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Thursday, April 22, 2021
French Soldiers in Morocco via Larry K.
Some time ago, friend and frequent contributor Larry K. sent me an album set of naked and happy French soldiers in Morocco. Although you can't tell it in this first photo, it was apparently bath time.
The French never seemed to be as shy about being naked as we Americans. These men don't seem to be the least bit hung up about letting it all hang out.
Yeah, there's a reason people had to go to France for a long time to get nude photos, mostly postcards that they couldn't even mail in their home countries, lol.
How interesting. The French (and Spanish) ended their protectorate of what was theretofore an independent and undivided kingdom in 1956, although these pictures look older than that. Do you perhaps have a date?
The hair styles look to be in the 1930's and 40's era, although some European cultures would practice noticeably different fashion/styles to show others they were from another country. Anyway, these guys are obviously having fun clowning around for, what appears, a buddy behind the camera.
These French soldiers are conscripts for national service that all able-bodied men were obliged to do - hence their presence in Morocco. So these would be military haircuts, which didn't tend to change much until national service was abolished in 2001. (Some poor chap was thrown a comb, a pair of scissors and a buzz razor and told to get on with it and the rest of the platoon were his victims.) If the quality of the photographs gives a false appearance of age, it would be as a result of the lower standards of developing that would have obtained, given that the French treated Morocco as a strategic asset and as a colonial power, was not interested in developing what was effectively a colonial possession.
I can only speak of my knowledge of the U.S. military's dress code (both parents were career AF), but the initial buzz haircut for all conscripts only lasted a few months. After "boot camp" all the services allowed the men to grow their hair out to that branches regulated limits. I know this to be true for all NATO militaries since the 1960's. (Eastern Bloc militaries were different) Because the photo looks to be from the 30's, I was assuming the same set of regulations for men who were obviously not recent conscripts.
The French never seemed to be as shy about being naked as we Americans. These men don't seem to be the least bit hung up about letting it all hang out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's a reason people had to go to France for a long time to get nude photos, mostly postcards that they couldn't even mail in their home countries, lol.
DeleteHow interesting. The French (and Spanish) ended their protectorate of what was theretofore an independent and undivided kingdom in 1956, although these pictures look older than that. Do you perhaps have a date?
ReplyDeleteNot really, but see Greggy's comment below for what I think is a good estimate.
DeleteThe hair styles look to be in the 1930's and 40's era, although some European cultures would practice noticeably different fashion/styles to show others they were from another country. Anyway, these guys are obviously having fun clowning around for, what appears, a buddy behind the camera.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Greggy! And yes, definitely a fun time for all.
DeleteThese French soldiers are conscripts for national service that all able-bodied men were obliged to do - hence their presence in Morocco. So these would be military haircuts, which didn't tend to change much until national service was abolished in 2001. (Some poor chap was thrown a comb, a pair of scissors and a buzz razor and told to get on with it and the rest of the platoon were his victims.) If the quality of the photographs gives a false appearance of age, it would be as a result of the lower standards of developing that would have obtained, given that the French treated Morocco as a strategic asset and as a colonial power, was not interested in developing what was effectively a colonial possession.
DeleteI can only speak of my knowledge of the U.S. military's dress code (both parents were career AF), but the initial buzz haircut for all conscripts only lasted a few months. After "boot camp" all the services allowed the men to grow their hair out to that branches regulated limits. I know this to be true for all NATO militaries since the 1960's. (Eastern Bloc militaries were different) Because the photo looks to be from the 30's, I was assuming the same set of regulations for men who were obviously not recent conscripts.
ReplyDeleteLarry K., who donated the photos for this series, has other pictures from the same album with cars that confirm your time line.
Delete