Circassians - a short history

 Circassians

A brief history of this interesting people and military unit

As most readers of this blog know I have and interest in the weird and odd, I like obscure C20th wars and campaigns not regularly played by the mass of other wargamers, I have a particular affinity with all odd things French. Syria/Lebanon (Operation Exporter) has long attracted my attention due to its intriguing mix of interesting politics - Allies Vs Vichy, the wonderful variety of units involved and short period of time. One of the more intriguing units present in the region were the Circassian cavalry who fought on both sides, now with the release of Circassians in 20mm by Early War Miniatures, I`ve done a bit of digging and created this short article. I freely admit to having taken information from all over the place adding/combining various sources together to create the whole. This is NOT meant to be an academic piece, just something put together for my own amusement - hopefully you`ll learn a little. Unless the images are of miniatures they are all ones I have borrowed off the internet after finding them on general image searches, I do not claim ownership, they are just for reference, if someone reading this does own a particular image and wants me to remove it please contact me and I will do so.

General history

The Circassians (also often referred to as Cherkesse) are an indigenous ethnic group and nation native to the historical country-region of Circassia in the North Caucasus. As a consequence of the Circassian Genocide, which was perpetrated by the Russian Empire in the 19th century during the Russo-Circassian War, most Circassians were exiled from their homeland in Circassia to modern-day Turkey (where many still live) and the rest of the Middle East, where the majority of them are concentrated today.

The only thing Circassians are probably nationalistic about is probably being Circassian themselves. When they were exiled, they were deported to all over the Ottoman empire, and from there the Ottomans used their military skill and prowess to settle in conflict territories such as the Middle East, including what was known then as Palestine. As such, the Circassians there formed three communities, such as Rehaniye, Qunaytra and Kfar Kama.

Historically the Circassians sent there were forced to live there as guards for the religious holy sites. They were required to protect the holy sites, the passage of pilgrims, and to keep the peace between other people in the North of Israel on the border of the Golan Heights. From there, the Circassians built good ties with all their neighbours: To Arabs, the Circassians were respected for the piety, nobility, and chivalry. An Arab never worried when a Circassian was around because unlike a Turkish soldier, the Circassian was respectful and hospitable. The Circassians as part of the Turkish Army fought the Allies during WW1, they served their Turkish masters well and gave a good account of themselves in several actions against the British and their Allies; but once the war ended and the fighting finished, they simply returned to their villages and farms!

The same respect they had shown to the Arabs was applied equally to Jewish immigrants and settlers because of their shared history and oppression in Russia. In fact during the Alliyahs, the Circassians and Jews worked together, traded, and a few times even kept French and British authorities off their backs whenever they tried settling the territory. Because of this, the Jews were very appreciative of their services, hospitality, and respect.

When the state of Israel was established in 1948, war hawks such as Moshe Dayan actually planned to remove the Circassian villages and have them flee to Syria - however, because of their past history, David Ben Gurion and a few Jewish leaders from the North made sure to prevent that from happening.

Therefore, because the Jews never attacked or bothered the Circassians at that time, the Circassians had no problem accepting the state of Israel and living under Jewish rule. After all, they already were exiled and moved around - they had little reason to go and lose all of that again. Today Circassians living in Israel do military service like every other Israeli. 

Circassian Cavalry in French service

After WW1 France acquired the mandate over the former Turkish provinces of what today is Lebanon and Syria. Almost immediately after the Arab kingdom of Syria was occupied by French troops, the former Turkish officers - Osman Bey and Toufik Bey, offered the French colonial administration their services as commanders of Circassian units. Osman Bey and Toufik Bey created a cavalry detachment from 50 Circassians, who began to guard the caravan roads in the Aleppo area.

Philibert Collet

Collet (born in Algeria) enlisted as a volunteer in 1915 in the 2nd Zouaves Regiment, he later led a platoon from the 1st Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment and ended the First World War as a second lieutenant and knight of the Legion of Honour on October 9th 1918. 

In 1919 now 26yrs old, he was sent as an intelligence officer to the Armee d`Levant in Northern Syria which was now under French mandate. There he led auxiliaries in several operations against rebellious tribes from 1920-24 whilst the French were trying to impose their mandate. During this period Collet met the commander of the Circassian platoon Osman Bey and was simply blown away by these North Caucasian soldiers who served on Syrian soil. Like many French colonial officers before him he took to these native troops with a passion and drive.

Collet asked and received permission to form a Circassian unit to supplement French security forces. This first squadron was formed and trained in Algeria in 1922 - 1st Mobile Gendarmerie Squadron Tcherkess was made up of men mostly from the village of Kuneitra (Qunaytra). 150 men strong, with Toufik Bey and Osman Bey receiving the rank of junior lieutenant (Sus-Lieutenant) and the whole unit serving under Collet as commander. 

During the Syrian uprising of 1925-1926, the Circassians especially distinguished themselves. In September, the 1925 of the Circassians took the city of Suweida - the capital of the Druze. The martial prowess of the Circassians forced the French military command to pay more attention to this national minority. In November, 1925 they created a special Circassian cavalry regiment. Collet`s first squadron stationed in Damascus, served as a cadre and basis the training of further squadrons. These were recruited from among the Cherkesses of Qunaytra (Kuneitra) but included elements from other Circassian communities. To ensure their loyalty, the Circassians were very well paid and looting was completely authorised. 

During the brutal fighting to pacify the Druze, Circassian squadrons suffered great losses - 302 men were killed, including 20 officers, and 700 men were injured. Among those killed in battles with Druze were the units founders -  Lieutenants Toufik-Bey and Osman-Bey! Also killed in action was the 1st squadrons standard-bearer - Lieutenant Haji Bey. Collet himself survived and in 1926 he received a promotion to captain.

