) and veteran foreign regiments (french: Anciens régiment étranger, link=no) of the Legion, in case of the
CEPs,
BEPs &
REPs
Reps is a small town in the Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Mirditë. It was the seat of the former municipality Orosh
Orosh (or ) is a small village in Mirditë within ...
, the context reference is referring to the paratrooper veterans (french: Anciens legionnaires parachutistes, link=no) and veteran foreign paratrooper companies (CEP)s, battalions (BEP)s (french: Anciens bataillons étrangers de parachutistes, link=no) and regiments (REP)s (french: Anciens régiments étrangers de parachutistes, link=no) of the Legion, in this case the 2
e REP
Rep, REP, or a variant may refer to:
As a word
* Rep (fabric), a ribbed woven fabric made from various materials
* ''Rep'' (TV series), a 1982 British comedy series
* '' The Rep'', an entertainment guide published by the ''Arizona Republic'' 1997 ...
(french: 2
e Régiment étrangers de parachutistes, link=no) of the Legion.
(in the manner, ways and traditions of our veterans foreign regiments)
, march =
Nos képis blancs(Sous le soleil brulant d'Afrique)
, mascot =
, battles = World War II
*
Battles of Narvik
The Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April to 8 June 1940, as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian town of Narvik, as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War.
...
*
Battle of Dakar
The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa (modern-day Senegal). It was hoped that the success of the operation cou ...
*
Battle of Gabon
The Battle of Gabon (French: ''Bataille du Gabon''), also called the Gabon Campaign (''Campagne du Gabon''), occurred in November 1940 during World War II. The battle resulted in forces under the orders of General de Gaulle taking the colony ...
*
Battle of Keren
The Battle of Keren ( it, Battaglia di Cheren) took place from 3 February to 27 March 1941. Keren was attacked by the British during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. A force of Italian regular and colonial troops defended th ...
*
Syria-Lebanon Campaign
*
Battle of Bir Hakeim
The Battle of Bir Hakeim () took place at Bir Hakeim, an oasis in the Libyan desert south and west of Tobruk, during the Battle of Gazala (26 May – 21 June 1942). The 1st Free French Brigade under Marie-Pierre Kœnig defended the position from ...
*
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian Railway station, railway halt of El Alamein. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa ...
*
Tunisia Campaign
The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the World War II, Second World War, between Axis powers, Axis and Allies of World War II, Allied ...
*
Italian Campaign
*
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15August 1944. Despite initially designed to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, th ...
* Bataille des Vosges
*
Colmar Pocket
The Colmar Pocket (french: Poche de Colmar; de , Brückenkopf Elsass) was the area held in central Alsace, France, by the German Nineteenth Army from November 1944 to February 1945, against the U.S. 6th Army Group (6th AG) during World War II. ...
*
Western Allied invasion of Germany
The Western Allied invasion of Germany was coordinated by the Allies of World War II, Western Allies during the final months of hostilities in the European theatre of World War II, European theatre of World War II. In preparation for the Allied ...
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...
*
Battle of Hòa Bình
The Battle of Hòa Bình was fought during the First Indochina War. It occurred from 10 November 1951 to 25 February 1952, when French Union forces attempted to lure the Việt Minh out into the open and to force it to fight on French terms.
Pre ...
*
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (french: Bataille de Diên Biên Phu ; vi, Chiến dịch Điện Biên Phủ, ) was a climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War that took place between 13 March and 7 May 1954. It was fought between the Fr ...
Algerian War
The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...
*
Operation Jumelles
Operation Jumelles ( en, Operation Binoculars) was a military operation which was part of the Algerian War in Kabylia, Algeria. It lasted from 22 July 1959 to March 1960. It was fought between the FLN and the French Army
History
Early his ...
Global War on Terrorism
The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campaign are militant ...
(2001–present)
, anniversaries = Camerone Day (30 April) and
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
, commander1 = Colonel Pierre-Henri Aubry
, notable_commanders =
Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, also known as Ralph Monclar (born 7 February 1892, died 3 June 1964) was a French officer and 2nd Inspector of the Foreign Legion who fought in World War I, World War II within the ranks of the Free French Force ...
Dimitri Amilakvari
Prince Dimitri Zedginidze-Amilakhvari, more commonly known as Dimitri Amilakhvari ( ka, დიმიტრი ამილახვარი, french: Dimitri Amilakvari) (31 October 1906 – 24 October 1942) was a French military officer of ...
Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné
Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné (9 February 1913 – 1 March 1948) was a French Army officer of the French Foreign Legion. He was born in Paris, and was killed in the line of duty close to Lagnia Bien Hoa (Viêt Nam).
Education
He went to the L ...
Jules Gaucher
Jules Gaucher (13 September 1905 – 13 March 1954) was a French Army officer noted for his command of Foreign Legion troops in Indochina. Described as a "burly, hard-drinking veteran of years of jungle fighting, with a nose like an axe-blade an ...
Bernard Saint-Hillier
Bernard Saint-Hillier (29 December 1911 – 28 July 2004) was a French general.
Saint-Hillier graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1933 and was affected to the 11th Chasseurs alpins Battalion. In 1938, he joined the French Foreign Legion with the rank ...
, identification_symbol =
![13DBLE-béret](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/13DBLE-b%C3%A9ret.jpg)
, identification_symbol_label = Beret insignia of the 13 Demi Brigade
, identification_symbol_2 = 13
e DBLE
, identification_symbol_2_label = Abbreviation
The 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion (french: 13
e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère, 13
e DBLE, link=no), was created in 1940 and was the main unit of the
1st Free French Division,
Free French Forces
__NOTOC__
The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, l ...
(FFL). From the coast of
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
to
Bir Hakeim, to
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
then the
Alsace
Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...
, while passing by
Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
and
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, the 13th
Demi-Brigade
A ''demi-brigade'' ( en, Half-brigade) is a military formation used by the French Army since the French Revolutionary Wars. The ''Demi-brigade'' amalgamated the various infantry organizations of the French Revolutionary infantry into a single ...
would be part of most of the major campaigns of the French Army during the Second World War.
After having been
engaged in Indochina from 1946 to 1954, the 13
e DBLE joined the
Algerian War
The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...
, and left in 1962. The 13
e DBLE was based until 2011 at ''Quartier-Général Monclar'' in Djibouti, in virtue of an accord between France and the Republic of Djibouti in 1977. During 2011, the unit moved to the United Arab Emirates. In 2016, the unit returned to France, based at the same camp where it was first formed (and took its designation on 27 March 1940) – ''Camp du Larzac''.
Creation and different designations
This unit of the Legion was created on 1 March 1940 within the cadre of the
Franco-British expeditionary corps intended to intervene in Finland. The first designation of this unit was 13th Mountain Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13
e DBMLE).
In lieu of the
kepi
The kepi ( ) is a cap with a flat circular top and a peak, or visor. In English, the term is a loanword of french: képi, itself a re-spelled version of the gsw, Käppi, a diminutive form of , meaning "cap". In Europe, this headgear is most ...
, The formation was issued the 1935 pattern Fortress troops khaki beret with the Foreign Legion grenade hat badge.
