Description

Zouaves of Death (Polish: Żuawi śmierci) vest, $85USD made to order

Zouaves of Death (Polish: Żuawi śmierci) were a Polish military unit during the January Uprising, formed in February 1863 from volunteers in Ojców, Poland, by the Frenchman François Rochebrune (Polish: Franciszek Rochebrune). Rochebrune had been a sergeant in the French Zouaves. He based his formation on the French Zouaves, in which he had served during the Crimean war The Zouaves of Death were highly regarded for their bravery, but they suffered high casualties and their numbers were severely depleted within months. The unit ceased to exist when the rebellion was defeated in 1864. After the fighting in Poland, Rochebrune returned to the French army, as a captain and later colonel.