342:, and the difficulty of putting into production tricolour cloth by the entirety of French cloth manufacturers for whom uniform production was difficult to organize in the middle of war. On 14 August 1914, the ministry demanded by telephone for the Balsan company to provide samples of new cloths in different tones of blue included between the regulation shades "blued steel grey" and "sky blue". Maurice Allain, director of production at the mill proposed in particular a cloth returning to the process of dyeing fibres of wool of the cloth "blued steel grey" intended for prewar overcoats. In this manner the cloth manufacturers would not waste the wool fibres already dyed for that purpose and the know-how of the dyers would be maintained. On the morning of 16 August 1914, the administrative director of drapery at Châteauroux, Roger de La Selle brought to Paris samples for the war ministry. During the day, Logistics Chief Defait submitted the cloth samples to
157:
35:
285:
red trousers and kepis. This was a historic combination dating back to 1828. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Boer War attracted the attention of the general staffs of the great powers on the need to reform military clothing. A study made in 1892 determined that it was more difficult
310:
Why the colour blue? It had already been adopted on the principle, according to a decision made by the
Minister after the meeting of 26 May 1914 of the High Council of War. Blue had been judged to be the only colour which could be usefully chosen, considering that all other shades, and among them
271:
The expression became so popular that it was found in official descriptions of the army. The employment of "horizon blue cloth" instead of "light blue" can be explained notably by the fact that this expression possessed a national character and seemed "to echo the famous blue line of the Vosges."
305:
voted for the adoption of a cloth called "tricolour" obtained by a mixing of blue, white and red wool fibres. The law of 18 July 1914 prescribed the replacement of uniforms with ones where all items of which would be completely manufactured from a new cloth of this colour.
402:
French metropolitan troops adopted khaki cloth, called "American khaki", by vote of the High
Council of War on 6 November 1921. The council having in the meantime decided to expend the enormous existing stocks of horizon blue cloth, clothing remained variegated during the
329:
adopted a unique blue cloth for the manufacture of sets of uniforms. On 8 August, the
Logistics Chief Defait, director of logistics of the Ministry of War, renounced the adoption of tricolour cloth upon the advice of Mr. Balsan, cloth manufacturer at
263:
compared the old and new uniforms: "The dark cloth of the old overcoats is seen side by side with the light azure of the new "horizon colour" uniform. In the Spring of 1915, the expression was popularized. Becoming insensibly
346:
in his office, who personally selected the blued steel grey cloth brightened by light blue fibres and white fibres. The following day, 17 August 1914, this cloth was officially adopted for sets of uniforms for the French army.
355:
The first deliveries of uniforms of this colour reached the troops at the end of
September 1914. It took about a year before the whole French army is equipped with it. This period is called the clothing crisis.
414:
In the twenty-first century, the expression "horizon blue" is found, in fashion and literature, with its descriptive character, from before the Great War, to designate outfits of blue-grey cloth, or eye colour.
286:
to shoot at a grey-blue target than at a red and blue one. Between 1903 and 1914, the French army tried a number of new uniforms of subdued colours: in 1902 the grey-blue uniform called "Boërs", in 1906 the
202:
The expression "horizon blue", certified to have been used in feminine fashion in 1884, was used afterward for hundreds of colour denominations in fashion, without making itself noticed.
373:
Our well-brushed overcoats have their flaps lowered, and as they are usually raised, two squares where the cloth is more blue can be seen standing out on these flowing flaps.
297:
All these attempts at reforms failed as a result of the opposition of public opinion. French command finally chose blue-grey in
November 1912 by decision in principle of
211:
pointed out that the motor boats destined for the administrators of the
Cayenne convict prison were "painted in horizon colour, to conceal them more easily".
181:
This name for a shade of blue which refers to the indefinable colour which separates the sky from the earth, had been previously used in the world of
654:"Notice descriptive des nouveaux uniformes. (Décision ministérielle du 9 décembre 1914 mise à jour avec le modificatif du 28 janvier 1915)"
643:
states that ' On 25 November 1914 the
Minister of War, Alexandre Millerand, decides on the exclusive use of the term "light blue cloth".'
