13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion | |
---|---|
13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère | |
Active | 1940 – present
|
Country | France |
Branch | French Army |
Type | Mechanized Infantry |
Role | Security Assistance Desert Warfare |
Size | ~1300 men |
Part of | 6th Light Armoured Brigade 6e BLB 3rd Division |
Garrison/HQ | La Cavalerie, France |
Nickname(s) | The Demi Brigade (English) Phalange Magnifique (Magnificent Phalanx) |
Motto(s) | More Majorum[1] (in the manner, ways and traditions of our veterans foreign regiments) |
March | Nos képis blancs (Sous le soleil brulant d'Afrique) |
Anniversaries | Camerone Day (30 April) and Christmas |
Engagements | World War II
Global War on Terrorism (2001–present) |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Thomas Riou |
Notable commanders | Raoul Magrin-Vernerey Dimitri Amilakvari Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné Jules Gaucher Bernard Saint-Hillier |
Insignia | |
Beret insignia of the 13 Demi Brigade | |
Abbreviation | 13e DBLE |
The 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion (French: 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère, 13e DBLE), was created in 1940 and was the main unit of the
After having been engaged in Indochina from 1946 to 1954, the 13e DBLE joined the Algerian War, and left in 1962. The 13e 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.[5][6]
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 (13e DBMLE).
In lieu of the kepi, The formation was issued the 1935 pattern Fortress troops khaki beret with the Foreign Legion grenade hat badge.[7]
On 1 July 1940, the 1st battalion, 900 men, were based in England as troops of the
On 4 November 1940, the demi-brigade of Morocco was dissolved which allowed the troops which remained in England to readopt the designation of 13e 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 and was initially composed of two battalions:
- The 1er bataillon – Chef de bataillon (CBA) Guéninchault – Sidi bel-Abbès
- The 2e bataillon – Chef de bataillon (CBA) Boyer Ressès – Fez
Starting 13 May 1940, the unit took part in the
The unit disembarked in Brittany on 4 June to reinforce the proposed national redoubt(French: réduit Breton). On 21 June, the survivors of the demi-brigade embarked for Scotland. Those troops which did not hear the Appeal of 18 June (French: appel du 18) joined other units of the French Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps (French: Corps expéditionnaire français en Scandinavie) in the region of Trentham.
Adhering to this
The units of the
- Headquarters staff commanded by commandant Alfred Maurice Cazaud (French: Alfred Maurice Cazaud)
- 3 combat units
- 1 support unit
The demi-brigade had a strength of 25 officers, 102 NCOs and 702 other ranks.[8]
At the end of September 1940, the unit participated in the Battle of Dakar 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) to partake, in November 1940, to the Battle of Gabon (French: campagne du Gabon) and the rallying of Gabon to Free France (French: France libre), under the command of général de Larminat.
The unit accordingly assumed its original denomination, and at the corps of the
In the following month, the unit joined Palestine in order to participate to the
Promoted to chef de bataillon 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.[9] 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, captain commanding a company to write later, a book: The Lost Patrol (French: La patrouille perdue). Then the "13e" took part to the Second Battle of El Alamein, during which the commanding officer of the unit - Dimitri Amilakhvari - was killed.
During the assembly of the 1st Free French Division (1re DFL), beginning of 1943, the DBLE disappeared as far as a troop corps and the three constituting units (1er BLE, 2e 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
During late 1944, a nominally
On 6 April 1945, the unit was seen attributed the
Indochina War
Destined to be part of the French Expeditionary in Extreme-Orient, the 13eDBLE 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 13e 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 13e 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 13e 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 13e 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 13e 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 and repelled all the assaults while singing « Le Boudin » (French: Le Boudin). 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 13e 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 13e DBLE participated in the
The 2nd Battalion of 13e 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
The legionnaires later counted 700 Việt Minh dead around the position at Xon-Pheó.