On 1 July 1940, the 1st battalion, 900 men, were based in England as troops of the
Free French Forces
__NOTOC__
The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, l ...
, the 14
e DBMLE, while the remainder of the demi-brigade, 800 men principally from the 2nd battalion, returned to Morocco and preserved the designation of 13
e DBMLE.
On 4 November 1940, the demi-brigade of Morocco was dissolved which allowed the troops which remained in England to readopt the designation of 13
e DBLE.
History of campaigns, battles and garrisons
Second World War
The unit was constituted in North Africa from volunteers of other foreign units stationed there. The unit was then commanded by lieutenant-colonel
Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, also known as Ralph Monclar (born 7 February 1892, died 3 June 1964) was a French officer and 2nd Inspector of the Foreign Legion who fought in World War I, World War II within the ranks of the Free French Force ...
and was initially composed of two battalions:
* The 1
er bataillon –
Chef de bataillon
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
(CBA) Guéninchault – Sidi bel-Abbès
* The 2
e bataillon – Chef de bataillon (CBA) Boyer Ressès – Fez
Starting 13 May 1940, the unit took part in the
Norwegian Campaign in the corps commanded by
Général
is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...
Béthouart, fighting in
Bjerkvik
Bjerkvik is a village in Narvik Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The village is located at the end of Herjangsfjorden, an arm of Ofotfjorden. Bjerkvik sits less than south of the border of Troms county and about across the fjord from t ...
and
Narvik
( se, Áhkanjárga) is the third-largest municipality in Nordland county, Norway, by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Narvik. Some of the notable villages in the municipality include Ankenesstranda, Ball ...
. The operation was a success, however, with the
invasion of France
France has been invaded on numerous occasions, by foreign powers or rival French governments; there have also been unimplemented invasion plans.
* the 1746 War of the Austrian Succession, Austria-Italian forces supported by the British navy attemp ...
, the unit was obliged to repatriate to the national territory. Losses in Norway were 8 Officers, and 93 Legionnaires including Chef de Bataillon Guéninchault.
The unit disembarked in Brittany on 4 June to reinforce the proposed national redoubt(french:
réduit Breton, link=no). On 21 June, the survivors of the demi-brigade embarked for Scotland. Those troops which did not hear the
Appeal of 18 June
The Appeal of 18 June (french: L'Appel du 18 juin) was the first speech made by Charles de Gaulle after his arrival in London in 1940 following the Battle of France. Broadcast to Vichy France by the radio services of the British Broadcasting Cor ...
(french:
appel du 18, link=no) joined other units of the French Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps (french:
Corps expéditionnaire français en Scandinavie, link=no) in the region of
Trentham.
Adhering to this
appeal
In law, an appeal is the process in which cases are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals function both as a process for error correction as well as a process of clarifying and ...
, recently promoted captain
Pierre Kœnig adjoint (assistant) of lieutenant-colonel
Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, also known as Ralph Monclar (born 7 February 1892, died 3 June 1964) was a French officer and 2nd Inspector of the Foreign Legion who fought in World War I, World War II within the ranks of the Free French Force ...
, convinced the latter to head to London, where they met
Général
is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...
De Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Governm ...
. Magrin-Vernerey met with
Général
is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...
Antoine Béthouart
Marie Émile Antoine Béthouart (17 December 1889 – 17 October 1982) was a French Army general who served during World War I and World War II.
Born in Dole, Jura, in the Jura Mountains, Béthouart graduated from Saint-Cyr military academy a ...
, chief 1st ''Chasseurs'' Division of the French Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps (french:
Corps expéditionnaire français en Scandinavie, link=no), who allowed him to meet the men at the garrisoned camp on the night of 30 June. Out of the 1,619 Legionnaires present on 28 June 1940, a little less than 900 rallied to Free France (french:
France libre
Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...
, link=no), the others joined Morocco under the command of Général Béthouard. Joining later the camp, where were regrouped the garrisoned
Free French Forces
__NOTOC__
The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, l ...
, the 13
e DBLE participated to the 14 July parade in London.
The units of the
Free French Forces
__NOTOC__
The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, l ...
took temporarily, between 1 July 1940 and 2 November 1940, the designation of 14th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 14
e DBLE, while composed of the following:
* Headquarters staff commanded by commandant Alfred Maurice Cazaud (french:
Alfred Maurice Cazaud, link=no)
* 3 combat units
* 1 support unit
The demi-brigade had a strength of 25 officers, 102 NCOs and 702 other ranks.
At the end of September 1940, the unit participated in the
Battle of Dakar
The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa (modern-day Senegal). It was hoped that the success of the operation cou ...
against Dakar. Following the failure of the landing in Senegal, the unit finished by disembarking, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Cazaud, in Equatorial French Africa (french:
Afrique-Équatoriale française, link=no) to partake, in November 1940, to the
Battle of Gabon
The Battle of Gabon (French: ''Bataille du Gabon''), also called the Gabon Campaign (''Campagne du Gabon''), occurred in November 1940 during World War II. The battle resulted in forces under the orders of General de Gaulle taking the colony ...
(french:
campagne du Gabon, link=no) and the rallying of Gabon to Free France (french:
France libre
Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...
, link=no), under the command of
général
is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...
de Larminat.
The unit accordingly assumed its original denomination, and at the corps of the
French Orient Brigade, the unit circled Africa and disembarked at Port Soudan on 12 February 1941 to take part in combats in the
East African Campaign. The brigade accordingly distinguished itself during the
Battle of Keren
The Battle of Keren ( it, Battaglia di Cheren) took place from 3 February to 27 March 1941. Keren was attacked by the British during the East African Campaign of the Second World War. A force of Italian regular and colonial troops defended th ...
, on 27 March 1941, then Massaoua on 8 April 1941.
In the following month, the unit joined Palestine in order to participate to the
Syria–Lebanon Campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Syria and Lebanon (then controlled by Vichy France) in June and July 1941, during the Second World War. The French had ceded autonomy to Syria in Septemb ...
. The demi-brigade entered into Syria on 8 June and following harsh combats, managed to enter into Damascus on 21 June. On 6 September 1941, lieutenant-colonel prince
Amilakvari assumed command of the unit. In December, the 2nd battalion (commandant René Babonneau (french:
René Babonneau, link=no)) and 3rd battalion made way to North Africa where the unit, at the corps of the ''Koenig Brigade'', front faced the forces of the
Afrika Korps
The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (, }; DAK) was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of its African colonies, the ...
.
Promoted to in September 1941, excellent instructor of men, René Babonneau assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, which at
Bir Hakeim, on 27 May 1942, held back more than 70 tanks of the division Ariete, by destroying 35 out of them. His battalion received a citation at the orders of the armed forces. Remaining at the rear to uphold the unfolding, on the night of 10–11 June 1942 he was made prisoner and transferred to Italy, where he twice attempted to escape.
From May to June 1942, a part of the unit was successful at
Bir Hakeim. This would be the occasion for
Pierre Messmer
Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer (; 20 March 191629 August 2007) was a French Gaullist politician. He served as Minister of Armies under Charles de Gaulle from 1960 to 1969 – the longest serving since Étienne François, duc de Choiseul under L ...
