2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
(2e régiment étranger d'infanterie)

Regimental badge of 2ème REI
Active 3 Apr 1841 – 1 Apr 1943
1 Aug 1945 – 1 Jan 1968
1 Sept 1972 – Present
Country  France
Allegiance French Foreign Legion
Branch French Army
Type Infantry
Role Mechanized infantry
Size 1230 men
Part of

31ème Brigade
(1981-1984)
6th Armoured Division
(1990-1991)

6th Light Armored Brigade
(1999-present)
Garrison/HQ Nîmes, France
Nickname(s) 2e Étranger
Motto(s) Être prêt ("Be ready")
Colors Green and Red
March Anne-Marie du "2"
Mascot Tapanar (mule)
Anniversaries Camerone Day (April 30) and El-Moungar day (2 September)
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Valéry PUTZ
Notable
commanders
François Certain Canrobert
Patrice MacMahon
Insignia
Beret badge of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
Abbreviation 2ème REI

The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2e REI) is an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion. It is one of two mechanized infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade[1] It is currently stationed at Quartier Colonel de Chabrières; named in honor of Colonel de Chabrières who was shot in the chest while leading a charge of the regiment. Quartier Colonel Chabrières is situated in Nimes, a historical Roman city, in the south of France.[2]

As a mobile infantry regiment, the 2ème REI may undertake any mission being allocated to. The Regiment has responsibility for field testing new equipment for the French Army as a whole.[3]

History, creation and different nominations

Royal Foreign Regiments

Foreign Legion since 1831

Main article: 1st Foreign Regiment

2nd Regiment of the 1st Foreign Legion in 1855

Main article: 1st Foreign Regiment

2nd Foreign Regiment in 1856

Main article: 1st Foreign Regiment

Foreign Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment in 1862

Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

Foreign Legion of the 1st Foreign Regiment in 1875

Sudan Campaign and Dahomey Expedition

Creation of the Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment in 1907

Pacification of Algeria

From 1841–1907 legionnaires from the 2nd Regiment where deployed in Algeria. In the early twentieth century, France faced numerous incidents, attacks and looting by uncontrolled armed groups, in the newly occupied areas in the south of Oran (Algeria). Under the command of General Lyautey, the French army's mission was to protect these areas newly controlled in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.

This loose boundary, between French Algeria and the Sultanate of Morocco, promotes incursions and attacks perpetrated by Moroccan tribesmen.

On 17 August 1903, the first battle of the South-Oranese campaign took place in Taghit, where French Foreign legionnaires were assailed by a contingent of more than 1,000 well-equipped Berbers. For 3 days, the legionnaires repelled repeated attacks of an enemy more than 10 times higher in number, and inflicted huge losses on the attackers, forcing them finally into a hasty retreat.

A few months after the Battle of Taghit, 148 legionnaires of the 22nd mounted company, from the 2ème REI, commanded by Captain Vauchez and Lieutenant Selchauhansen, 20 Spahis and two Mokhaznis were escorting a supply convoy, when they were ambushed at 9:30 am on 2 September by 3,000 Moroccans marauders. The half-company had halted to eat, no sentries had been posted and only a few cavalry pickets had been placed.

The first volleys wounded or killed half of the detachment. Both officers and most of the non-commissioned officers were killed in the first stage of the fight. At 10:30 am, Quartermaster Sergeant (sergent-fourrier) Tisserand, who commanded the survivors, sent two spahi cavalrymen to Taghit for reinforcements. They immediately left.

About forty survivors of the French force gathered on a nearby hill and under a scorching sun, on hot sand and without water, fought off the enemy for more than eight hours. Near the end of the battle, Tisserand, wounded, gave over command to Corporal Detz; the highest ranked man still able. At 5 pm, they were relieved by Captain de Sulbielle, who rode from Taghit with his Spahis. At the sight of the approaching French cavalry, the Moroccans retreated in small groups.

