Days of Glory

Theatrical Poster

Country	France
Directed by	Rachid Bouchareb
Release Date	2006
Language	French Arabic
Studio	Tessalit Productions
Distributor	Films Distribution

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Saïd Otmari	Jamel Debbouze
Corporal Abdelkadar	Sami Bouajila
Messaoud	Roschdy Zem
Yassir	Samy Naceri
Larbi	Assaad Bouab
Sergent Roger Martinez	Bernard Blancan
Capitaine Durieux	Benoît Giros
Corporal Leroux	Mathieu Simonet

Days of Glory (original title Indigènes) is a 2006 French World War II film, directed by Rachid Bouchareb. The film tells the story of French soldiers who fighting in North Africa. Despite never having set foot on French Soil before, Saïd Otmari (Jamel Debbouze), Corporal Abdelkadar (Sami Bouajila), Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) and Yassir (Samy Naceri) enlisted in the army along with 130,000 other "indigenous soldiers" to fight for their imperial masters. But instead of praise and gratitude for their selfless aid, the Algerian soldiers faced a double attack: on one side, their Axis enemies, and on the other, the racist ignorance of their commanding officers.

Forgotten by history and denied their rightful place amongst the heroes of war, Days of Glory tells the story of the French-Algerian defensive, and shows the true extent of their sacrifice.

The following weapons were used in the film Days of Glory:

French Army Weapons

MAS-36

The MAS-36 is the main weapon of the French Tirailleur soldiers, including Sergent Roger Martinez (Bernard Blancan) and Corporal Abdelkadar (Sami Bouajila). Note that the rifles seen in this film are anachronistic: Only post-WWII versions have the hooded front sight.

MAS-36 - 7.5x54mm French

Sergent Roger Martinez (Bernard Blancan) scales the mountain with his MAS-36.

Tirailleur soldiers take cover from an artillery barrage with their MAS-36 rifles.

Sergent Martinez (Bernard Blancan) shoots a German soldier engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Saïd Otmari (Jamel Debbouze).

Corporal Abdelkadar (Sami Bouajila) chambers his MAS-36.

Corporal Abdelkadar moves through the village with his MAS-36 at the ready.

Corporal Abdelkadar cautiously moving through the village with his MAS-36.

Corporal Abdelkadar aims his MAS-36 at German soldiers.

Corporal Abdelkadar fires his MAS-36 at German soldiers.

M1917 Enfield

Tirailleur soldiers also use the M1917 Enfield. Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) uses one in training before he is assigned as a sniper.

M1917 Enfield - .30-06 Springfield

Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) chambers the M1917 Enfield in training.

Messaoud fires the M1917 Enfield.

A Tirailleur soldier takes cover from a mortar shell behind a rock whilst holding his M1917 Enfield.

A Tirailleur soldier aims his M1917 Enfield at Corporal Abdelkadar (Sami Bouajila) before determining that he is on his side.

M1 Garand

Sergent Roger Martinez (Bernard Blancan) uses an American M1 Garand rifle to hit Saïd Otmari (Jamel Debbouze) after he accidentally sets off a live grenade during basic training. Capitaine Durieux (Benoît Giros) can be seen with one later in the film.

M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06

Sergent Roger Martinez (Bernard Blancan) holds an M1 Garand.

Capitaine Durieux (Benoît Giros) with an M1 Garand.

Lebel Mle 1886 M93 M27 or Berthier Mle 1907-15 M34

Corporal Leroux (Mathieu Simonet) can be seen with a Lebel Mle 1886 M93 M27 or a Berthier Mle 1907-15 M34 rifle slung during basic training.

Lebel Model 1886 M93 M27 - 7.5x58mm / 7.5x54mm French

Berthier Mle 1907-15 M34 - 7.5x54mm French

Corporal Leroux (Mathieu Simonet) with a slung rifle. Only the barrel is seen and it doesn't allow to identify one of two supposed rifles.

