The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment () was a cavalry

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

of the Foreign Legion in 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 Force ...

. the regiment was dissolved twice in 1946 and 1962; the regimental colors have been entrusted by the

Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Foreign may refer to: Government * Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries * Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries ** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government ** Foreign office and foreign minister * United S ...

since 1984. __TOC__

History

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment since 1939

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2^e R.E.C) was created in July 1939 on the substance of the squadron groups of

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...

issued from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC.
Official Website of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte, the D.L.M.E today

World War II

At the outbreak of

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 opposing ...

, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was stationed in

and part of it were quickly attached to the

97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division The 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division (french: 97e groupe de reconnaissance de division d'infanterie, 97e GRDI) was a motorized cavalry unit composed of members of the French Foreign Legion which existed briefly at the beginning ...

, ( G.R.D 97) (french: Groupement de reconnaissance divisionnaire 97 (GRD97)) which engaged in combat in France during the German spring offensive of 1940, and which the commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Boyer de Latour, was killed leading at the bois de Noroy the 9th of July of the same year. Following the armistice, the regiment was dissolved on November 15, 1940 and the regimental colours were entrusted to the honor guard of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment.

Indochina

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was officially dissolved on June 1, 1946 at Sidi Bel Abbès, however, the regiment was recreated in November of the same year, garrisoned at Oujda, where the regiment would remain until 1956. The mission of the regiment was to instruct and train reinforcements destined for the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment in the

Far East The ''Far East'' was a European term to refer to the geographical regions that includes East and Southeast Asia as well as the Russian Far East to a lesser extent. South Asia is sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons. The ter ...

North Africa and Algerian War

Following the Paris accords in 1954 and the departure for

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...

in 1955, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment participated to the securing of Moroccan territories then, starting from 1956 to the missions of maintaining order in Algeria, first in the sector of Laghouat, then, starting from 1958, along the Tunisian border. In January 1962, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment made way on Biskra before being dissolved again following the Evian accords. In 5 years of campaigning in

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment eliminated more than 1022 rebels and captured 697 arms, of which 30 machine guns. The 2nd Squadron (2^e Esc) was attached to the

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes, 1er REP) was an airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which dated its origins to 1948. The regiment fought in the First Indochina War as th ...

when deployed to take part in the operations of the Suez Canal Crisis.

Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

In 1984, the

received the honor guard regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment.

Traditions

Insignias

File:Insigne de béret du DLEM.JPG, Beret Insignia of the D.L.E.M File:2e REC.jpg, Regimental Insignia of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment, 2^e R.E.C File:Dlem.jpg,

, D.L.E.M

Regimental Colours

Regimental Colours of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment were entrusted to the

in 1984.

Decorations

Decorations of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment with cited decorations of the

as of 1984.

Honours

Battle honours

As inscribed on the regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment: * Camerone 1863 * AFN 1952–1962

Regimental Commanders

References

* * *

External links

2e REC
– History & images of the 2e REC {{Authority control Defunct French Foreign Legion units Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 Military units and formations established in 1946 Military units and formations disestablished in 1962