Jump to content

6th Foreign Infantry Regiment

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by OJOM (talk | contribs) at 07:40, 27 March 2016 (→History of the garrisons, campaigns and battles). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

6th Foreign Infantry Regiment
(6e Régiment étranger d'infanterie)
Regimental Insignia of 6e REI Type II
Active1939–1940
1949–1955
Disbanded1940
1955
Country France
AllegianceFrench Army
BranchFrench Foreign Legion
TypeInfantry
Size3,300
Motto(s)AD UNUM (All to one End)
ColorsGreen & Red
EngagementsCamerone 1863

Battle of Messifre
World War II

First Indochina War

Algerian War
Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (Template:Lang-fr) was an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1955.[1]

History, creationa and different nominations

Main article: Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion

When first established the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment consisted of 3,287 men. It was part of the 192nd Infantry Division. The regiment's organization featured:

This regiment was designated as the "Legion Regiment of the French Levant" (Template:Lang-fr).

On January 1 1940, the regiment was formulated in two parts:

  • A mountain regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Barre, which became on March 19 of the same year the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I, Integrated at the 192nd Infantry Division, 192e D.I; the regiment constituted:
    • 1 Headquarter Staff
    • 1 Command Company
    • 1 Regimental Company (created March 1940 and designated (Template:Lang-fr, C.R.E))
    • 1 Exterior Company (designated "CHR",(Template:Lang-fr, C.H.R))
    • 1st Battalion
    • 2nd Battalion
  • One motorized regiment typed outre-mer, which would become on March 19 the Foreign Legion Groupment of the Levant (Template:Lang-fr, G.L.E.L); the regiment constituted:
    • 1 Headquarter Staff
    • 1 Command Section
    • 3rd Battalion
    • 4th Battalion
    • Legion Special Section

On April 28 1940, the 1st Marching Battalion of Foreign Volunteers (Template:Lang-fr, 1e BMVE), created on March 1940, was assgined to the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I and became the 11th Battalion of Foreign Volunteers (Template:Lang-fr, 11e B.V.E) until dissolution on October 16, 1940.

On January 1 1941, the Foreign Legion Groupment of the Levant (Template:Lang-fr, G.L.E.L) and under the authority of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment was created a Legion Artillery Group of the Levant (Template:Lang-fr, G.A.L.L) compromising of 3 artillery batteries and the reorganization of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment: the "C.H.R" and the "C.R.E" were dissolved and the command company became the regimental company.

The regiment left Lebanon on August 16, 1941 and rejoined the Camp Idron (Pau) on August 25 before rejoining Sidi-bel-Abbès on December 3, 1941.

During the regiment's dissolve on December 31 1941, the legionnaires of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment were assigned to the later reconstituted 1st Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment (Template:Lang-fr, 1e R.E.I.M) and the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (Template:Lang-fr, R.M.L.E).

The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I was recreated on April 1 1949 in Tunisia. Accordingly, selection and dispatching was regularly done in order to reinforce Legion units engaged in combats in Indochina. In the meantime and while hodling tenure in Tunisia, the regiment was assigned to tasks revolving around the maintaining of order. Subsequently, the regiment was dissolved for a second time on June 30, 1955.

History of the garrisons, campaigns and battles

Main article: Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion

The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I was founded on October 15, 1939 in Syria with the elements of the disbanded 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment, 1e R.E.I and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment.[1][2] The Regiment was established in part to handle the large number of foreign volunteers for French military service at the beginning of World War II, which numbered around 64,000 at the regiment's founding.[2] The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment remained loyal to Vichy France at the beginning of World War II while opposing fraternally allied and foreign forces from June 8 to July 24 1941 mainly within the cadre of the liberation of Lebanon. Following, the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment was disbanded on December 31, 1941.

On another hand, the regiment was founded once more in Tunisia on April 1, 1949. The regiment went on to fight in the First Indochina War. Following service in Indochina, the regiment operated in Tunisia as part of French operations to maintain order. The Regiment was disbanded on June 30, 1955.

Tradition

Regimental Insignia of the 6e REI.

Insignia

The insignia of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment is represented by the form of a hexagon, three roman columns of the temple of Jupiter at Baalbek to the left of the insign and the symbols of the French Foreign Legion: red and green colors with the grenade with 7 flames in the center.

Regimental Colors

Regimental Colors of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I

Regimental Song

Decorations

Honors

Battle Honors

Regimental Commander

Main articles: Foreign Legion Command and Honneur et Fidélité
6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, Formation I
  • Colonel Imhaus (1/10/1939 - 20/12/1939)
  • Lieutenant-colonel Barre (20/12/1939 - 10/1941 )
  • Lieutenant-colonel Delore (10/1941 - 12/1941)
6th Foreign Engineer Regiment, Formation II
01 04/1949 au 01 07/1955

Notable Officers

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Windrow, Martin (1999). French Foreign Legion 1914–1945. p. 21.
  2. ^ a b Porch, Douglas (1992).The French Foreign Legion: The Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force, p. 446.

References

  • Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. ISBN 978-0-06-092308-2
  • Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914–1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-761-9.
  • 6e REI - History & images of the 6e REI
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=6th_Foreign_Infantry_Regiment&oldid=712145587"