The Distinctive Beret of the Commandos de Chasse

The Commandos de Chasse were a French Commando force raised for the Algerian war in 1959.

The aim was to conduct operations against guerrillas and dismantle katibas hostile to the French presence in Algeria. The French army had their own Commando de Chasse force since early 1959 (named Commando Georges, after Lieutenant Georges Grillot) and later that year 6 Commando groups were created from the Gendarmerie (Police) under Captain Peter Schaefer.

First these troops were issued black berets with the embroidered exploding grenade (the badge of the Gendarmerie Nationale); later the Commandos got to wear the distinctive bi-colour berets in the colours of the Gendarmerie Nationale.