Page "Pied-Noir" Paragraph 32

The Pied-Noir community has adopted an unofficial anthem as a symbol of its identity, Captain Félix Boyer's 1943 version of Le Chant des Africains ( lit.

" The Song of the Africans ").

This is a 1915 Infanterie de Marine march song, originally titled C ' est nous les Marocains ( lit.

" We are the Moroccans ") and dedicated to the French Army Colonel Van Hecke, commander of the WWI cavalry 7e régiment de chasseurs d ' Afrique (" 7th African Light Infantry Regiment ") which originated in the French North African Chantiers de la jeunesse française (" Youth Workshops ") Boyer was in charge.

It was adopted by General de Lattre's First Army ( a. k. a. Armée d ' Afrique, lit.

" Africa army ") who used it during World War II's European liberation campaigns.

This song was later used by the Pied-Noir to demonstrate their allegiance to France.