4th Foreign Regiment

4th Foreign Regiment
(4e régiment étranger)

Regimental badge of 4e RE
Active 1920–1940
1941–1943
1948–1963
1976 – Present
Country  France
Allegiance French Foreign Legion
Branch French Army
Role Recruit induction & training
Part of Foreign Legion Command
Garrison/HQ Quartier Captaine Danjou, Castelnaudary, Aude, France
Nickname(s) Creuset de la Légion (Crucible of the Legion)
Colors Green & Red
Battles/Wars

Rif War (1924–1934)
Syrian Revolution (1921–1926)
Second World War
*Tunisia Campaign (1943)
Malagasy Uprising (1947–1951)
First Indochina War (1949)

Algerian War (1955–1964)
Decorations Croix de guerre (1939-1945) w/ Palm
Website Official Website
Insignia
Beret badge of the 4th Foreign Regiment
Abbreviation 4e RE
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.

The 4th Foreign Regiment (French: 4e Régiment étranger, 4e RE) is the regiment responsible for training the French Foreign Legion.[1] Prior to assuming the main responsibility of training Foreign Legion personnel, the 4th Foreign Regiment is an infantry regiment which participated in campaigns in Morocco, French Indochina, and Algeria.[2]

History, creation and different nominations

A rooted regiment of mutltiple and profound traditions


Created in November 1920 in Marrakesh, Morocco, the 4th Foreign Regiment became the 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1922.[3] While barely created, the regiment engaged in campaigns in Morocco in the Rif War between 1920 and 1934.[3] During that time simultaneously, the 4th and 5th battalion engaged in combat campaigns in the Levant between 1921 and 1926.[3]

World War II

Dissolved on November 1940 to allow the creation of the 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment and then the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion; the 4th Foreign Regiment was recreated in 1941 under the designation of 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, 4eDBLE.[3] It was under that designation (1er R.E.I.M, which essentially contributed to constitute) in which the regiment participated in 1943 to the campaign of Tunisia, where the regiment illustrated capabilities at Zaghouan Mountain (or djebel).[3] Following events and during World War II, the regiment was again dissolved in June 1943, and the constituents forming were transferred to the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E), the regiment which participated and endured heavy combat action during the campaigns of France and Germany.[3]

Far East and North Africa

the 4th Foreign Regiment was recreated in 1946. The regiment engaged successively constituting battalions in Madagascar (between 1947 and 1951), also engaging in the Far East, where the 2nd and 5th battalions were sent in a single unit forming before being dispersed to other regiments.[3] Again dissolved in 1951, the <<4th>> was recreated in Morocco on March 1955, before being engaged in combat in Algeria between 1957 and 1964.[3]

In July 1962, the 4th Foreign Regiment was redeployed to Reggane in southern Algeria, tasked with guarding the oil fields and French nuclear facilities in the region.[4] Following, the 4th Foreign Regiment was disbanded and its subordinate units were folded into the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment.[4] On October 1976 the Foreign Legion established a new Instruction Regiment (Regiment d'Instruction) at Castelnaudary by divesting the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment's Instruction Group (Groupement d' Instruction).[4]

Regiment of Instruction

On September 1, 1977, the regimental colors of the 4eEtranger were entrusted to the Instruction Regiment of the Foreign Legion which took garrison at Castelnaudary, a year earlier.[3] On June 1, 1980, the later was redesignated as 4th Foreign Regiment.[3]

The crucible of the Foreign Legion

Implemented solidly and firmly for 30 years at Castelnaudary, first at garrison Lapasset then garrison Danjou, the regiment pursued the arts in forming the various multinational cadres, specialists and young foreign volunteer recruits hailing from the four corners of the globe; strong with 44 officers, 170 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, and 358 enlisted, all permamently dedicated to this unique and important mission for the future of the Foreign Legion.[3]

Throughout the course of this moving history, the <<4th>> has illustrated combat capabilities mainly in:[3]

Organization

The Regiment consists of six companies:[1]

The regimental headquarters company which also has integrated logistical capabilities.[1] This company has several subordinate administrative units such as the Office of Maintenance and Logistics, the Office of Job Training (Bureaux Instruction Empoi), and the Directorate of Human Resources (Direction des Ressources Humaines).[5]

Responsible for performing recruit basic training.[1] The regiment has three such companies.[1]

Conducts all NCO education and professional development courses.[6]

Conducts training courses in administrative and technical skill.[1] This company teaches over forty courses a year ranging from three to fifteen weeks each.[7]

Traditions

Insignia

Regimental Colors

Inscribed on the regimental colors of the 4th Foreign Regiment are the motto of the Foreign Legion:

"Honneur et Fidélité"[8]

Code of Honour

Regimental Song

Chant de Marche : C'est le 4 en chantant featuring:

À travers pierres et dunes,
S'en vont les képis blancs.
Sous le soleil, clair de lune,
Nous marchons en chantant.
Vers Bechar ou vers Casa,
Dans toutes les direction,
Nous repartons au combat,
Pour la gloire de la Légion.

