French Army of 1940

Hi Guys,
Anyone out there know what this French Army unit might be?

https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/20084110.jpg

The middle group appear to have 'White' painted helmets and 'white' jacket covers, could they be on their way to 'Narvick' or simply a Mountain warfare group ?

Their weapons seem to be carbines as opposed to rifles , so could this be a cavalry/dragoon unit?

Any comments?

Regards,
Les

Not sure whether this is 1940?
The troops wear horizon blue uniforms adopted during the Great War but used into the ealry 1930s. The white helmets are blue with a shine on them. The white jacket is a protective item used during training to save wear and tear on the jacket. It had been in use since before 1900. They may be any Corps with their standard leather equipment and Berthier carbines, as no 'modern' rifle was introduced until the MAS36 carbines were used to provide a shorter weapon.

This is always the difficulty in posting photos found on the interenet, what year do they represent.

I looked at the picture and took the uniforms to be khaki, but then I'm not that familiar with the differences bewteen WW1 and WW2 uniform cut.

So basically this is just a a training group posing for a souvenir photo after WW1 and before the widespread use of the khaki uniform. Do you know when the khaki unform became the norm for Metropolitan French Forces, what year ?

Regards,
Les

Hi Les - the French Army set up a Commission des Uniformes shortly after WWI to consider a standard uniform. In 1921 it reported back recommending the adoption of khaki of the American shade - as being "more pleasing than the khaki angais".

The problem was that massive war-time production had left 1.6 million sets of horizon blue uniforms in store. Being a thrifty people the French continued to issue these stocks to each annual contingent of Metropoliton conscripts for 15 years (!) until they were finally used up. Officers and regular NCOs adopted the new khaki uniforms during the 1920s but it was not until 1935/36 that all rank and file conscripts received the khaki that had been officially adopted in October 1921. Even in 1939/40 sky blue was still to be seen being worn by depot and territorial (middle-aged reservists) units.

I would agree with Sean re the approximate timing of your photo. The high collar of the vareuse worn by the NCO (?) on the left was replaced by a turn-over one in 1920 and the off-white blouse or bourgeron was a fatigue/working item dating from 1882. Loose fitting, it could be worn over ordinary uniforms to prevent them from being soiled.