Gauloises cigarettes were a troop brand

Gauloises cigarettes are a brand of cigarettes from the Imperial Brands group, produced in France until 2005, then in Spain, and since 2014 in Poland. Created in 1910, at the same time as Gitanes, this brand was very popular in France. It successively belonged to SEITA, Altadis, and then Imperial Tobacco, which became Imperial Brands in 2016, its current owner.

Until the end of the 1970s, a variant of the Gauloises cigarettes was produced for the French armed forces: the Gauloises de troop. A pack of troop Gauloises cigarettes was included in combat rations. The model was, except for a few details, that of the civilian except the mention “Army” under the winged helmet. It was covered with a cellophane film to prevent the tobacco from drying out too much. The new rations no longer included them from the mid-1980s.

Furthermore, until 1978, each soldier could receive with his pay 16 packs of cigarettes per month or 4 packets of Corporal Gris. At first the package had a presentation identical to that of the Gauloises cigarettes with the title “Gauloises” but bearing the mention “Troupe” on the left side below the term “Manufacture de tabac” and without “lining” in silver paper.

At a second step, after 1978, the winged Gallic helmet was replaced by an Adrian helmet, an anchor and the Air Force type wings and the title “Gauloises” was replaced by the term “Vente Restreinte”. After 1978, cigarettes were sold tax-free in the same quantity as before exclusively by the stewardship. Messes and hostels could not sell them. This practice has ceased at the request of Simone Veil, Minister of Health.

Until 1976, Seita had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of tobacco and matches in France. Gauloises, Gitanes and Royale were the main brands. These were made primarily from French tobacco. Until 1970, La Seita had exclusive rights to purchase tobacco used in the manufacture of cigars and cigarettes sold in France and, being limited to 20% imported tobacco leaves, was mainly supplied by French farmers.