French WW2 painting guide

1940 French Painting guide Uniform and Equipment 

I have a few pieces laying around on my painting desk that have been there for some time. One of those are some Battlefield Blitz artillery crew and Simons Soldiers 1940 French command sets. It has been some time since I painted French so I decided to have a look around and see what the latest ideas were …. Sadly some poor YouTube guides as most of them in light khaki, most obviously have never seen a French 1935 ww2 uniform in the flesh as they are way to light, so last night I sat down and decided to put together a good match list from my paint collection, mostly Vallejo but some AK interactive paint options also.

The French were going through a modernization program when the war commenced so some pieces of webbing, cartridge pouches and weapons were very different and of ww1 pattern. However not a lot of difference at 20mm scale really except the webbing.   I will name the pieces of uniform in French and English, plus post some pictures for explanation. 

One of the best references for French 1940 uniform is these two books, a must for any wargamer! 

1940 Le Soldat Francais by Oliver Bellec, published by Histoire collections vol 2

Officers Kepi 

1931 Kepi infantry - blue body, black visor, red top, gold lace and Hungarian knot on top. 

1931 Kepi Chasseur a pied et Alpins - blue body, black visor, red top, silver lace and Hungarian knot on top.

1931 Kepi FFL - blue body, black visor, red top, gold lace rim, red inner lacing and Hungarian knot on top.

1931 Kepi Algerian tirailleurs   - light blue body, black visor, red top, gold lace and Hungarian knot on top.

1931 Kepi artillery - blue body and top, black leather visor, gold lace and Hungarian knot 

1931 Kepi engineer - black body, top and leather visor, red lace and Hungarian knot 

1931 Kepi Cuirassiers -  black body, top and leather visor, silver lace and Hungarian knot 

1931 Kepi Dragoons, DLM - dark blue body, black visor, red top, silver lace and Hungarian knot on top.

1931 Kepi hussars, chasseurs - light blue body, black visor, red top, silver lace and Hungarian knot on top.

Kepi chasseur d’affrique - light blue body, black visor, red top, silver lace and Hungarian knot on top.

Kepi gendarmerie -  black body, blue top and leather visor, silver lace and Hungarian knot 

Kepi train -  blue body, red top and leather visor, silver lace and Hungarian knot 

Kepi general officer 

Helmet

Vallejo 70.894  Russian Green

Vallejo 70.897 Bronze Green

Vallejo 70.888 olive grey 

Motorcycle Helmet, the helmet has a black pad on the front, googles have a tan, black or khaki trim around the glass.

Vallejo 70.894  Russian Green

Vallejo 70.897 Bronze Green

Vallejo 70.888 olive grey 

Beret 

Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

 

Senegalese chapeau  

Often painted as red, but this was the parade chapeau, the field one is very light khaki sand

Vallejo 70. Red

Vallejo 70. Iraqi sand 

Collar tabs and numbers 

Infantry Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Cavalry Vallejo 70.973 US field drab 

Artillery Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Engineers vallejo  black 

Colonial troops Vallejo 70. Yellow anchor 

Jacket infantrie

AK 11436 uniform light canvas tone (pre 1935) 

Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab 

AK 11427 green uniform base

 Garde de Paris territorial infantrie (24th regiment ) fought in ww1 uniform 

Vallejo 70.906 pale blue

AK 11162 French uniform light

AK 11439 French grey blue 

Cadets de Saumur, green uniform but blue collar tab tips on jacket and greatcoat and NCO rank insignia

Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

Trousers

Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

DLM, DCR  trousers 

AK 11422 ochre khaki 

Officers trousers

Vallejo 70.822 German camo beige 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

Great coat  

In the majority the coat was khaki green, however some WW1 light blue were issued to reservists and the mobile reserve wore dark blue 

Vallejo 70.887 brown Violet 

Vallejo 70.880 Khaki grey 

 DLM, DCR, Group mobile reserve leather jacket for motorised troops 

AK 11111 dark brown leather

Vallejo leather brown  

Puttees 

The ww1 version is light blue or very brown and was often worn by officers, the later issue is green grey. 

Vallejo 70.880 khaki grey

Vallejo 70.879 Green brown

Webbing

leather pouches, webbing straps, straps on shovel, straps and edging of bread bag and small pack. 

Vallejo 70.846 mahogany brown 

AK 11110 leather brown

Vallejo 70. Red leather 

Vallejo 70.984 flat brown 

Water bottle canteen 

Vallejo 70.887 brown violet 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

Backpack 

light green, beige through to dark green, leather shoulder straps, leather edges and straps around blanket roll

Vallejo 70.824 German camo orange ochre

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

Bread bag  

Vallejo 70.821 German camo beige 

Vallejo 70.894 Russian green  

Ammo bag 

Vallejo 70.894  Russian Green

Vallejo 70.897 Bronze Green

Vallejo 70.888 olive grey 

Canteen 

metal lid, or black or silver with khaki cloth cover, the ww1 canteen could also be blue. 

Vallejo 70.924 Russian uniform 

Vallejo 70.973 US field drab

Boots  

In the majority brown, however cavalry officers and  motorised troops had black also. 

Vallejo 70.872 chocolate brown 

AK 11120 leather brown

Vallejo 70.984 flat brown  

Vallejo 70 leather brown 

Gaiters 

Vallejo 70. Black 

Vallejo 70. Tan  

Puttees

Vallejo 70.894  Russian Green

Vallejo 70.897 Bronze Green

Vallejo 70.888 olive grey 

Equipment 

Ammo Boxes, Tripods, 

Vallejo 70.

Vallejo 70.

Vallejo 70.

 Rifle sling 

In the majority leather brown, although canvas was issued for machine pistols 

Vallejo 70. Red leather 

Vallejo 70. Mahogany brown 

Vallejo 70.888 olive grey 

 Wood rifles, tool handles

Vallejo 70. Mahogany brown 

Vallejo 70. Beige brown 

Vallejo 70. Red leather 

Reference Sources 

Le soldat Français, Olivier Bellec vol 1 and 2 

Officer uniforms https://tenue31.fr/french-officer-museum/

The French Army 1939–45 (1 & 2) By Ian Sumner, Francois Vauvillier
French Army 1940 by André Jouineau