, captain commanding a company to write later, a book: ''The Lost Patrol'' (french:
La patrouille perdue, link=no). Then the "13
e" took part to the
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) was a battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian Railway station, railway halt of El Alamein. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Battle of Alam el Halfa ...
, during which the commanding officer of the unit -
Dimitri Amilakhvari
Prince Dimitri Zedginidze-Amilakhvari, more commonly known as Dimitri Amilakhvari ( ka, დიმიტრი ამილახვარი, french: Dimitri Amilakvari) (31 October 1906 – 24 October 1942) was a French military officer of ...
- was killed.
During the assembly of the
1st Free French Division (1
re DFL), beginning of 1943, the DBLE disappeared as far as a troop corps and the three constituting units (1
er BLE, 2
e BLE and the anti-tank company) were incorporated into the 1st Brigade of the Division.
The unit later engaged in combat at the corps of the
French Expeditionary Corps There have been several French Expeditionary Corps (French ''Corps expéditionnaire'' 'français'':
* Expeditionary Corps of the Orient 'Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient'', CEO(1915), during World War I
* Expeditionary Corps of the Dardanelles 'Co ...
then
disembarked in Provence within the cadre of
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15August 1944. Despite initially designed to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, th ...
in mid-August 1944. The demi-brigade took part in the Liberation of France (french:
libération de la France, link=no) as part of the
1st Free French Division (
1st Army) (french:
1re Armée française, link=no), notably during the course of the Battle of the Vosges (french:
Bataille des Vosges, link=no).
During late 1944, a nominally
Ukrainian
Ukrainian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Ukraine
* Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe
* Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine
* So ...
battalion of the FFI – composed of recent defectors from the
30th Waffen SS Grenadier Division — was attached to the 13th Demi-Brigade. Two groups from the SS division had defected to the FFI on 27 August. One included 818 Ukrainians based at Vesoul, under the direction of Major Lev (Leon) Hloba, who had shot their German officers and surrendered to the Haute-Saône arm of the FFI in the Confracourt Woods. They brought with them 45-mm antitank guns, 82-mm and 50-mm mortars, 21 heavy machine guns, as well as large amounts of small arms and small-caliber ammunition. That same day, a similar defection occurred near Camp Valdahon – hundreds of men brought with them an antitank gun, eight heavy machine guns, four mortars, and small arms and ammunition. The defectors became known as the ''Bataillon de Résistants Ukrainiens''.
On 6 April 1945, the unit was seen attributed the
Ordre de la Libération
The Order of Liberation (french: Ordre de la Libération) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a very high honour, second only after the ''Légion d’Honneur'' (Legion of Honour ...
.
Indochina War
Destined to be part of the French Expeditionary in Extreme-Orient, the 13
eDBLE disembarked of the ''SS Ormonde'' on 6 February 1946 at Saigon and garrisoned north of the town, in the triangle of Gia Định -Thu Duc – Hoc Mon.
Operations commenced, with 19 June 1946, the first combat at Mat Cat (Cochinchine). The 13
e DBLE was engaged in the frontiers of Siam until Tourane, while passing by the fields of Joncs. The battalions were spread.
* The 1st Battalion at Cambodia, pursued the Khmers issarak, which refuged in Siam.
* The 2nd Battalion at the center of Annam, defended Tourane, emptied Hué and installed a series of posts around Quảng Nam.
* The 3rd Battalion confronted hard combat at Cochinchine, where local ambushes alternated with action forces.
The 13
e DBLE participated to operations "Vega", "Dragon II et III", "Geneviève", "Jonquille", and "Canigou", with the adversary often leaving combatants behind, such as at Largauze on 26 March 1949. In 1950 the 13
e DBLE assembled in Cochinchine and received in support a fourth battalion. The latter was destined to join the units that had the mission to clean up the fields of Joncs.
The rhythm of operations accelerated with the beginning of the dry season: "Potager", "Normandie", "Ramadan", "Trois Provinces", "Tulipes", "Ulysse 3", "Neptune", and "Revanche". Following this operation, the 13
e DBLE was again split. Three battalions remained in Cochinchine where they participated to different operations: "Araba", "Mandarine", "Pamplemousse", and "Caïman".
On 31 January 1953, the 4th battalion was dissolved and the 3rd battalion transformed into an itinerary battalion: the latter would be found in Tonkin, then at Hué, Na Sam, Xoang Xa, at Than Hoa, engaged in a series of hard combats.
Combat engagements
* The 13
e DBLE was attacked at Cà Mau by 700 combatants on 13 June 1947.
* At Cau Xang, nine legionnaires defended the guard tower, until their death.
* On 23 August 1947, the intervention company of the 3rd battalion was surprised with a larger superior number enemy. The legionnaires formed the
Infantry square
An infantry square, also known as a hollow square, was a historic combat formation in which an infantry unit formed in close order, usually when it was threatened with cavalry attack. As a traditional infantry unit generally formed a line to adva ...
and repelled all the assaults while singing « ''
Le Boudin
"Le Boudin" (), officially "Marche de la Légion Étrangère" (English "March of the Foreign Legion"), is the official march of the Foreign Legion. "Le Boudin" is a reference to boudin, a type of blood sausage or black pudding. "Le boudin" colloq ...
'' » (french:
Le Boudin
"Le Boudin" (), officially "Marche de la Légion Étrangère" (English "March of the Foreign Legion"), is the official march of the Foreign Legion. "Le Boudin" is a reference to boudin, a type of blood sausage or black pudding. "Le boudin" colloq ...
, link=no). When the rescue column arrived, the post deplored one killed and four wounded; however, the enemy retreated with three full chariots.
* On 1 March 1948, a free escorted civilian convoy passed by Saigon to Dalat and fell in an ambush. Lieutenant-colonel
de Sairigné, regimental commander of the 13
e DBLE was part of the first killed. The adversaries took 134 civilians to serve them as shields. The pursuit led to the recuperation of a part of the innocent hostages which the enemy was constrained to abandon.
Hòa Bình 1952
The 13
e DBLE participated in the
Battle of Hòa Bình
The Battle of Hòa Bình was fought during the First Indochina War. It occurred from 10 November 1951 to 25 February 1952, when French Union forces attempted to lure the Việt Minh out into the open and to force it to fight on French terms.
Pre ...
from 14 November 1951 to 24 February 1952. Hòa Bình (the name means "peace" in
Vietnamese
Vietnamese may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia
** A citizen of Vietnam. See Demographics of Vietnam.
* Vietnamese people, or Kinh people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Vietnam
** Overse ...
) was the capital of the
Muong ethnic minority. By road, Hòa Bình lay a mere 67 kilometers of map distance from Hanoi via Colonial Route 6 (Fr: ''Route Coloniale 6''). The
Việt Minh
The Việt Minh (; abbreviated from , chữ Nôm and Hán tự: ; french: Ligue pour l'indépendance du Viêt Nam, ) was a national independence coalition formed at Pác Bó by Hồ Chí Minh on 19 May 1941. Also known as the Việt Minh Fro ...
had controlled Hòa Bình since October 1950 and used the district as a logistics staging area for operations in north central Vietnam. The French commander in Indochina, General
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny (2 February 1889 – 11 January 1952) was a French général d'armée during World War II and the First Indochina War. He was posthumously elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France in 1952.