The size of the unit increased to eight squadrons, numbered 12th to 19th and the unit was formally renamed: 1st Circassian Light Cavalry Regiment. Each squadron had from 100 to 150 military personnel. Thus, by 1927, the total number of the Circassian regiment was 1,000 cavalrymen. The size of the unit stayed at this strength until 16^th squadron was disbanded in 1937 to train Lebanese mounted Spahis.

Each squadron was under the command of a French officer, he had a deputy - a Circassian officer. A squadron had four platoons, each of which is commanded by a Circassian officer, each supported by a French non-commissioned officer.

All troopers were volunteers, the only requirement to sign up was the volunteer brought his own fully equipped horse! 

In July 1929, Captain Collet, an officer who never attached particular importance to spit and polish, but like so many French colonial officers loved the spirit and individual family nature of those colonial soldiers under his charge, decided on a new dress uniform for his command. He chose the national Circassian costume that his people had worn for centuries and usually still did when off duty. This is mainly a blouse (beshmet) - black in winter and white in summer, with a straight collar, fastens on the chest. A Circassian long black frock coat was worn over this, without collar, with fake cartridges (gazyryam) on the chest on both sides. Above which on the right was worn the emblem of the regiment. Pants and boots are black. A white hooded cape is thrown over the shoulders, tied at the neck with yellow (gold) cord. The head dress was the traditional black astrakham hat of cylindrical shape, lined with light blue cloth, two crossed galloons of light yellow (gold for command personnel). Ceremonial dress included large ornate daggers in bright shiny sheaths and the traditional lash whip.  

A modern photo illustrating traditional Cherkesse dress

In 1930 a regimental badge was approved – this was a galloping Circassian jumping a crescent 

Truck (photo taken in Syria 1941) which appears to have the Circassian badge 

The regiment was disbanded in 1937 following the French granting limited independence, Collet was promoted to major and given command of 4th battalion, 1st Moroccan Tirailleurs Regiment.

WW2

Collet served in France commanding 4th battalion of 1st Moroccan Tirailleurs Regiment (1^st Moroccan Division), after the armistice he returned to the Levant in October 1940. The Vichy administration decided to revived the Circassian Regiment. They gave Collet command and gave him orders to expand the formation with further Circassian units: 30th to 38th Squadrons of Tcherkess cavalry and 38th to 42nd mounted (motorized) irregulars, the command now numbered around 2,000 men, these units were attached to the so called Troupes Speciales auxiliaries under the Vichy controlled regime. All these units patrolled the border with British mandated Palestine and Transjordan. 

My first attempts of creating Circassian Cavalry 

The men are roughly converted Italeri Napoleonic cavalry, the French NCO/officer was an Airfix US Cavalryman who has had a head-swap

Now the new figures from Early War Miniatures

Foot figures

Collet now a lieutenant-colonel having fought the Germans in the Battle for France had sympathies with De Gaulle and his Free French, but stayed with his command in Syria. In May 1941 he met secretly with General Georges Catroux, a Gaullist who had commanded Free French troops stationed just over the border in British controlled Palestine. The meeting was to discuss the potential of an Allied invasion. When General Dentz Commander in Chief of the Armee d`Levant learned of the meeting, he attempted to arrest Collet! Collet took his Circassians across the border into Palestine and joined the Free French, however only three of his squadrons agreed to change sides (19 officers and some 300 men) and the rest returned to join the Vichy forces in Syria.

Lt. Col. Collet with his Circassians

Collet joined the Allied forces which invaded Syria/Lebanon, leading his Circassians against the Vichy troops. Those Circassians who had returned to the Vichy ranks also fought, but against the invading British, Australians and Indian troops! These Circassians were reorganised into a command consisting of two groups of light squadrons - 12th to 16th plus 18th Squadrons d`Tcherkess and a group of four mounted squadrons of irregulars. Two squadrons took part in the battle of Kuneitra which saw the destruction of the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers and the capture of nearly 180 British troops! 

Once the fighting was over most of the Circassians rallied to the Free French cause and remained in the Levant, Collet was appointed head of the administration of Damascus on June 22nd, after the latter was occupied by the troops of Free France, simultaneously promoted to the rank of colonel, and in August became a brigadier general. 

In 1942, the Circassian regiment was reformed again. Now it included 6 squadrons, 1 on January 1944, the Circassian mechanics squadron was formed.

The Levant Special Forces continued to exist until August 1945, while France maintained control over the territory of Syria. 9 July 1945 was announced that after the withdrawal of France from the Middle East, the Levant Special Forces would be placed under the command of the national armed forces of Syria and Lebanon. After Syria gained political independence, the Levant Special Forces were disbanded after which many of the Circassian families left Syria all together.  

The Regiment was officially disbanded in 1946, the Regimental standard is located in Paris, in the prestigious hall of banners in the Museum of the Army. On a square panel of green silk framed with gold fringe, on one side there is an inscription in Circassian embroidered with gold thread: "YAPEQHE TCERQUES" (Circassians, go ahead!); seven stars symbolizing the seven main Circassian tribes frame it in a semicircle above, and below: “TCERQUES CHIV SEVTINME YA QUP” (Circassian light cavalry regiment). All four corners of the banner are decorated with embroidery. On the other side, inscriptions in French: “Circassian Cavalry Regiment”, as well as in two columns the main victories are recorded - Hajilar, Jebel Druz, Kalaat Jendal, Majd al-Shems, Katana, Jebat al-Khashab, Guta , Maaraba, Antilivan, Darija.

 

General Collet`s tomb in Toulouse the Circassian Regimental badge can be seen on the right