The Centurions 2 regimental commanders who epitomized unconventional war

[dArKeR]

The characters are based on real life officers of the French paratroop regiment. Larteguy's Colonel Raspeguy is modeled after Col. Bigeard and Col. Ducourneau, two regimental commanders who epitomized unconventional warfare in Indochina and Algeria. Larteguy wrote that "Captain Esclavier is based on Captain Barres, grandson of the writer, veteran of Korea, killed in Tunisia and a few other people I'd met and glimpsed." One of these, was probably a Foreign Legion officer named Major Saint Marc who fought in the resistance, was captured by the Gestapo and tortured in Buchenwald and who had a Vietnamese woman killed by the communists, just like the Esclavier character.

Larteguy wrote, "Captain Glatigny was inspired by Captain Pierre Fresnay in La Grande Illusion, but recast in the modern style, confronted by the problems of revolutionary war- as well as by Jean Pouget and a few others." Also that, "I invented the character of Captain Boisferuas. I wanted him to be the extreme spokesman for my ideas, someone who would go directly to the heart of things and who would be lost because of his logical mind. It was with this entirely imaginary character that most officers would later identify." However, Boisferuas can certainly be seen as having been modeled after Col. Trinquier who led guerrilla teams behind Vietnamese lines and Captain Aussaress who was the SDECE (French Intelligence) officer in charge during the Battle of Algiers.



Here are some of my favorite lines from the book:

"Have you noticed that in military history no regular army has ever been able to deal with a properly organized guerrilla force? If we use the regular army in Algeria, it can only end in failure. I'd like France to have two armies: one for display, with lovely guns, tanks, little soldiers, fanfares, staffs, distinguished and doddering generals, and dear little regimental officers who would be deeply concerned over their general's bowel movements or their colonel's piles: an army that would be shown for a modest fee on every fairground in the country.
The other would be the real one, composed entirely of young enthusiasts in camouflage battledress, who would not be put on display but from whom impossible efforts would be demanded and to whom all sorts of tricks would be taught. That's the army in which I should like to fight."

http://www.geocities.com/jean_larteguy/centurions.htm