As ...
, ordered the retaking of Hòa Bình in late 1951.
The 2nd Battalion of 13
e DBLE fought in a key engagement at Xóm-Pheo from 8–9 January 1952. The legionnaires held a vital hill at Xóm-Pheo astride Colonial Route 6, and they fortified their positions with
trenches
A trench is a type of excavation or in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a wider gully, or ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit).
In geology, trenches result from erosi ...
,
bunkers,
barbed wire
A close-up view of a barbed wire
Roll of modern agricultural barbed wire
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire, is a type of steel fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strands. Its primary use is t ...
, and
minefields
A land mine is an explosive device concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles and tanks, as they pass over or near it. Such a device is typically detonated automati ...
. On the night of 8 January, troops from the Việt Minh 102nd Infantry Regiment infiltrated through the minefields and attacked the 2/13
e DBLE positions. The Việt Minh forces overran the 5th Company position and destroyed bunkers with
TNT
Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...
satchel charges and
Bangalore torpedo
A Bangalore torpedo is an explosive charge placed within one or several connected tubes. It is used by combat engineers to clear obstacles that would otherwise require them to approach directly, possibly under fire. It is sometimes colloquially ...
es. With many of their officers and NCOs killed or wounded, and half of their position overrun, the legionnaires counterattacked with
fixed bayonets
''Fixed Bayonets!'' is a 1951 American war film written and directed by Samuel Fuller and produced by Twentieth Century-Fox during the Korean War. It is Fuller's second film about the Korean War. In his motion-picture debut, James Dean appears br ...
and
hand grenade
A grenade is an explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A modern hand grenade genera ...
s.
The legionnaires later counted 700 Việt Minh dead around the position at Xon-Pheó.
Dien Bien Phu 1953–1954
End of 1953, the 13
e DBLE assembled at Tonkin, the 2nd battalion in the Delta, the
1st and 3rd battalion (french:
les 1er et 3e bataillon, link=no) where at the
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (french: Bataille de Diên Biên Phu ; vi, Chiến dịch Điện Biên Phủ, ) was a climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War that took place between 13 March and 7 May 1954. It was fought between the Fr ...
, where they respectively held « Claudine » and « Béatrice ». On the night of 13 March 1954, after five assaults, « Béatrice » was submerged. The 3rd battalion was annihilated with Lieutenant-colonel
Jules Gaucher
Jules Gaucher (13 September 1905 – 13 March 1954) was a French Army officer noted for his command of Foreign Legion troops in Indochina. Described as a "burly, hard-drinking veteran of years of jungle fighting, with a nose like an axe-blade an ...
, the regimental commander. The survivors barely represented the numbers of an actual company, and in the rear, efforts were made to reconstitute the battalion, however, time seemed to be missing. on 7 May, all was finished. The camp of Dien Bien Phu was submerged and 1st battalion disappeared to the turn. The
Fanion
A fanion is a small flag used by the French military; the equivalent of an American guidon or British company colour. The name derives from the Italian word gonfanone, or gonfanon. They were often attached to a small staff which was placed in th ...
s of these units were destroyed at the last minute. Only a couple of fragments of the 2nd company were able to be brought back to Sidi bel-Abbès by a couple of legionnaires, whom share it before falling in the hands of the enemy.
Lieutenant-colonel Gaucher was killed on the first day of the battle (13 March 1954), when his
command post
Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...
suffered a direct hit from
Việt Minh
The Việt Minh (; abbreviated from , chữ Nôm and Hán tự: ; french: Ligue pour l'indépendance du Viêt Nam, ) was a national independence coalition formed at Pác Bó by Hồ Chí Minh on 19 May 1941. Also known as the Việt Minh Fro ...
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
. Suffering from serious wounds – the loss of both arms, severe injuries to both legs, and an open chest wound – he died at the hospital. Gaucher was replaced as 13
e DBLE commander on 23 March by Lieutenant-colonel Lemeunier who was helicoptered into the fortress. Until the end of the battle, Lemeunier would be the most senior Foreign Legion officer present at Dien Bien Phu.
[Fall, P139-141.]
The unit suffered heavy casualties during fighting in March and April. On 14 April the Dien Bien Phu garrison reported that I/13
e DBLE was reduced to 354 effectives and III/13
e DBLE was reduced to 80 effectives.
[Fall, P248.]
On 30 April, the legionnaires at Dien Bien Phu celebrated the anniversary of the Legion's historic
Battle of Camarón
The Battle of Camarón (french: Bataille de Camerone) which occurred over ten hours on 30 April 1863 between the Foreign Legion of the French Army and the Mexican army, is regarded as a defining moment in the Foreign Legion's history.
A small ...
(french: Bataille de Camerone). The celebration took place at the 13
e DBLE command post where Lieutenant-colonel Lemeunier read the traditional Camarón proclamation over a radio hook-up that could be heard throughout Dien Bien Phu.
[Fall, P347.]
The 13
e DBLE was the only French unit present at Dien Bien Phu that saved one of its
battle flags
A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours a ...
from destruction or capture. The
guidon of 4th Company, III/13
e DBLE was initially captured by the Việt Minh during the assault on "Béatrice" on 13 March. On 19 May, while the Việt Minh were celebrating
Ho Chi Minh
(: ; born ; 19 May 1890 – 2 September 1969), commonly known as ('Uncle Hồ'), also known as ('President Hồ'), (' Old father of the people') and by other aliases, was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman. He served as Prime ...
's birthday, Sergeant Beres, a Hungarian legionnaire serving with
1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (
1er B.E.P), crawled into a Việt Minh command post and rescued the flag. The seriously wounded Beres was evacuated by helicopter from Dien Bien Phu on 24 May with the guidon hidden under his clothes.
[Fall, P431.]
During its 9-year service in Indochina (1946–1955), the 13
e DBLE suffered 2,721 killed in action (2334 Legionnaires, 307 Warrant Officers, 80 Officers). This included two commanding officers – Lieutenant-colonel Brunet de Sairigné and Lieutenant-colonel Gaucher.
[Défense]
/ref>
Algeria War
In 1955, the 13e DBLE was found back on the African continent. Engaged in the operations of maintaining order (french: opérations de maintien de l'ordre en Algérie, link=no), the regiment disembarked in Tunisia on 28 June 1955. Based in Guelma, the regiment radiated in Constantinois, North and South in the Nemencha. Hiding places were found but no combatants. Accordingly, the phase of "pacification" commenced.
The 13e DBLE constructed or restored posts: Khsirane. The fight followed in the djebels, marked by hard combats: Zaouia, Bou Zakadane, Ouindj, djebel Seike. In July 1957, a combatant group of the ALN
Aluminium nitride ( Al N) is a solid nitride of aluminium. It has a high thermal conductivity of up to 321 W/(m·K) and is an electrical insulator. Its wurtzite phase (w-AlN) has a band gap of ~6 eV at room temperature and has a potent ...
was destroyed.