Dien Bien Phu 1953–1954
End of 1953, the 13e DBLE assembled at Tonkin, the 2nd battalion in the Delta, the 1st and 3rd battalion (French: les 1er et 3e bataillon) where at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, 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, 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 Fanions 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
The unit suffered heavy casualties during fighting in March and April. On 14 April the Dien Bien Phu garrison reported that I/13e DBLE was reduced to 354 effectives and III/13e DBLE was reduced to 80 effectives.[14]
On 30 April, the legionnaires at Dien Bien Phu celebrated the anniversary of the Legion's historic Battle of Camarón (French: Bataille de Camerone). The celebration took place at the 13e 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.[15]
The 13e DBLE was the only French unit present at Dien Bien Phu that saved one of its
During its 9-year service in Indochina (1946–1955), the 13e 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.[17]
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), 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 was destroyed.
Leaving then Nemenchta, the 13e DBLE reduced to two battalions garrisoned at Aurès. Steep peaks were succeeded by wooded massifs. 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
The mission of this itinerary unit covered all Algeria, in a series of operations: « Emeraude », « Dordogne », « Georgevie », « Isère ». From Kabylie to the Atlas Mountains, Algiers to the Challe Line (French: Ligne Challe) 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) to be embarked at the end of April 1962, destination French Somaliland (French: Côte française des Somalis) (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, 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.[19]
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) installed a barrage which encircled the town to filter the exit and entry points.[20] Composed of rows of barbed wire («ribard») 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).
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. Their post of Holl-Holl was ceded to the National Army of Djibouti (AND). The regiment then consisted of only the 3rd company, the 2e CT, the CCAS, the squadron and a company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 2e REP on a 4 month rotation, 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). In March 1992, it would be the turn of Operation Iskoutir (French: opération Iskoutir). In December 1992, its Operation Oryx (French: opération Oryx), in Somalia, then a couple of month later, Operations of the United Nations in Somalia (French: ONUSOM II), where the legionnaires of the "13e" served for a first time in their history under the Blue-Helmets (French: Casque Bleu) of the United Nations U.N. In June 1994, the third company was rushed to Rwanda within the cadre of Operation Turquoise (French: Opération Turquoise) and the regiment participated also to Operation Diapason (French: Opération Diapason) 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
In 2001, the maintenance company of French Forces stationed in Djibouti (French: Forces françaises stationnées à Djibouti, FFDj) 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).
After an intervention of a humanitarian character, where a section of the engineers were projected to Indonesia in 2005 (Opération Béryx (French: Opération Béryx), 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), 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) (DIO) assisting neighboring countries (Ethiopia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and numerous others).
2011–2015: United Arab Emirates
On 31 July 2011, the 13e DBLE left Djibouti and garrisoned in the United Arab Emirates at Camp de la Paix, the French military implementation in the United Arab Emirates, as a result of a defense cooperation agreement with France.[21] 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) in Jordan) and sent a quick detachment of almost 50 personnel to assist the counter-terrorism units of Iraq.[22]
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 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 present on the territory;
- The ER or squadron reconnaissance (permanent unit). The squadron formed mainly of legionnaires from the ERC 90 Sagaie. 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 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)). 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 as support elements;
- A legion infantry company (provided alternatively by the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment2e REI);
- An artillery unit armed with CAESAR;
- An VBCI.
France (2018)
As an infantry regiment within the format defined in the cadre plan of the French Army "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
-
Regimental Insignia of the 13e DBLE, other known as the "La Phalange Magnifique"
-
Beret insignia of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
Regimental colors
Regimental Song
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
-
Croix de Guerre 39-45
-
Fourragère at the ruban colors of the Croix de la libération
-
Fourragère at the ruban colors of the Médaille militaire
The Regimental colors of the 13e DBLE is decorated with the following:
- The companion of the Order of Liberation
- 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
- Officer cross of the order of 27 June (independence order of the Djibouti).[23]
Battle honours
- Camerone 1863[24]
- Bjerkvik-Narvik 1940
- Keren-Massouah 1941
- Bir-Hakeim 1942
- El Alamein 1942
- Rome 1944
- Colmar 1945
- Authion 1945
- Indochine 1946–1954
- AFN 1952–1962[25]
Regimental commanders
- Lt. Col. Raoul Magrin-Vernerey (1940)
- Lt. Col. Alfred Cazoud (1940–1941)
- Lt. Col. Dimitri Amilakhvari (1941–1942)
- Major Gabriel Bablon (1942–1944)
- Major Paul Arnault (1944–1945)
- Lt. Col. Bernard Saint-Hillier (1945)
- Lt. Col. Gabriel Bablon (1946)
- Lt. Col. Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné (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 (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 (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 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 Cyrille 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, elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France at posthumous title in 1984, Captain of the 13eDBLE during World War II.
