Dec 1944, in Alsace.
1. A soldier of the 6e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale (RIC), 9e DIC, looks across the Rhine at the Kembs hydroelectic dam, 15 km from Mulhouse.
2. A 40mm Bofors of the 1er Corps d'Armée deployed near the Rhine.
#WWII #WW2 #OTD #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
1. A soldier of the 6e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale (RIC), 9e DIC, looks across the Rhine at the Kembs hydroelectic dam, 15 km from Mulhouse.
2. A 40mm Bofors of the 1er Corps d'Armée deployed near the Rhine.
#WWII #WW2 #OTD #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
December 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
#OnThisDay 13 Dec 1944, in Alsace.
1. A soldier of the 6e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale (RIC), 9e DIC, looks across the Rhine at the Kembs hydroelectic dam, 15 km from Mulhouse.
2. A 40mm Bofors of the 1er Corps d'Armée deployed near the Rhine.
#WWII #WW2 #OTD #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
1. A soldier of the 6e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale (RIC), 9e DIC, looks across the Rhine at the Kembs hydroelectic dam, 15 km from Mulhouse.
2. A 40mm Bofors of the 1er Corps d'Armée deployed near the Rhine.
#WWII #WW2 #OTD #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
Early December 1944: Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins (RBFM, Armored Marine Rifle Regiment - actually an M10 tank destroyer unit), 2nd Armored Division, in the ruined village of Kogenheim, Lower Rhine Department. German POWs pictured in photos 3 & 4.
#WWII #WW2 #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
#WWII #WW2 #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
December 12, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Early December 1944: Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers-Marins (RBFM, Armored Marine Rifle Regiment - actually an M10 tank destroyer unit), 2nd Armored Division, in the ruined village of Kogenheim, Lower Rhine Department. German POWs pictured in photos 3 & 4.
#WWII #WW2 #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
#WWII #WW2 #France #Alsace #MilitaryHistory
"Early December 1944, infantrymen of the 4e DMM (Moroccan Mountain Division) supported by the tanks of the 1re DB (Armored Division) deploy for a counterattack in the Hardt Forest northeast of Mulhouse." [Original caption]
M4 "Valenciennes" of the 2e Cuirassiers Rgt is visible in the first photo.
M4 "Valenciennes" of the 2e Cuirassiers Rgt is visible in the first photo.
December 11, 2025 at 9:09 PM
"Early December 1944, infantrymen of the 4e DMM (Moroccan Mountain Division) supported by the tanks of the 1re DB (Armored Division) deploy for a counterattack in the Hardt Forest northeast of Mulhouse." [Original caption]
M4 "Valenciennes" of the 2e Cuirassiers Rgt is visible in the first photo.
M4 "Valenciennes" of the 2e Cuirassiers Rgt is visible in the first photo.
#OnThisDay 10 Dec 1960 anti-independence demonstrations by elements of the European population of Algiers. [2/2]
1. A burning Peugeot 403.
2. Pélissier Barracks, army HQ in Algiers.
3. M8 armored cars near the telephone exchange.
4. Behind the cordon.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
1. A burning Peugeot 403.
2. Pélissier Barracks, army HQ in Algiers.
3. M8 armored cars near the telephone exchange.
4. Behind the cordon.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
December 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
#OnThisDay 10 Dec 1960 anti-independence demonstrations by elements of the European population of Algiers. [2/2]
1. A burning Peugeot 403.
2. Pélissier Barracks, army HQ in Algiers.
3. M8 armored cars near the telephone exchange.
4. Behind the cordon.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
1. A burning Peugeot 403.
2. Pélissier Barracks, army HQ in Algiers.
3. M8 armored cars near the telephone exchange.
4. Behind the cordon.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
#OnThisDay 10 Dec 1960 anti-independence demonstrations by elements of the European population of Algiers. [1/2]
1. Crowd faces a cordon of gendarmes.
2 & 3. Crowd facing troops on Rue Michelet (today Rue Didouche Mourad)