Leaving then Nemenchta, the 13e DBLE reduced to two battalions garrisoned at Aurès. Steep peaks were succeeded by wooded massif
In geology, a massif ( or ) is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole. The term also refers to a ...
s. At the beginning of 1958, three combats against the ALN, obliged the latter to refuse to get in contact, and accordingly reacted by taking up violence on the civilian population. Nearly 800 families came, in the middle of the winter, and massed around the post of Bou Hamama. Accordingly, On 7 May 1958, the unit responded and combat engaged at Oued Kelaa with firm resolution.
In October 1958, the 13e DBLE became an intervention regiment. The regiment was articulated into eight combat companies, including the mounted company, support company, employed at the exception, as companies of Fusiliers
Fusilier is a name given to various kinds of soldiers; its meaning depends on the historical context. While fusilier is derived from the 17th-century French word ''fusil'' – meaning a type of flintlock musket – the term has been used in co ...
–Voltigeurs
The Voltigeurs were French military skirmish units created in 1804 by Emperor Napoleon I. They replaced the second company of fusiliers in each existing infantry battalion.
Etymology
''Voltigeurs'' ( ɔltiʒœʀ English: "acrobats") were named ...
. Two tactical headquarter staff (EMT) mounted several companies on demand. In general, the first three were subordinated to FEMTI, the 4,5,6 to FEMT2, the CP and CA often in support of one or the other EMT. The composition number was 1778 men : 57 Officers, 249 Sous-Officiers and 1472 men. Such was put into effect for the officers due to a dozen of volunteers, out of which three were from the medical service, and lesser than a couple of dozens for the sous-officiers and the legionnaires. They had of a little harka, which was dissolved in June 1961.
The mission of this itinerary unit covered all Algeria, in a series of operations: « Emeraude », « Dordogne », « Georgevie », « Isère ». From Kabylie to the Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range in the Maghreb in North Africa. It separates the Sahara Desert from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; the name "Atlantic" is derived from the mountain range. It stretches around through Moroc ...
, Algiers to the Challe Line (french: Ligne Challe, link=no) designated as « Barrage est » at the Tunisian frontiers, then in the Aurès, where on 10 February 1961, the unit placed out of combat some 49 combatants and recuperated some 29 arms. The unit made way back to the « Bec de Canard », on the « Barrage est », where operations, patrols and ambushes succeeded until the end of combats in March 1962. At the independence of Algeria, the regiment left 214 tombs.
1962–1977
A first detachment joined Bougie (french: Bougie, link=no) to be embarked at the end of April 1962, destination French Somaliland
French Somaliland (french: Côte française des Somalis, lit= French Coast of the Somalis so, Xeebta Soomaaliyeed ee Faransiiska) was a French colony in the Horn of Africa. It existed between 1884 and 1967, at which time it became the French Ter ...
(french: Côte française des Somalis, link=no) (Actual Republic of Djibouti). Progressively, the remainder units would follow. The regimental colors arrived on the territory on 15 October of the same year. The companies disembarked one after the other in the new lieu. Having not known peace for the last 22 years since existence, the "13e" was at last able to justify reputation as "bâtisseur" which other units in the Legion rejoiced of.
The unit constructed and ameliorated various existing posts:
* The CCAS garrisoned at Gabode;
* The 1st company at Dikhil;
* The 2nd company at Gabode (works company);
* The 3rd company at Ali Sabieh;
* The 4th company at Holl-Holl;
* The ER (Reconnaissance squadron) at Oueah.
During this époque, the numbers in the regiment reached almost those of a sizeable battalion. On 1 October 1968, the regiment integrated a reconnaissance squadron. The 1st company ceded the respective lieu of implementation and went on to garrison in Dikhil. The 2nd company left Obock, took the denomination of 2nd works company (2e CT) and joined the headquarter staff and the CCAS at Gabode, Djibouti headquarters.
On 25 August 1966, the President of the Republic, général de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Governm ...
, visited the territory. The units of the regiment in parade uniform rendered the respective honors of homage. Following the appearance of a banderole reclaiming the territory, manifestations were launched, and the sections of the 2nd company intervened in their parade uniform at 2000 and 2200 respectively. A dozen of ranked and legionnaires were wounded in the confrontation which caused officially thirty-six wounded with forces of the order and nineteen wounded with the manifesting groups.
The next day, after the death of two manifesting individuals in the morning, at 1400, the regimental commander received the order to evacuate the place Lagarde where général de Gaulle was supposed to pronounce his speech. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies as well as two section of the CCAS were designated. The place was cleared in twenty five minutes starting at 1620. The confrontations continued at the level of blocked « Bender » by forces of the police reinforced by the Legion. In total, there were one killed and forty-six wounded in the forces of the order, three killed and two hundred and thirty eight wounded among the manifesting contingents.
The following days, a cover fire was established on the « ville indigène », which was quarantined and searched by patrols. Starting 14 September, the « 13e » as well as the 5th Inter-arm Oure-Mer Regiment (french: 5e RIAOM, link=no) installed a barrage which encircled the town to filter the exit and entry points. Composed of rows of barbed wire («») and miradors stretching over 14 kilometers, this barrier was maintained until the independence and beyond. The number of individuals killed trying to cross it remains undetermined.
On 20 March 1967, the following day of a referendum on the autonomy of the territory, independent manifestations were suppressed again by the men of the 3rd company. The end of 1967 and the year of 1968 were again occasions of numerous tensions and operations of maintaining order.
In 1976, the regiment and notably the reconnaissance squadron intervened during the Loyada Hostage Rescue Mission (french: Prise d'otages de Loyada, link=no).
1977–2011
Following the independence of the Republic of Djibouti in 1977, the 13e DBLE participated regularly to military or humanitarian missions at the profit of the territories or in the Horn of Africa.
In 1979, the 4th company was dissolved. The company's post of Holl-Holl was ceded to the National Army of Djibouti (AND). The regiment then conserved only of the 3rd company, the 2e CT, the CCAS, the squadron and a turning company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP (company detached for 4 months), based in Arta.
The operational engagements succeeded. In May 1991 the regiment assured the control of country's border, which were submerged by a massive influx of refugees coming from Ethiopia, while simultaneously rescue collecting some, welcoming others and disarming an Ethiopian division (Operation Godoria (french: Opération Godoria, link=no). In March 1992, it would be the turn of Operation Iskoutir (french: opération Iskoutir, link=no).
In December 1992, its Operation Oryx (french: opération Oryx, link=no), in Somalia, then a couple of month later, Operations of the United Nations in Somalia (french: ONUSOM II, link=no), where the legionnaires of the "13e" served for a first time in their history under the Blue-Helmets (french: Casque Bleu, link=no) of the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
U.N. In June 1994, the third company was rushed to Rwanda within the cadre of Operation Turquoise (french: Opération Turquoise
Opération Turquoise was a French-led military operation in Rwanda in 1994 under the mandate of the United Nations. The "multilateral" force consisted of 2,500 troops, 32 from Senegal and the rest French. The equipment included 100 APCs, 10 h ...
, link=no) and the regiment participated also to Operation Diapason (french: Opération Diapason, link=no) in Yemen. During the same year, in May, the COMPARA (paratrooper company), stationed in Arta and which was armed by the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP was dissolved.