- French Battalion of the United Nations Organisationduring the Korean War.
- Général d'armée Jean Simon, Captain of the 13e DBLE beginning of 1940, regimental commander of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1948), division commander of the 27th Alpine Infantry Division (1961), Chancellor of the Ordre de la Libération, military medaled as a général.
- Prince de Géorgie Dimitri Amilakvari, killed at the head of the demi-brigade on 4 October 1942.
- World War II.
- Général de brigade 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.
- Général de corps d'armée Bernard Saint-Hillier, Captain 13e DBLE (1940), regimental commander 13e DBLE (1945), Division commander 10th Parachute Division (1960).
- Susan Travers
- Capitaine de frigate Roger Barberot, Commandant squadron of the 1er Régiment de Fusiliers Marins.
- Général André Lalande, 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, Lieutenant and Captain of the 13e DBLE.
- Sergent-Chef Siegfried Freytag, from the German aviation (102 victories), served in the 13e DBLE in Djibouti.
- Lieutenant-colonel Jacques Hogard, French paratrooper officer in the Legion.
- Colonel Compagnon de la Libération
See also
- French Army
- Serge Andolenko
- Music of the Foreign Legion (MLE)
- List of French Foreign Legion units
- Major (France)
Citations
- magazine).
- veterans (French: Anciens legionnaires) and veteran foreign regiments (French: Anciens régiment étranger) of the Legion, in case of the CEPs, BEPs & REPs, the context reference is referring to the paratrooper veterans (French: Anciens legionnaires parachutistes) and veteran foreign paratrooper companies (CEP)s, battalions (BEP)s (French: Anciens bataillons étrangers de parachutistes) and regiments (REP)s (French: Anciens régiments étrangers de parachutistes) of the Legion, in this case the 2e REP(French: 2e Régiment étrangers de parachutistes) of the Legion.
- ^ "13e demi brigade de Légion étrangère - Armée de terre". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion | Information". Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "History - 13e demi brigade de Légion étrangère". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ "13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion | Foreign Legion Information". Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ p.1952 Sumner, Ian & Vauvillier, Francois The French Army 1939-45 (2) Osprey Publishing (UK) (26 June 1998)
- ^ in Képi blanc magazine n°723 – July 2010
- ^ on this day of 10 June 1942, Bir Hakiem by général Koenig
- ^ "Ronald B. Sorobey: UKRAINIANS' FIGHT FOR FRANCE". Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ Sorobey
- ^ Sorobey
- ^ Fall, P139-141.
- ^ Fall, P248.
- ^ Fall, P347.
- ^ Fall, P431.
- ^ (in French) Défense
- ^ Les deux dernières années de la ligne Challe [1] Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Institut de Stratégie Comparée
- ^ Imbert-Vier (Simon), Tracer des frontières à Djibouti. Des territoires et des hommes aux -XIX & XX siècle, Karthala, 2011, p.344-349, site de l'éditeur
- ^ Dubois (Colette) [2002], «Jacques Foccard et la politique française dans le T.F.A.I.», Cahiers du Centre de recherches historiques, No. 30, octobre, p. 35-49, site des Cahiers
- ^ La 13e DBLE quitte Djibouti
- ^ Philippe Chapleau, Fin de partie pour le Détachement d'Instruction Opérationnelle de la 13e DBLE à Bagdad [2], Ouest-France, 4 janvier 2015
- ^ Képi Blanc (publication) n 735 – août-septembre 2011
- ^ Camerone is a Battle Honour shared by all Foreign Legion Regiments, no matter when they were formed.
- ^ 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
General references
- ISBN 978-0-306-81157-9.
- Maund, LEH. Assault from the Sea. London: Methuen, 1949.
- Porch, Douglas (1991). The French Foreign Legion. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-092308-2.
- ISBN 978-0-306-81386-3.
External links
- Official website – 13e Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère Archived 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- History of 13° DBLE (French text)
- Historique des Regiments – 13° Demi-Brigade Legion Etranger Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- 13e DBLE's History (in English) – History & images of the 13e DBLE