2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion

2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
2e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes
	Counter-insurgency; Desert warfare; Jungle warfare; Raiding; Reconnaissance
Size	Battalion
Part of	2e B.E.P I Formation, 1949; 2e B.E.P II Formation, 1951; 2e B.E.P III Formation, 1953; 2e B.E.P IV Formation with 3e B.E.P, 1954; 3e B.E.P redesignated 2e B.E.P, 1954; 2e B.E.P V Formation, 1955; 2e R.E.P in 1955;
Garrison/HQ	Setif; Philippeville
Colors	Green and Red
Anniversaries	Camerone Day
Engagements	First Indochina War
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Rémy Raffalli
Abbreviation	2e B.E.P

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (

4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion

(4^e D.B.L.E).

History, creation and different nomination designations

2^e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, 2^e BEP

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created on October 1, 1948, by execution of a ministerial prescription dating to March 27, 1948.

Indochina.^[1] Disembarked in Saïgon on February 9, the battalion is directed to Kep (Cambodia) by land route.^[2] In November 1949, the battalion takes base in Quan Thé.^[3]

The first combat engagements of the 2^e BEP have for theatre of operations,

Legion of Honor.^[2] The losses of the 2^e BEP rises to 1500 Legion officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and Legionnaires killed along with their "chef de corps", Legion commandant Barthélémy Rémy Raffali leading and heading a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[2] Returned to Algeria, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2^e BEP) becomes the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment on December 1, 1955.^[2]

The insignia of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created in 1949, in Cambodia. The battalion insignia represents an eastern winged dragon making reference to the original implementation in Asia. The three point triangular shape of the insignia represents the form of an open Parachute; center by the flag colors of the legion; and is symbol of the perfection that is expected of the men serving this regiment.^[4] The battalion was commanded at the time by commandant Solnon (1948-1950).^[2]

Organization

Traditions

Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment

.

French Parachute Brevet.
Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere of
French metropolitan Paratroopers
.

Insignias

The insignia of the French metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy^{[dubious – discuss]} is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.

1^er B.E.P Insignia
2^e B.E.P and 2^e R.E.P Insignia
3^e B.E.P then 3^e R.E.P Insignia

Battalion Colors

Battalion Song

Decorations

6 citations with
Legion of Honor

Honours

Battle honours

Battalion Commanders

2^e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes 2^e BEP Tenure ( 1948 - 1955 )^[5]

1948 : captain Solnon
1950 : captain Dussert
1950 : chef d'escadrons commandant Barthélémy Rémy Raffali (* †)
1952 : chef de bataillon Bloch
1953 : captain Merglen
1953 : chef de bataillon Liesenfelt
1954 : captain Vial
1954 : chef de bataillon Masselot

Notable Officers and Legionnaires

References

^ ^a ^b ^c [1] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2 REP, 2nd Foreign Paratrooper Battalion,2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k [2] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion,2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes
^ [3] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion,2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste
^ [4] Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, Section Tradition, L'Insigne
^ [5] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, Historique du 2e REP, 2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, Les Chef de Corps

[auto-1] [1] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2 REP, 2nd Foreign Paratrooper Battalion,2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes

[auto1-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k [2] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion,2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes

[3] [3] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion,2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste

[4] [4] Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, Section Tradition, L'Insigne

[5] [5] Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, Historique du 2e REP, 2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, Les Chef de Corps

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]