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1922

Far East Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion in 1945

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1946

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2ème REI) during the Dien Bien Phu order of battle

2nd Foreign Regiment in 1972

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1980

Organization

The regiment is composed of around 1230 men organised into 10 companies, thus making it the largest regiment of the Foreign Legion and one of the largest around the ensemble of infantry regiments forming the French Army.[1]

Traditions

Insignias

Regimental Colors

Regimental Colors of the 2nd REI with Honneur et Fidélité.
Recto of Regimental Colors

Regimental Song

Chant de Marche : Anne-Marie du 2ème REI in the German language featuring:[8]


-I-
 Anne-Marie, wo geht die Reise in,
 Anne-Marie, wo geht die Reise in,
 Sie geht in’s Städtelein
 Wo die Soldaten sein.
 Ein, zwei, drei
 Junge, junge, junge Anne-Marie

 -II-
 Anne-Marie, heute wollen wir lustig sein,
 Anne-Marie, heute wollen wir lustig sein,
 Wir wollen tanzen gehen
 Und uns im Kreise drehen.
 Ein, zwei, drei
 Junge, junge, junge Anne-Marie.

Decorations

The 6th Light Armoured Division (6ème DLB) operating the left flank of the 34 nations coalition during the Gulf War.

The standard and regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is heir to 28 citations at the orders of the armed forces.[4]

Personnels of the regiment are authorized to wear the fourragère with colors of the Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'Opérations Extérieurs.

Honours

Battle Honours

In the 19th century, the colors of the 2nd Foreign Regiment were inscribed with the following battles and campaigns:

Regimental Annual Celebration

The annual celebration of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is the second Campaign of Madagascar, which took place on September 2, 1903. The regiment honors that day with a parade commemorating and presenting hommage to the old combatants and anciens.

Regimental Commanders

Regimental Colors of the 2ème Étranger on the best preserved Roman temple, the Maison Carrée.

2nd Foreign Legion Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment Etranger de la Légion étrangère(2èmeR.E.L.E)
Tenure ( 1841 - 1855 )[11]

  • 1841 - 1843 : Caries de Senilhes
  • 1843 - 1844 : Patrice de Mac-Mahon
  • 1844 - 1848 : Caries de Senilhes
  • 1848  : François Certain Canrobert
  • 1848  : de Noue
  • 1848 - 1851 : Jean-Luc Carbuccia
  • 1851  : Cœur
  • 1851 - 1855 : de Caprez
  • 1855  : Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières

2nd Foreign Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment Etrangère(2ème R.E.)
Tenure ( 1856 - 1875 )

  • 1856 - 1859 : Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières
  • 1859  : Signorino
  • 1859 - 1862 : Mathieu Butet
  • 1862  : Pierre Joseph Jeanningros
  • 1862-1866  : Pierre Joseph Jeanningros
  • 1866-1867  : Guilhem
  • 1867-1870  : Deplanque
  • 1870-1875  : de Mallaret

Foreign Legion Tenure
Légion Etrangère(L.E.)
Tenure ( 1875 - 1884 )

2nd Foreign Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment étrangère(2ème R.E)
Tenure ( 1885 - 1922 )

  • 1885 - 1886 : Hugot
  • 1886 - 1888 : Letellier
  • 1888 - 1889 : Vincent
  • 1889 - 1893 : Octave Gustave Adolphe Gillet
  • 1893 - 1895 : Oudri
  • 1895 - 1896 : Gosse Dubois
  • 1896 - 1900 : Béranger
  • 1900 - 1902 : Bruneau
  • 1902 - 1906 : Desorthes
  • 1906 - 1908 : Schlumberger
  • 1908  : Branlière
  • 1908  : Alix
  • 1908 - 1911 : Jean-Marie Brulard
  • 1911 - 1914 : Passar
  • 1914 - 1915 : Bourgeois
  • 1915  : Plande
  • 1915  : Arque
  • 1915-1916  : Deville
  • 1916-1917  : Donneve
  • 1917  : Chartier
  • 1917-1918  : Arrieu
  • 1918-1920  : Hottenger
  • 1920-1922  : Martin

1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment Tenure
1er Régiment de Marche du 2e Régiment Etranger (1er R.M.2èmeR.E)
Tenure( 1907 - 1918)

  • 1907  : Brulard
  • 1908 - 1909 : Szarvas
  • 1909 - 1912 : Forey
  • 1912 - 1913 : Vandenberg
  • 1913 - 1914 : Girodon
  • 1915 - 1916 : Crobière
  • 1916  : Theveney
  • 1916 - 1917 : Tisseyre

2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment de Marche du 2e Régiment Etranger (2èmeR.M.2èmeR.E)
Tenure ( 1914 - 1915 )

  • 1914  : Passard
  • 1914 - 1915 : Lecomte-Denis
  • 1915  : de Lavenne de Choulot