728:
34:
1256:
1217:
564:
545:
526:
503:
471:
326:
930:
1365:
846:
1634:
1212:
302:
185:, and has been since then. It had also served as an emblem of political groups prevailing upon the army of the
762:
281:
In 1914, the French army was equipped with overcoats of a medium blue colour called "blued steel grey", and
721:
395:
of World War I. After the conflict, it symbolized the ex-military men and intransigent nationalism of the
1449:
272:
However, regulations continued to name the uniform cloth as "light blue cloth" until 1921 and even beyond.
1271:
1128:
856:
1469:
945:
772:
407:. Certain rear-echelon troops were still equipped with uniforms of horizon blue cloth during the
205:
The expression "horizon colour" is found in diverse descriptions in and after 1895. In 1899, the
1629:
1434:
1385:
1187:
1182:
881:
836:
714:
1281:
1197:
1009:
925:
521:]. Officers and Soldiers #12. Translated by McKay, Alan. Paris: Histoire & Collections.
498:]. Officers and Soldiers #11. Translated by McKay, Alan. Paris: Histoire & Collections.
363:(15% dark blue wool, 50% light blue wool). This horizon blue was not totally appreciated by the
234:
The colour of the uniform of the French infantry became known as "horizon blue" in three steps:
1375:
1103:
1019:
792:
557:
The French Army in the First World War Volume II - 1914 to 1918 Uniforms - Equipment - Armament
396:
1553:
1172:
782:
1602:
1380:
1098:
935:
1454:
1291:
1133:
1088:
1024:
613:
207:
1523:
1340:
1266:
156:
8:
1548:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1296:
1014:
434:
298:
1108:
1360:
861:
247:
designated the colour of the uniform of the soldiers as "horizon colour". On the 26th,
90:
1528:
579:
560:
541:
522:
499:
467:
249:
243:
752:
238:
The first orders at the end of 1914 designated a new uniform cloth as "light blue".
1459:
1177:
408:
259:
222:, "colour which recalls the blue of the sky at the horizon", synonym of "Imitation
44:
965:
653:
481:
Descols, Louis (September 2015). "Août 1914, La
Naissance du Drap Bleu Horizon".
404:
343:
1123:
268:, it was in general usage in September. It would never become an official term.
1607:
1301:
1202:
1113:
1093:
950:
876:
757:
737:
291:
331:
1623:
1429:
1276:
1044:
960:
920:
871:
777:
576:
1940 l'infanterie, corps de troupe - uniformes - Ă©quipements : insignes
1370:
583:
120:
218:
published in 1905 by the
Society of chrysanthemists, showed four tones of
1543:
1424:
1207:
1034:
955:
444:
439:
282:
223:
171:
161:
82:
1533:
1518:
1513:
1464:
1444:
1192:
866:
767:
94:
369:, as the colour did not stand up well to light and inclement weather:
334:. Two factors prevented the adoption of tricolour cloth: the lack of
1538:
1439:
1286:
1261:
1039:
1029:
851:
787:
338:, the synthetic madder dye manufactured in Germany, among others, by
186:
116:
1508:
1049:
940:
424:
359:
The cloth was composed of white wool (35%) and of wool tinted blue-
335:
109:
706:
515:
Officiers et soldats de l'armée française Tome 2 : 1915-1918
399:
composed, in 1919, of conservatives eager to "make
Germany pay."
182:
175:
538:
The French Army in the First World War Volume I - to battle 1914
311:
the neutral tints, had been put into service in foreign armies.
1118:
360:
174:
which is well remembered because it was used for the blue-grey
429:
365:
287:
63:
492:
Officiers et soldats de l'armée française Tome 1 : 1914
1004:
841:
797:
519:
Officers and Soldiers of the French Army Volume II: 1915-18
339:
67:
55:
124:
86:
59:
624:
622:
691:
496:
Officers and Soldiers of the French Army Volume I: 1914
325:
On 2 August 1914, the day of general mobilization, the
160:
A French soldier wearing a horizon blue uniform during
178:
of French metropolitan troops from 1915 through 1921.