4. Packed crowd of demonstrators.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
1. Crowd faces a cordon of gendarmes.
2 & 3. Crowd facing troops on Rue Michelet (today Rue Didouche Mourad)
4. Packed crowd of demonstrators.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
December 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
#OnThisDay 10 Dec 1960 anti-independence demonstrations by elements of the European population of Algiers. [1/2]
1. Crowd faces a cordon of gendarmes.
2 & 3. Crowd facing troops on Rue Michelet (today Rue Didouche Mourad)
4. Packed crowd of demonstrators.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
1. Crowd faces a cordon of gendarmes.
2 & 3. Crowd facing troops on Rue Michelet (today Rue Didouche Mourad)
4. Packed crowd of demonstrators.
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar
Activity in the port of Marseille, 1939-40, with colonial tirailleurs freshly-arrived from Africa.
#WWII #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #PhoneyWar
#WWII #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #PhoneyWar
December 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Activity in the port of Marseille, 1939-40, with colonial tirailleurs freshly-arrived from Africa.
#WWII #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #PhoneyWar
#WWII #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #PhoneyWar
#OnThisDay 8 Dec 1951, French forces on parade in Battambang, Cambodia in the presence of Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, to mark the anniversary of Siam's cession of the province to France.
The armored car is a Panhard 178B named "Italie".
#Cambodia #France #MilitaryHistory #Indochina #ColdWar
The armored car is a Panhard 178B named "Italie".
#Cambodia #France #MilitaryHistory #Indochina #ColdWar
December 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM
#OnThisDay 8 Dec 1951, French forces on parade in Battambang, Cambodia in the presence of Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, to mark the anniversary of Siam's cession of the province to France.
The armored car is a Panhard 178B named "Italie".
#Cambodia #France #MilitaryHistory #Indochina #ColdWar
The armored car is a Panhard 178B named "Italie".
#Cambodia #France #MilitaryHistory #Indochina #ColdWar
Some really great observations on a classic
December 8, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Some really great observations on a classic
Speaking as somebody who's attuned to the Franco-American relationship on a rather personal level this is such a great observation. You can argue about how much it was or wasn't an elite phenomenon but it really seems Americans were less prone to revel in ignorance of the wider world not so long ago
December 8, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Speaking as somebody who's attuned to the Franco-American relationship on a rather personal level this is such a great observation. You can argue about how much it was or wasn't an elite phenomenon but it really seems Americans were less prone to revel in ignorance of the wider world not so long ago
Ski scouts of the 30e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied (BCP) training at the Le Lioran ski station in the Cantal Department, December 1941 (Vichy period photo).
#WWI #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #Vichy
#WWI #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #Vichy
December 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Ski scouts of the 30e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied (BCP) training at the Le Lioran ski station in the Cantal Department, December 1941 (Vichy period photo).
#WWI #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #Vichy
#WWI #WW2 #France #MilitaryHistory #Vichy
#OnThisDay Legionnaire from the 2e CSPL board a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter during an operation near Aflou, in the Djebel Amour range of the Atlas Mountains, 3-9 Dec 1956. [9/9]
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
December 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
#OnThisDay Legionnaire from the 2e CSPL board a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter during an operation near Aflou, in the Djebel Amour range of the Atlas Mountains, 3-9 Dec 1956. [9/9]
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
#OnThisDay FLN prisoners captured during the sweep, a wounded prisoner is loaded aboard a Bell 47 G for evacuation. [8/9]
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #AviationHistory
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #AviationHistory
December 6, 2025 at 6:20 PM
#OnThisDay FLN prisoners captured during the sweep, a wounded prisoner is loaded aboard a Bell 47 G for evacuation. [8/9]
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #AviationHistory
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #AviationHistory
#OnThisDay A wounded legionnaire from the 2e CSPL is loaded aboard a Bell 47 G helicopter for evacuation during an operation near Aflou, in the Djebel Amour range of the Atlas Mountains, 6 Dec 1956. [7/9]
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
December 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
#OnThisDay A wounded legionnaire from the 2e CSPL is loaded aboard a Bell 47 G helicopter for evacuation during an operation near Aflou, in the Djebel Amour range of the Atlas Mountains, 6 Dec 1956. [7/9]
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory
#Algeria #France #Decolonization #ColdWar #MilitaryHistory #ForeignLegion #AviationHistory