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie(2èmeR.E.I)
Tenure ( 1922 - 1968 )

  • 1922 - 1923 : Martin
  • 1924 - 1925 : Marty
  • 1926 - 1928 : Genmeau
  • 1928 - 1930 : Debas
  • 1930 - 1934 : Richert
  • 1934 - 1938 : Gerard
  • 1938 - 1940 : Girard
  • 1940 - 1943 : Flan
  • 1945 - 1947 : Lorillot
  • 1947 - 1948 : Courcelle-Labrousse
  • 1948  : Nicolas
  • 1949  : Doynel de la Sausserie
  • 1949 - 1950 : Thevenot
  • 1950 - 1951 : Pelletrat de Borde
  • 1951 - 1953 : Daigny
  • 1953 - 1956 : Jacquot
  • 1956 - 1958 : Goujon
  • 1958 - 1959 : Thevenon
  • 1959 - 1961 : de Seze
  • 1961 - 1963 : Romet
  • 1963 - 1965 : André Le Vert
  • 1965 - 1967 : Kopf
  • 1967 - 1968 : de Monferrand

2nd Foreign Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment Etrangère(2èmeR.E)
Tenure( 1972 - 1980 )

  • 1972 - 1974 : Servanckx
  • 1974 - 1976 : Gilbert
  • 1976 - 1978 : Mougin
  • 1978 - 1980 : Liege
  • 1980  : de Montlebert

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure
2e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (2èmeR.E.I) Tenure( 1980–present )

  • 1980 - 1982 : de Montlebert
  • 1982 - 1984 : de Lajudie
  • 1984 - 1986 : François
  • 1986 - 1988 : Laffly
  • 1988 - 1990 : Soubirou
  • 1990 - 1992 : Derville
  • 1992 - 1994 : Emmanuel de Richoufftz de Manin
  • 1994 - 1996 : Antoine Lecerf
  • 1994 - 1996 : Verna
  • 1998 - 2000 : Bontoux
  • 2000 - 2002 : Bras
  • 2002 - 2004 : Margail
  • 2004 - 2006 : de Reviers de Mauny
  • 2006 - 2008 : Gillet
  • 2008 - 2010 : Durieux
  • 2010 - 2012 : Fouilland
  • 2012 - 2014 : Ozanne
  • 2014 -  : Putz

2nd Foreign Gallery

19 century


20th century

Alliances

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Structure du régiment". 2e Régiment étranger d'infanterie (in French). Ministère de la Défense. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 http://le.cos.free.fr/2rei.htm
  3. Koelher, Charles (31 March 2006). "LEGIO PATRIA NOSTRA: THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION SINCE 1962" (PDF). U.S. General Command and Staff College. p. 85. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Historique du 2 REI, La Creation (Creation)
  5. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, 2nd Foreign Regiment Timeline Formation
  6. 1 2 "Les campagnes du 2ème REI". 2e Régiment étranger d'infanterie (in French). Ministère de la Défense. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  7. "De nouvelles unités pour la Légion étrangère". Foreign Legion. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  8. Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Historique du 2REI, Le chant du 2ème REI
  9. 1 2 3 Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Historique du 2e REI, Le drapeau du 2ème REI
  10. "Édition Chronologique n° 45 du 29 octobre 2010".Le Ministère de la Défense instruction n°1515/DEF/EMA/OL/2 du 23 septembre 1983, modifiée, sur les filiations et l'héritage des traditions des unités; décision n°010318/DEF/CAB/SDBG/CPAG du 15 juillet 2008 portant création d'une commission des emblèmes. Art 1er. L'inscription "Koweït 1990-1991" est attribuée aux drapeaux et étendards des formations des armées énumérées ci-dessous. 2e R.E.I, 1er R.E.C, 6e R.E.G, 3e R.I.Ma, 1er R.P.I.Ma, 11e R.A.Ma, 4e Régiment de dragon, 1er Régiment de Spahis, 6e Régiment de Commandement et de Soutien, 1er R.H.C, 3e R.H.C, puis les formations de l'Armée de l'Air les 5e, 7e, 11e escadre de chasse, la 33e escadre de reconnaissance et les 61e et 64e escadre de transport. Le présent arrêté sera publié au bulletin officiel des armées, Hervé Morin.
  11. Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Le Chef de corps, Les anciens chef de corps

References

External links

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