1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos | |
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Active | 1942–1946 |
Countries | |
Size | Battalion |
Part of | No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando |
Engagements |
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Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Philippe Kieffer |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos was a
History
Formation
The creation of the battalion was initially planned for March 1941,[1] but it was delayed until 1942. At this time, Troop 1, "Commandos Français", was formed with the intention of raising the unit to a battalion of 400 personnel in readiness for the expected offensive operations in Europe. Initially, the unit was headquartered in the vicinity of Portsmouth while undergoing training with other units at the Commando Training Centre at Achnacarry, Scotland.
Initially, the battalion was organized into a headquarters section, medical, radio, and transportation sections, and three troops designated 1, 8 and 9, the last being responsible for using Depth Charge Projector Mark 6, Mod 1, commonly called the "K-Gun"; 177 men in all. In 1944, the battalion was expanded to three troops, with the Headquarters troop and A & B Troops performing the usual land commando role. A large number of the battalion's personnel came from Brittany.
Operations
Members of Troop 1, under the command of Lieutenant (Navy) Kieffer, took part in the
French commandos took part in the raid on the beach of Wassenaar in Holland on 28 February 1944, the site of V-2 rocket launches, during which six of them, including Captain Charles Trepel, were killed.[5]
In March 1944, the battalion received its official designation,
The unit began training for the impending invasion of France in March 1944.[8] In the days that preceded the Normandy landings, the commandos were issued with poor quality photographs of the objectives. Because some of the French commandos were from Normandy, they recognised the sites, which concerned the brigade's British staff. As a result, the Frenchmen were temporarily confined to their camp before the landings.
Promoted June 5, Capitaine de Corvette (
In spite of significant losses, the commandos seized the 50 mm anti-tank gun encuvée – an armoured artillery position like a small bunker – which had disabled LCI 523 (1Re Troop). They then took the former Casino de Riva-Bella before advancing between Colleville and Saint-Aubin-d'Arquenay to meet the British paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge (Bénouville), arriving around 16:30 hours. There, the French commandos occupied the perimeter of the lime pit towards 20:00 hours. By the evening of June 6, the 1er BFMC had lost almost 25% of its personnel with 27 killed in combat, and many wounded including their commander Kieffer, who had been wounded twice in the course of the day.
The French Commandos Marine fought in Normandy until 27 August 1944, when the battalion was returned to the United Kingdom for rest and to receive replacements. In November 1944, the 1er BFMC was landed on the
At the end of the Second World War the unit returned to French control, and it currently serves as part of the
Citations and notes
References
- van der Bijl, Nick, & Chapman, Robert, No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando 1942–45: Britain's Secret Commando, Osprey Publishing, 2006
- Fleury, Georges, Fusiliers marins et commandos: baroudeurs de la royale, Copernic, 1980
- Le Marec, Bernard, Les Français libres et leurs emblèmes, Lavauzelle, 1994
- Giard, Michel, Mousses et marins au combat: 1914–1954, Corlet, 2001
- Ingouf-Knocker, Paul, Juin 40–44 en Cotentin: objectif(s) Cherbourg, Eurocibles, 2004
- Guillou, Michel, Opération "Fa[h]renheit": raid des commandos britanniques, pointe de Plouézec, nuit du 11 au 12 novembre 1942, A.E.R.H.D.G.M., 1994
- Pichavant, René, Clandestins de l'Iroise: récits d'histoire, Morgane, 1988
- Tenor, Auguste, (ed.), Debarquement, Editions Le Manuscrit
- Lemoine, André Herman, Forteresse Escaut: novembre 1944, le dernier débarquemet des Bérets verts, Published by Albin Michel, 1994
- Coquart, Elizabeth & Huet, Philippe, Le jour le plus fou: 6 juin 1944 : les civils dans la tourmente, Published by Albin Michel, 1994
- De La Sierra Raymond, "Le Commando du 6 Juin" Presses de la Cité
Recommended reading
- Caroff, Archives de la Marine (France), Les Formations de la marine aux armées, 1939–1945, Marine nationale, Service historique de la Marine, 1953
- Hattu, Guy, Journal d'un commando français: novembre 1943-7 juin 1944 :4-Commando Kiefer, "Troop" 1 Guy Vourc'h, Librarie bleue, 1994