619:
485:(in French) (362). Paris: Histoire & Collections.
679:
667:
350:
646:
593:Les uniformes de l'armée française de 1914 à 1945
1621:
656:(in French). Paris: Ministère de la Guerre. 1915
595:(in French), Paris: self-published, planche n° 2
466:(in French). Éguzon-Chantôme: Point d'Aencrage.
455:
391:Horizon blue rapidly became the symbol of the
722:
663:– via Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
616:Collection 1825 Théodore, 2019 Peintures1825
229:
729:
715:
697:
640:
590:
573:
16:Colour; shade of WWI French troop uniforms
628:
512:
489:
155:
685:
673:
554:
535:
480:
461:
1622:
386:
710:
192:
241:On 16 January 1915, an article of
13:
736:
14:
1646:
315:—Chief of Logistics Defait (1921)
276:
33:
351:Horizon blue cloth in 1914–1918
39: Color coordinates
634:
607:
555:Mirouze, Laurent, ed. (2008).
536:Mirouze, Laurent, ed. (2007).
464:La Genèse du drap Bleu Horizon
320:
257:. In February, the newspaper
1:
591:Vauvillier, François (1983),
574:Vauvillier, François (1980).
450:
197:
600:
578:(in French). Paris: Argout.
559:. Vienna: Verlag Militaria.
540:. Vienna: Verlag Militaria.
456:General and cited references
7:
418:
10:
1651:
513:Jouineau, André (2009b) .
490:Jouineau, André (2009a) .
1596:
746:
145:
137:
107:
80:
53:
43:
31:
26:
21:
1635:French military uniforms
1450:Royal blue (traditional)
1129:International Klein Blue
931:Celestial Blue (Crayola)
230:The horizon blue uniform
462:Descols, Louis (2014).
301:. On 26 May 1914 the
290:-blue one, in 1911 the
253:likened this colour to
149:: Normalized to (byte)
1445:Royal Blue (web color)
384:
318:
216:RĂ©pertoire de Couleurs
164:
614:Bleu horizon – N°1992
371:
308:
159:
1366:Periwinkle (Crayola)
763:Air superiority blue
397:horizon blue Chamber
1549:United Nations Blue
1257:Maximum Blue Purple
435:Military camouflage
387:After the Great War
303:High Council of War
299:Alexandre Millerand
1603:St. Patrick's blue
1218:Maximum Blue Green
483:Militaria Magazine
208:Journal des débats
193:Historical account
165:
1617:
1616:
1591:
1590:
1272:Medium slate blue
641:Vauvillier (1983)
566:978-3-90-252620-5
547:978-2-9515171-0-3
528:978-2-35250-105-3
505:978-2-35250-104-6
473:978-2-911853-16-6
154:
153:
1642:
1470:Silver Lake Blue
946:Chefchaouen Blue
773:Argentinian Blue
749:
748:
740:
731:
724:
717:
708:
707:
701:
695:
689:
683:
677:
671:
665:
664:
662:
661:
650:
644:
638:
632:
626:
617:
611:
596:
587:
570:
551:
532:
509:
486:
477:
409:Battle of France
133:
128:
103:
102:(202°, 33%, 72%)
98:
76:
71:
38:
37:
19:
18:
1650:
1649:
1645:
1644:
1643:
1641:
1640:
1639:
1620:
1619:
1618:
1613:
1612:
1598:Related topics:
1592:
1435:Resolution Blue
1386:Polynesian blue
1346:Palatinate blue
1094:Electric indigo
742:
738:
735:
705:
704:
698:Vauvillier 1980
696:
692:
684:
680:
672:
668:
659:
657:
652:
651:
647:
639:
635:
627:
620:
612:
608:
603:
567:
548:
529:
506:
474:
458:
453:
421:
405:interwar period
389:
353:
344:Adolphe Messimy
327:Ministry of War
323:
279:
232:
200:
195:
150:
131:
113:
108:
101:
81:
75:(124, 162, 184)
74:
54:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1648:
1638:
1637:
1632:
1630:Shades of blue
1615:
1614:
1611:
1610:
1608:Shades of cyan
1605:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1593:
1589:
1588:
1585:
1582:
1579:
1576:
1573:
1570:
1567:
1564:
1561:
1557:
1556:
1551:
1546:
1541:
1536:
1531:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1505:
1504:
1501:
1498:
1495:
1492:
1489:
1486:
1483:
1480:
1477:
1473:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1421:
1420:
1417:
1414:
1411:
1408:
1405:
1402:
1399:
1396:
1393:
1389:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1337:
1336:
1333:
1330:
1327:
1324:
1321:
1318:
1315:
1312:
1309:
1305:
1304:
1302:Non-photo blue
1299:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1282:Blue (Munsell)
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1253:
1252:
1249:
1246:
1243:
1240:
1237:
1234:
1231:
1228:
1225:
1221:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1203:Majorelle Blue
1200:
1198:Light Sky Blue
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1169:
1168:
1165:
1162:
1159:
1156:
1153:
1150:
1147:
1144:
1141:
1137:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1085:
1084:
1081:
1078:
1075:
1072:
1069:
1066:
1063:
1060:
1057:
1053:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1010:Blue (Crayola)
1007:
1001:
1000:
997:
994:
991:
988:
985:
982:
979:
976:
973:
969:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
926:Celestial Blue
923:
917:
916:
913:
910:
907:
904:
901:
898:
895:
892:
889:
885:
884:
882:Cambridge blue
879:
877:Byzantine blue
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
837:Bleu de France
833:
832:
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
811:
808:
805:
801:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
765:
760:
758:Air Force blue
755:
747:
744:
743:
739:Shades of blue
734:
733:
726:
719:
711:
703:
702:
690:
678:
666:
645:
633:
629:Jouineau 2009b
618:
605:
604:
602:
599:
598:
597:
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571:
565:
552:
546:
533:
527:
510:
504:
487:
478:
472:
457:
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448:
447:
442:
437:
432:
427:
420:
417:
388:
385:
383:
382:
352:
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317:
316:
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274:
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244:L'Illustration
239:
231:
228:
199:
196:
194:
191:
152:
151:
143:
142:
139:
135:
134:
132:(65, 30, 229°)
129:
111:
105:
104:
99:
78:
77:
72:
51:
50:
47:
41:
40:
29:
28:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1647:
1636:
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1631:
1628:
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1625:
1609:
1606:
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1600:
1595:
1586:
1583:
1580:
1577:
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1571:
1568:
1565:
1562:
1559:
1558:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
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1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1506:
1502:
1499:
1496:
1493:
1490:
1487:
1484:
1481:
1478:
1475:
1474:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1430:Prussian blue
1428:
1426:
1423:
1422:
1418:
1415:
1412:
1409:
1406:
1403:
1400:
1397:
1394:
1391:
1390:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1338:
1334:
1331:
1328:
1325:
1322:
1319:
1316:
1313:
1310:
1307:
1306:
1303:
1300:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1278:
1277:Midnight blue
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1254:
1250:
1247:
1244:
1241:
1238:
1235:
1232:
1229:
1226:
1223:
1222:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1188:Lavender gray
1186:
1184:
1183:Lavender mist
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1170:
1166:
1163:
1160:
1157:
1154:
1151:
1148:
1145:
1142:
1139:
1138:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1104:Honolulu blue
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1086:
1082:
1079:
1076:
1073:
1070:
1067:
1064:
1061:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1045:Egyptian blue
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1020:Deep Sky Blue
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1002:
998:
995:
992:
989:
986:
983:
980:
977:
974:
971:
970:
967:
964:
962:
961:Columbia blue
959:
957:
954:
952:
951:Chrysler blue
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
921:Carolina blue
919:
918:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
896:
893:
890:
887:
886:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
872:Brandeis blue
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
834:
830:
827:
824:
821:
818:
815:
812:
809:
806:
803:
802:
799:
796:
794:
793:Berkeley Blue
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
750:
745:
741:
732:
727:
725:
720:
718:
713:
712:
709:
700:, p. 15.