C'est le 4 en chantant qui s'avance,
Qui s'avance, laissez-le passer.

Sur les pistes des Corbières,
Nous partons en mission.
Une colonne de bérêts verts,
S'en va à l'instruction.
Vers la Jasse ou vers Bel-Air,
Dans toutes les directions,
Devenir légionnaire,
C'est notre seule ambition.

Decorations

Honors

Battle Honors

Regimental and Demi-Brigade Commanders

4th Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (1920-1940)[10]
4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie,(4e R.E.I)

  • 1920 - 1926 : colonel Maurel
  • 1927 - 1927 : colonel Pourailly (January to May)
  • 1927 - 1928 : colonel Poupillier
  • 1928 - 1932 : colonel Mathieu
  • 1933 - 1936 : colonel Conte
  • 1936 - 1940 : lieutenant-colonel Lorillard
  • 1940 - 1940 : lieutenant-colonel Genits

4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion[10]
4 ème Demi-Brigade de La Légion Etrangère,(4e D.B.L.E)

  • 1941 - 1941 : Lieutenant-colonel Bouty (August - September)
  • 1941 - 1943 : Lieutenant-colonel Gentis

1st Foreign Motorized Infantry Regiment[10]
1er Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie Motorisé(1er R.E.I.M)

  • 1943 - 1943: Lieutenant-colonel Gentis (March to June)

4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (Morocco) - 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion [10]
4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie (Maroc) - 4ème Demi-Brigade de La Légion Etrangère
(4ème R.E.I. (Maroc) - 4ème D.B.L.E. (Maroc))

  • 1946 - 1948 : Lieutenant-colonel Laparra
  • 1948 - 1951 : Lieutenant-colonel Bablon
  • 1951 - 1951 : Lieutenant-colonel Sourd (March to May)

2/4 D.B.L.E. - 4/4 R.E.I. (Madagascar)[10]

  • 1947 - 1949 : battalion commander Perin
  • 1949 - 1950 : battalion commander Brinon
  • 1950 - 1951 : lieutenant colonel Royer

1/4 R.E.I.[10]

  • 1951 - 1952 : battalion commander Gaucher
  • 1951 - 1954 : battalion commander Pfirmann
  • 1954 - 1954 : battalion commander Dubos (January to June)
  • 1954 - 1955 : battalion commander Hauteclocque

4th Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (1955-1964)[10]
4ème Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie,(4e R.E.I)

  • 1955 - 1957 : colonel Borreil
  • 1957 - 1959 : colonel Lemeunier
  • 1959 - 1961 : lieutenant-colonel Georgeon
  • 1961 - 1962 : lieutenant-colonel Vadot
  • 1962 - 1964 : lieutenant-colonel Brule

Instruction Regiment of the Foreign Legion[10]
Régiment d’Instruction de La Légion Etrangère (R.I.L.E)

  • 1977 - 1979 : lieutenant-colonel Forcin
  • 1979 - 1980 : lieutenant-colonel Jean

4th Foreign Regiment Tenure (1980–present)[10]
4e régiment étranger,(4e R.E.)

  • 1980 - 1981 : colonel Jean
  • 1981 - 1983 : colonel Latournerie
  • 1983 - 1985 : colonel colcomb
  • 1985 - 1987 : colonel kreher
  • 1987 - 1989 : colonel Seignez
  • 1989 - 1991 : colonel Grail
  • 1991 - 1993 : colonel Dureau
  • 1993 - 1995 : colonel Pinard Legry
  • 1995 - 1997 : colonel Buffeteau
  • 1997 - 1999 : colonel Pichot de Champfleury
  • 1999 - 2001 : colonel Barbaud
  • 2001 - 2003 : colonel Thiebault
  • 2003 - 2005 : colonel Kotchine
  • 2005 - 2007 : colonel Roqueplo
  • 2007 - 2009 : colonel Pau
  • 2009 - 2011 : colonel Mistral
  • 2011 - 2013 : colonel Talbourdel
  • 2013 - 2015 : colonel Lobel
  • 2015 - 20** : Lieutenant-colonel Dufour

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. pp. 70–72. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  2. "Historique du 4ème Régiment étranger". French Foreign Legion. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Official Website of the 4th Foreign Regiment,A rooted regiment of mutltiple and profound traditions
  4. 1 2 3 Windrow, Martin (1996). Foreign Legion since 1945. Osprey. pp. 43–45. ISBN 1-85532-621-3.
  5. "Compagnie de commandement et de service". Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  6. "Compagnie d'instruction des cadres". Legion Etrangere. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  7. "Compagnie d'instruction des spécialistes" (in French). Legion Etrangere. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  8. 1 2 Official Website of the 4th Foreign Regiment, Regimental Colors,Le drapeau du 4ème RE
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Official Website of the 4th Foreign Regiment,Code d'honneur du légionnaire
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Official Website of the 4th Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1920-present)

External links

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