It is convenient to add to all these operations, of the punctual assistance brought forth by the regiment to the young Republic during natural catastrophic disasters which saved the latter regularly. The legionnaires intervened also within the cadres of assuming relief measures, facing flooding disasters, but also facing dryness, to aid humanly populations affected harshly by weather circumstances as well. The 2e CT (works company) was regularly placed on call to execute diverse works, including various numerous constructions on the territory. The commemorative steles of the Legion marked the efforts of a section which worked for collective goals and these commemorations can be seen across all routes of the territory.
in addition, this last specialty, the 2eCT would assume the denomination of 2e CAT (support and works company) by adding two support sections, one composed of six-120mm mortar and the other section composed of 8 missile launcher posts.
This company was dissolved in 1998 to give place to a turning engineer company armed by the legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment 1e REG, then the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment 2e REG.
In 2000, it is the turn of the 3rd infantry company to disappear, also replaced by a turning company, armed however alternatively by units of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2e REI and 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP.
This last infantry company of the "13e" had a unique character. In fact, at the instar of the companies of the 2e REP, each section had a specialty.
The command section consisted of an 81 mm mortar group. The 1st section perfected the savoire-faire in the domain of sabotage and manipulation of explosives. The 2nd section regrouped the reconnaissance divers which were charged with infiltration missions by maritime means utilizing pneumatic boats or palms. The 3rd section regrouped the elite snipers of the regiment, equipping 12.7 mm Barret and 7.62 mm FRF2. The 4th section, consisted of five Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé
The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB (literally meaning "Armoured Forward Vehicle"; but more appropriately translated: "Armoured Vanguard Vehicle") is a French armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed and manufactured by Renaul ...
VABs out of which two were equipped with 20mm cannons.
In 2001, the maintenance company of French Forces stationed in Djibouti (french: Forces françaises stationnées à Djibouti, FFDj, link=no) was attached to the Demi-Brigade.
In 2002, elements of the regiments were projected to the Ivory Coast within the cadre of Operation Unicorn (french: Opération Licorne
Opération Licorne was a French Armed Forces peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. The French forces had been stationed in the country since shortly after the outbreak of the Ivorian Civil War. Th ...
).
After an intervention of a humanitarian character, where a section of the engineers were projected to Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
in 2005 (Opération Béryx (french: Opération Béryx, link=no), to assist and aid the victims of 2014 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean (french: Séisme du 26 décembre 2004 dans l'océan Indien, link=no), the "13e" revived operational capacities in March 2007. The tactical headquarter staff, the infantry company and an engineer detachment were sent in urgency, north of the Central African Republic to secure and contain the propagation of violence in the zone of the three frontiers (Tchad, RCA, Soudan) to Birao.
In addition, the legionnaires of the unit are, since the beginning of the years 2000, regularly engaged under form of instruction operational detachment (french: détachements d'instruction opérationnels, link=no) (DIO) assisting neighboring countries (Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
, Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
, United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
, Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it sh ...
, Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
and numerous others).
2011–2015: United Arab Emirates
On 31 July 2011, the 13e DBLE left Djibouti and garrisoned in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
at the French military implementation in the United Arab Emirates as a result of a defense cooperation agreement with France.[La 13e DBLE quitte Djibouti](_blank)
/ref> This move was at the occasion of restructuring, the unit passing from a unit status of combat operational arm to that of a projected support force unit.
The unit also bridged operations around the region in 2012 (Operation Tamour (french: Opération Tamour, link=no) in Jordan) and sent a quick detachment of almost 50 personnel to assist the counter-terrorism units of Iraq.[Philippe Chapleau, Fin de partie pour le Détachement d'Instruction Opérationnelle de la 13e DBLE à Bagda]
Ouest-France, 4 janvier 2015
Since 2016: Camp du Larzac
On 30 July 2015, the transfert of the 13e DBLE at Camp du Larzac in Aveyron, was announced in 2016. As of January 2016, with a demi-command company and logistics (CCL), two combat companies, numbers will pass from 69 to 390 then 450 legionnaires, followed in 2017 with the remainder of the CCL and two other combat companies, and in 2018 of a fifth combat company and the company of reconnaissance and support.
In 2022, the composition is about 1300 legionnaires at in five combat companies, one support company (CCL), and one reconnaissance and support company.
Organization
Djibuti (2001)
* The CCS or command and support company, is mixed, composed of legionnaires in MCD and permanently based. The unit regrouped all projectable services, necessary to command the regiment (transmission, operations bureau, medics, transport section). The unit also armed the Combat Training Center at Arta Beach, CECAP which organized the various tactical desert training courses in desert zones. This unit formed the French Forces stationed in Djibouti (FFDj), as well as the recently commissioned infantry officers of the various institutions and foreign military units;
* The CM or maintenance company. This company is mixed in double since it consists of both legionnaires and soldiers of the arms material branch, in MCD or permanently posted. This unit assured the maintenance of all units of the French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
present on the territory;
* The ER or squadron reconnaissance (permanent unit). The squadron formed mainly of legionnaires from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1e REC and stationed in isolated posts, at Brunet de Sairigné, at Oueah, 40 km from Djibouti since 1968. The unit was equipped with light armor type ERC 90 Sagaie
The Panhard ERC (''Engin à Roues, Canon''; "Engine with wheels, cannon") is a French six-wheeled armoured car which is highly mobile and amphibious with an option of being NBC-proof. While various models were tested, only two versions of the ER ...
. The unit was autonomous at the scale of maintain materials and infrastructure;
* The Compagnie d'Infanterie. Armed alternatively by a company of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2e REI or 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP, the unit was equipped with VAB and VLRA. The unit is formed of one section command, one support section (one group of 81 mm and another missile group), and three combat sections;
* The Compagnie de Génie. Hailing from the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment 1e REG and 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (french: 2e Régiment Etranger de Génie, 2e REG) is one of two combat engineer regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment provides the combat engineering component of the 27th Mountain I ...
2e REG, is composed of a command section, three combat engineer sections, one support section and one works section. The latter was in charge in general of preparing roads or landing strips. Sometimes, one of these sections can pass all the MCD time in the desert, under tents, drawing a landing strip, in the most purest tradition of legionnaires bâtisseurs (builder).
United Arab Emirates (2011)
The unit became, in 2011, the support corps ''Groupement terre'' of the French Military Implementation in the UAE (french: Forces françaises aux Émirats Arabes Unis, link=no)). The unit is decomposed of a support unit as well other units sent on the spot in short duration (4 months):
* Between 80 and 100 men seconded from units of the French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion (french: Légion étrangère) is a corps of the French Army which comprises several specialties: infantry, Armoured Cavalry Arm, cavalry, Military engineering, engineers, Airborne forces, airborne troops. It was created ...
as support elements;
* A legion infantry company (provided alternatively by the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2e REI);
* An artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
unit armed with CAESAR
Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caes ...
;
* An infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
unit armed with VBCI
The Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie ( English: ''Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle'') or VBCI is a French Infantry fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by GIAT Industries (now Nexter Systems) and Renault Trucks Defense to replac ...
.