699:
694:
688:, p. 20.
687:
682:
675:
670:
655:
649:
642:
637:
630:
625:
623:
615:
610:
606:
594:
589:
585:
581:
577:
572:
568:
562:
558:
553:
549:
543:
539:
534:
530:
524:
520:
516:
511:
507:
501:
497:
493:
488:
484:
479:
475:
469:
465:
460:
459:
446:
443:
441:
438:
436:
433:
431:
428:
426:
423:
422:
416:
412:
410:
406:
400:
398:
394:
380:
376:
375:
374:
370:
368:
367:
362:
357:
348:
345:
341:
337:
333:
328:
314:
313:
312:
307:
304:
300:
295:
293:
289:
284:
277:Prewar trials
270:
267:
262:
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256:
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1554:Uranian Blue
1376:Phthalo blue
1371:Persian blue
1173:Lapis Lazuli
693:
686:Descols 2015
681:
674:Descols 2014
669:
658:. Retrieved
648:
636:
631:, p. 4.
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266:horizon blue
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255:horizon blue
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220:Horizon Blue
219:
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180:
168:Horizon blue
167:
166:
146:
141:Horizon blue
22:Horizon blue
1544:Ultramarine
1514:Space cadet
1425:Powder blue
1381:Picton Blue
1341:Oxford Blue
1267:Medium blue
1208:Marian blue
1114:Illini blue
1099:French blue
1035:Dodger blue
956:Cobalt blue
936:Celtic Blue
857:Blue-violet
445:World War I
440:Rose madder
377:—Barbusse,
332:Châteauroux
321:August 1914
224:Cobalt Blue
172:colour name
162:World War I
49:#7CA2B8
45:Hex triplet
1624:Categories
1534:Tufts Blue
1519:Steel blue
1465:Savoy blue
1455:Ruddy Blue
1361:Periwinkle
1351:Pale azure
1292:Blue (NCS)
1193:Light blue
1134:Jordy Blue
1124:Indigo dye
1089:Green-blue
1025:Delft Blue
966:Cornflower
867:Bondi blue
768:Alice Blue
660:2021-07-30
451:References
198:First uses
1539:UCLA Blue
1529:True Blue
1524:Tang Blue
1440:RISD Blue
1356:Penn Blue
1297:Neon blue
1287:Navy blue
1262:Maya blue
1040:Duke blue
1015:Dark blue
852:Blue-gray
847:Blue Bell
798:Bice blue
788:Baby blue
601:Citations
294:uniform.
187:Great War
1509:Sky blue
1460:Sapphire
1178:Lavender
1109:Ice blue
1050:Glaucous
941:Cerulean
425:Feldgrau
419:See also
336:alizarin
260:Le Temps
250:Le Matin
176:uniforms
1213:Manatee
862:Blurple
584:6920279
183:fashion
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1119:Indigo
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379:Le Feu
361:indigo
292:reseda
283:madder
138:Source
110:CIELCh
27:
1030:Denim
778:Azure
517:[
494:[
430:Khaki
393:poilu
366:poilu
288:beige
170:is a
1005:Cyan
842:Blue
783:Azul
753:Aero
580:OCLC
561:ISBN
542:ISBN
523:ISBN
500:ISBN
468:ISBN
340:BASF
214:The
56:sRGB
226:".
83:HSV
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621:^
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123:,
119:,
112:uv
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147:B
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125:h
121:C
117:L
115:(
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95:v
91:s
87:h
85:(
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68:b
64:g
60:r
58:(
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