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) uses the Mauser Gewehr 1898 with a Zeiss ZF42 scope and a curved bolt-handle when he becomes the designated marksman. Note the Lange-Visier rear sight under the telescope and 29.1" barrel. The telescope is also using only one mounting ring, and appears to be resting on the rear sight.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Sergent Roger Martinez (Bernard Blancan) hands Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) the Mauser Gewehr 1898 sniper rifle.

Messaoud scales the mountain with his Gewehr 1898 sniper rifle.

Messaoud aims his Gewehr 1898 sniper rifle whilst taking cover behind a rock.

Messaoud enters the village with his Gewehr 1898 sniper rifle.

Messaoud fires his Gewehr 1898 sniper rifle.

Messaoud with his Gewehr 1898 sniper rifle.

M1928A1 Thompson

Yassir (Samy Naceri) carries an M1928A1 Thompson when he enters the village. It later changes to an M1 Thompson when he engages German troops.

M1928A1 Thompson - .45 ACP

Yassir (Samy Naceri) holds his M1928A1 Thompson as he enters the village.

M1 Thompson

Yassir (Samy Naceri) uses an M1 Thompson in the first battle on the mountain and in the climatic shootout in the village. It can be distinguished from the M1A1 Thompson because of its simple 'L' rear sight.

M1 Thompson with 30 round magazine - .45 ACP

Yassir (Samy Naceri) advancing up the mountain with an M1 Thompson in his hands.

Yassir firing his M1 Thompson.

Yassir prepares to fire his M1 Thompson at German soldiers.

Yassir firing his M1 Thompson at German soldiers.

M1A1 Thompson

Yassir's (Samy Naceri) brother Larbi (Assaad Bouab) uses the M1A1 Thompson during the first battle on the mountain. Yassir later uses it to smash out a dead German soldier's gold teeth.

M1A1 Thompson with 30 round magazine - .45 ACP

Larbi (Assaad Bouab) follows his brother Yassir (Samy Naceri) up the mountain with an M1A1 Thompson.

Yassir smashes out the gold teeth of a dead German soldier with the M1A1 Thompson as his brother watches.

Chatellerault M1924/29

A Tirailleur soldier is briefly seen with a Chatellerault M1924/29 light machine gun during the mountain battle.

Chatellerault M1924/29 light machine gun - 7.5x54mm French

A Tirailleur soldier in the center carries a Chatellerault M1924/29 light machine gun whilst scaling the mountain.

A Tirailleur soldier on the right holds a Chatellerault M1924/29 light machine gun as a mortar shell explodes nearby.

SACM M1935A

A Tirailleur soldier brandishes what appears to be a SACM M1935A during the first battle.

SACM M1935A pistol - 7.65x22mm Longue

A Tirailleur soldier holds his SACM M1935A during the mountain battle.

Mle 1892 Revolver

A French officer holds an Mle 1892 Revolver as he leads the reinforcements up the mountain.

Modele d’Ordonnance Mle 1892 revolver - 8x27mmR

A French officer waves his troops forward whilst brandishing an Mle 1892 revolver.

Walther P38

Saïd Otmari (Jamel Debbouze) uses a Walther P38 pistol during the village shootout.

Walther P38 pistol - 9x19mm

Saïd Otmari (Jamel Debbouze) carries a Walther P38 in his belt.

Saïd fires his Walther P38.

Saïd fires his Walther P38 from a doorway.

Saïd with his Walther P38.

F1 Hand Grenade

Saïd Otmari (Jamel Debbouze) uses an F1 Hand Grenade to destroy a German machine gun nest during the first battle.

F1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade with Mle1935 fuse

Saïd takes cover from a mortar shell. An F1 hand grenade hangs from his webbing.

Saïd pulls the pin of a grenade. This is an inaccurate trick of many movie stars: pulling the pin from a hand grenade with their teeth, risking severe dental injury to do so.