France (2018)
As an infantry regiment within the format defined in the cadre plan of the French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
"Au contact", the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion is composed of 1300 men grouped in eight companies:
* One CCL, command and logistics company, regrouping all necessary projectable services to the regiment's command engaged in operations (transmissions, operations bureau, medics, transport section and maintenance);
* Five combat companies each with a command section, a support section (81mm mortar and anti-tank missiles), and three combat sections;
* One CEA (reconnaissance and support company), with a command section, a regimental reconnaissance section (patrols of VBL), an anti-tank missile section, and a 12.7mm sniper section paired with 7.62mm snipers.
* One reserve company composed of a command section and two combat sections.
Traditions
Insignia
File:Insigne régimentaire de la 13e Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère SVG.svg, Regimental Insignia of the 13e DBLE, other known as the "''La Phalange Magnifique''"
Image:13DBLE-béret.jpg, Beret insignia of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
Regimental colors
Regimental cong
''Chant de Marche : Nos Képis Blancs (Sous le soleil brulant d'Afrique)'' featuring:
''1st couplet''
Sous le soleil brûlant d'Afrique,
Cochinchine, Madagascar,
Une phalange magnifique,
A fait flotter nos étendards,
Sa devise « Honneur et vaillance»,
Forme des soldats valeureux,
Son drapeau celui de la France,
Est un emblème des plus glorieux.
''Refrain''
Vive la Légion étrangère,
Et quand défilent les képis blancs,
Si leur allure n'est pas légère,
Ils portent tous tête haute et fière,
Et s'élançant dans la fournaise,
Le cœur joyeux jamais tremblant,
Au son de notre Marseillaise,
Savent combattre les képis blancs.
''2nd couplet''
C'est une chose d'importance,
La discipline à la Légion,
L'amour du chef, l'obéissance
Sont de plus pure tradition,
Et pour notre France chérie,
Tous ces étrangers bravement,
Viennent défendre la patrie,
Avec honneur et dévouement.
Decorations
Image:Croix de la liberation.jpg,
Image:Croix de Guerre 39 45.jpg,
Image:Croix de guerre des TOE.jpg,
File:Croix_de_l’Ordre_de_la_Libération.JPG,
Image:13e DBLE.jpg,
The Regimental colors of the 13e DBLE is decorated with the following:
* The companion of the Order of Liberation
The Order of Liberation (french: Ordre de la Libération) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a very high honour, second only after the ''Légion d’Honneur'' (Legion of Honour ...
* Four citations at the orders of the armed forces with attribution of the Croix de Guerre 39–45
* Four citations at the orders of the armed forces with attribution of the Croix de guerre des TOE
Croix (French for "cross") may refer to:
Belgium
* Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut
France
* Croix, Nord, in the Nord department
* Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...
* Officer cross of the order of 27 June (independence order of the Djibouti
Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
).Képi Blanc (publication)
''Képi Blanc'' is the monthly French magazine of the Foreign Legion in the French Army.
The press magazine is sold exclusively under membership subscription. The subscription fees are channeled to the ''Foyer d'entraide de la Légion étrangè ...
n 735 – août-septembre 2011
Battle honours
* Camerone 1863[Camerone is a Battle Honour shared by all Foreign Legion Regiments, no matter when they were formed.]
* Bjerkvik-Narvik 1940
* Keren-Massouah 1941
* Bir-Hakeim 1942
* El Alamein 1942
* Rome 1944
* Colmar 1945
* Authion 1945
* Indochine 1946–1954
* AFN 1952–1962[Arrêté relatif à l'attribution de l'inscription AFN 1952–1962 sur les drapeaux et étendards des formations des armées et services, du 19 novembre 2004 (A) NORDEF0452926A Michèle Alliot-Marie]
Regimental commanders
* Lt. Col. Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, also known as Ralph Monclar (born 7 February 1892, died 3 June 1964) was a French officer and 2nd Inspector of the Foreign Legion who fought in World War I, World War II within the ranks of the Free French Force ...
(1940)
* Lt. Col. Alfred Cazoud (1940–1941)
* Lt. Col. Dimitri Amilakhvari
Prince Dimitri Zedginidze-Amilakhvari, more commonly known as Dimitri Amilakhvari ( ka, დიმიტრი ამილახვარი, french: Dimitri Amilakvari) (31 October 1906 – 24 October 1942) was a French military officer of ...
(1941–1942)
* Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
Gabriel Bablon (1942–1944)
* Major Paul Arnault (1944–1945)
* Lt. Col. Bernard Saint-Hillier
Bernard Saint-Hillier (29 December 1911 – 28 July 2004) was a French general.
Saint-Hillier graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1933 and was affected to the 11th Chasseurs alpins Battalion. In 1938, he joined the French Foreign Legion with the rank ...
(1945)
* Lt. Col. Gabriel Bablon (1946)
* Lt. Col. Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné
Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné (9 February 1913 – 1 March 1948) was a French Army officer of the French Foreign Legion. He was born in Paris, and was killed in the line of duty close to Lagnia Bien Hoa (Viêt Nam).
Education
He went to the L ...
(1946–1948)
* Lt. Col. Paul Arnaud (1948–1949)
* Lt. Col. René Morel (1949–1951)
* Lt. Col. Pierre Clément (1951–1953)
* Lt. Col. Guigard (1952–1953)
* Lt. Col. Jules Gaucher
Jules Gaucher (13 September 1905 – 13 March 1954) was a French Army officer noted for his command of Foreign Legion troops in Indochina. Described as a "burly, hard-drinking veteran of years of jungle fighting, with a nose like an axe-blade an ...
(1953–1954)
* Lt. Col. Lemeunier (1954)
* Lt. Col. Rossi (1954–1956)
* Lt. Col. Marguet (1956–1957)
* Lt. Col. Sanges (1957–1958)
* Lt. Col. Roux (1958–1961)
* Lt. Col. Vaillant (1961)
* Lt. Col. Dupuy de Querezieux (1961–1962)
* Lt. Col. Lacôte (1962–1965)
* Lt. Col. Geoffrey (1965–1968)
* Lt. Col. Gustave Fourreau (1968–1970)
* Lt. Col. Buonfils (1970–1972)
* Lt. Col. Pêtre (1972–1974)
* Lt. Col. Paul Lardry
Paul Lardry (1928–2012) was a général d'armée of the French Army who served almost an entire career and Foreign Legion Command, Commandant of the Foreign Legion Command, Foreign Legion.
Military career
After completing a course at a privat ...
