Original French Pre-WWII Blauzac Youth Conscription Class of 1927 Flag With Pole and Topper – 48”x40” / 93” Flagpole Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a lovely flag and what that is seldom seen. This is a flag Honoring the Youth of the Commune Blauzac for the Conscription of 1927. The flag has a great “battle worn” appearance though this is not the type of flag that would have seen a battlefield and was most likely for a graduation parade/ceremony. The flag is attached to a 93” wooden pole and has a lovely stamped brass “RF” topper.

France was the first modern nation state to introduce universal military conscription as a condition of citizenship. This was done in order to provide manpower for the country’s military at the time of the French Revolution (1789–1799). Conscription in France continued in various forms for the next two centuries, until being phased out from 1997 to 2001.

France had retained conscription between the two world wars, though the country relied upon the French regulars of the Colonial Army, native regiments and the Foreign Legion to garrison its overseas empire. However, the birth rate dropped, primarily due to the fact that over a million young Frenchmen had been killed in the First World War and many more had been wounded.

As a transitional measure conscription was reduced to 18 months on 1 April 1923. In 1928 this was changed to one year. A serious short-fall in available numbers and the growing threat of NSDAP Germany obliged the French Army to extend conscription to two years under the Law of 16 March 1935.

There is tearing present in the flag as well as staining and some separation in the gold fringe. There are various early repairs as well as what appears to be ones done much later to better preserve the flag. The blue paint on the pole is retained but there are areas of loss.

A beautiful example that comes ready for further research and display.