(1974–1976)
* Col. Jean-Claude Coullon (1976–1978)
* Lt. Col. Gillet (1978–1980)
* Lt. Col. Loridon (1980–1982)
* Lt. Col. Vialle (1982–1984)
* Lt. Col. Rideau (1984–1986)
* Lt. Col. Champeau (1986–1988)
* Lt. Col. Le Flem (1988–1990)
* Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
Ibanez (1990–1992)
* Colonel J.P. Perez (1992–1994)
* Lt. Col. Emmanuel Beth (1994–1996)
* Lt. Col. Daniel Nougayrède (1996–1998)
* Lt. Col. Debleds (1998–2000)
* Colonel Jean Maurin (2000–2002)
* Colonel Chavancy (2002–2004)
* Lt. Col. Henri Billaudel (2004–2006)
* Colonel Marchand (2006–2008)
* Colonel Thierry Burkhard (2008–2010)
* Colonel Cyril Youchtchenko (27 July 2010 to 21 July 2011)
* Lieutenant-colonel Tony Maffeis ( 21 July 2011 to 30 July 2013)
* Colonel Nicolas Heuze (30 July 2013 to 30 July 2015)
* Colonel Arnaud Goujon (30 July 2015 to 31 May 2016)
* Lieutenant-colonel Guillaume Percie du Sert (20 June 2016 to 30 June 2018)
Notable officers and Legionnaires
* Général Marie-Pierre Kœnig
Marie Joseph Pierre François Kœnig or Koenig (10 October 1898 – 2 September 1970) was a French general during World War II during which he commanded a Free French Brigade at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in North Africa in 1942. He started a pol ...
, elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France
Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1 ...
at posthumous title in 1984, Captain of the 13eDBLE during World War II.
* Général
is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...
Raoul Magrin-Vernerey
Raoul Charles Magrin-Vernerey, also known as Ralph Monclar (born 7 February 1892, died 3 June 1964) was a French officer and 2nd Inspector of the Foreign Legion who fought in World War I, World War II within the ranks of the Free French Force ...
''Ralph'' Monclar, first commander of the Demi-Brigade, the 1st Free French Division, and the French Battalion of the United Nations Organisation during the Korean War.
* Général d'armée Jean Simon, Captain of the 13e DBLE beginning of 1940, regimental commander of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 3e Régiment étranger d'infanterie, 3e REI) is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is stationed in French Guiana. Its mission includes the protection of the C ...
(1948), division commander of the 27th Alpine Infantry Division
The 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (french: 27 Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne, 27 BIM) is a mountain infantry formation of the French Army. The brigade is subordinated to the 1st Armored Division and specializes in mountain warfare.
History ...
(1961), Chancellor of the Ordre de la Libération, military medaled as a général.
* Prince de Géorgie Dimitri Amilakvari
Prince Dimitri Zedginidze-Amilakhvari, more commonly known as Dimitri Amilakhvari ( ka, დიმიტრი ამილახვარი, french: Dimitri Amilakvari) (31 October 1906 – 24 October 1942) was a French military officer of ...
, killed at the head of the demi-brigade on 4 October 1942.
* Pierre Messmer
Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer (; 20 March 191629 August 2007) was a French Gaullist politician. He served as Minister of Armies under Charles de Gaulle from 1960 to 1969 – the longest serving since Étienne François, duc de Choiseul under L ...
, Prime Minister of France
The prime minister of France (french: link=no, Premier ministre français), officially the prime minister of the French Republic, is the head of government of the French Republic and the leader of the Council of Ministers.
The prime minister ...
, Ministre de la Défense, Captain during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
* Général de brigade Jacques Pâris de Bollardière, 1e REI, 4e REI, captain 13e DBLE (1940), regimental commander 3e RCP/3rd SAS (1944), regimental commander 2e RCP and 3e RCP (1946); the only senior army officer to denounce the practice of torture during the Algerian War
Elements of both sides in the Algerian War—the French Armed Forces and the opposing Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN)—used deliberate torture during that conflict (1954–1962), creating an ongoing public controversy. Pierre Vidal-Naque ...
.
* Général de corps d'armée Bernard Saint-Hillier
Bernard Saint-Hillier (29 December 1911 – 28 July 2004) was a French general.
Saint-Hillier graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1933 and was affected to the 11th Chasseurs alpins Battalion. In 1938, he joined the French Foreign Legion with the rank ...
, Captain 13e DBLE (1940), regimental commander 13e DBLE (1945), Division commander 10th Parachute Division (1960).
* Susan Travers
* Capitaine de frigate Roger Barberot
Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...
, Commandant squadron of the 1er Régiment de Fusiliers Marins.
* Général André Lalande
André Lalande (26 May 1913 – 19 October 1995) was a French Army officer and general in the Chasseurs Alpins and French Foreign Legion. He fought during the World War II at the heart of the Free French Forces, then in Indochina and Algeria.
M ...
, designated as Chef de Bataillon of the 1st battalion of the ''Phalange magnifique'' in June 1943, Compagnon de la Libération.
* Général Hugues Geoffrey alias Hugo Gottlieb (former legionnaire), regimental commander 1965 to 1968.
* Général René Imbot
René Imbot (17 March 1925 - 19 February 2007) was a French general. In 1983 he was appointed as Head of the French Army. Two years later he reached the normal French army retirement age, but after the sinking of the ''Rainbow Warrior'' caused ...
, Lieutenant and Captain of the 13e DBLE.
* Sergent-Chef Siegfried Freytag
Siegfried Freytag (10 November 1919 – 2 June 2003) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 102 aerial victories of which 49 victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. Among his ...
, from the German aviation (102 victories), served in the 13e DBLE in Djibouti.
* Lieutenant-colonel Jacques Hogard
Ancient and noble French family names, Jacques, Jacq, or James are believed to originate from the Middle Ages in the historic northwest Brittany region in France, and have since spread around the world over the centuries. To date, there are over ...
, French paratrooper officer in the Legion.
* Colonel Gabriel Bablon, regimental commander of the 13e DBLE (1942), Compagnon de la Libération
The Order of Liberation (french: Ordre de la Libération) is a French Order which was awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is a very high honour, second only after the ''Légion d’Honneur'' (Legion of Honour) ...
See also
* French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...
* Serge Andolenko
Serge Andolenko (26 June 1907 - 27 August 1973) was a French military officer of Ukrainian origin who became brigade général of the French Army.
Born in Volochysk in 1907 in the Ukraine, then in the Russian Empire, he was the only son, of an ...
* Music of the Foreign Legion (MLE)
* List of French Foreign Legion units
This article lists the principal units of the Foreign Legion in the French Army created since 1831. Legion units are only cited once, based on their respective dates of creation. A dissolved Legion unit which is recreated under the same designati ...
* Major (France)
() in France, is a senior superior military rank (french: grade militaire) across various military and security institutions with history dating back well beyond the 18th century.
Typically, the contemporary rank of Major is situated differen ...
Citations
General references
* Fall, Bernard (2002) 966
Year 966 (Roman numerals, CMLXVI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Byzantine Empire
* 23 June - Arab-Byzantine Wars, Byzantine-Arab War: Arab-Byzantine ...
''Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu''. Da Capo Press. .
* Maund, LEH. ''Assault from the Sea''. London: Methuen, 1949.
* Porch, Douglas (1991). ''The French Foreign Legion''. New York: Harper Collins. .
* Windrow, Martin (2004). ''The Last Valley''. Da Capo Press. .
External links
* Official website
13e Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère
History of 13° DBLE (French text)
Historique des Regiments – 13° Demi-Brigade Legion Etranger
13e DBLE's History
– History & images of the 13e DBLE
{{DEFAULTSORT:13th Demi-Brigade Of The Foreign Legion
Units of the French Foreign Legion
Companions of the Liberation
Free French Forces
Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, 13th
Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, 13th