Jump to content

Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Elinruby (talk | contribs) at 11:45, 30 May 2018 (→World War II (1939-1945): Ce). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion
Régiment de Marche de la Légion Etrangère
Insignia of the RMLE
ActiveMarching Regiment of the Foreign Legion
  • 11 November 1915 – 20 September 1920
  • 15 December 1942 – July 1945

3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

  • 1 July 1945 - present
Country France
AllegianceFrench Foreign Legion
BranchFrench Army
TypeMarching Regiment
Size2700 men
Motto(s)France d'abord ("France first")
Colorsgreen, red
AnniversariesCamerone (April 30)
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Paul-Frédéric Rollet
Insignia
AbbreviationRMLE

The Marching Regiment (Template:Lang-fr) of the French Foreign Legion (RMLE) was a French military unit that fought in World War I and World War II. Initially composed of marching regiments from the 1st Foreign Regiment (1erRE) of Sidi Bel Abbes and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2eRE) of Saida, Algeria, it re-formed as the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3eREI).

The Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion was created on November 11, 1915 by merging:

...with a strength of 71 officers, 3,315 junior officiers, corporals and legionnaires.

The Marching Regiment became the first regiment of the French Army to wear the fourragere with colors of the Médaille militaire and one of the most decorated along with the Régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine (RICM).

Creation and name

Main articles: French Foreign Legion, Marching Regiment, and Moroccan Division (France)

History, garrisons, campaigns and battles

Main article: Marching Regiment

World War I

Throughout the course of World War I, the merger of the RMLE of 1915, the predecessor of the 4 Marching Regiments (1914-1915) which existed ephemerally, was in combat at the corps of the Moroccan Division supported by:

1914

August 1914-Formation

The marching regiment of the Foreign Legion (RMLE) of 1915 was constituted from at least 4 Marching Regiments formations created at the beginning of the war. With the addition of volunteers, the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) of Sidi Bel Abbès and the 2nd Foreign Regiment, (2e RE), of Saïda, Algeria, provided demi-battalions as follows:

Marching Regiments of the 1st Foreign Regiment

The marching regiments of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) included:

Marching Regiments of the 2nd Foreign Regiment

The marching regiments that formed the 2nd Foreign Regiment, 2eRE RM included:

  • 1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment, (1er Régiment de Marche du 2e Régiment Etranger, 1er RM 2e RE); 1907 - 1918).
  • 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment, (2e Régiment de Marche du 2e Régiment Etranger, 2e RM 2e RE); 1914 - 1915).

Volunteers of 51 nationalities arrived from all over France, from recruiting depots in (Toulouse, Montélimar, Paris, Nîmes, Lyon, Avignon, Bayonne and Orléans). Almost 32,000 foreigners were regrouped in an early initial formation of the marching regiments of the Foreign Legion, between August 1914 and April 1915. The most numerous nationality present, were Italians, who made up an entire regiment (the 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment in addition to forming major contingents within the other formed Marching Regiments. Other nationalities represented in significant numbers included: Russian, Italian, Greek, Swiss, Belgian, Polish, Czech, Spanish, German, Turkish, Luxembourgers, American and British).

A group of Italian officers of the 2,000 Italians who dominated the 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment. At the center is their regimental Lieutenant-Colonel Peppino Garibaldi, January 1915.

1915

The four marching regiments of 1915 were at the front from the end of 1914 to the end of 1915, distinguishing themselves at the Forest of Argonne (December 1914), Somme and Craonne (winter 1914-1915), in Artois (May 1915) and finally in Champagne (September 1915).

An entire additional foreign regiment for the French Army was provided by the All-Italian, the very leading first, 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment (Template:Lang-fr) under regimental commander Lieutenant-Colonel Peppino Garibaldi. This unit had its baptism by fire at Argonne where the first 40 Italian legionnaires were killed in action.

On November 11 1915 a decision was made by Generalissimo Joseph Joffre, to merge the remaining men of the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment (Template:Lang-fr) with the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (Template:Lang-fr) to form the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E).

1916

July 1916 - The RMLE was formed of three battalions each with four combat companies which engaged in the Battle of the Somme.

  • Regimental Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Cot
    • 1st battalion: Commandant (Major) Ruelland (killed in action July 9)
    • 2nd battalion: Commandant Waddell
    • 3rd battalion: Commandant Mouchet (killed in action July 6)

On July 4 during the siege of Belloy-en-Santerre, the 3rd Battalion was completely destroyed and lost their commandant. In this battle American poet Alan Seeger was also killed. He had volunteered for the French Foreign Legion throughout the duration of the World War I and was the author of the poem "I Have A Rendez-vous with Death". On July 7, the 1st battalion launched the attack on Boyau de Chancelier and lost the battalion commandant. Mid-July, the regiment only counted three combat companies per battalion and was pulled back from the front to reconstitute battle formations. From July 4 to the 9, the regiment lost 1368 of 3000 men (14 officers killed and 22 wounded, 431 legionnaires killed or missing and 901 wounded).

1917

April 1917 - Aubérive

  • Regimental Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Duriez (killed April 17)

The battle lasted from the 17th to the 21st of April and putting out of commissio half of the 1500 legionnaires of the RMLE and the loss of their regimental commander who was replaced by Commandant Deville.

August 1917 - Battle of Verdun

Review of the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion at the end of November 1918.
  • Regimental Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Frédéric Rollet
    • 1st battalion: Commandant Husson de Sampigny
    • 2nd battalion: Commandant Waddell
    • 3rd battalion: Commandant Deville

On August 20, the regiment was in charge of counterattacking to save the city.[which?] Entrenched in front of the regiment were four enemy regiments. On the 21st, the regiment attained all set objectives and pierced the front, spearheading up to 3.5 km into the line. With that, the regiment earned a 6th citation at the orders of the armed forces and was decorated the regimental colors with the Légion d'honneur.

1918

April 1918 - Le bois de Hangard

The 131st Infantry Division marched against the village of Hangard and cote 99. While not a surprise, an urgent response was present to contain at best. The Moroccan Division launched into battle with no prior preparation. The RMLEo covered the right wing of the Moroccan Division. The objective of the regiment was Le bois de Hangard. The German response was immediate; exchange of fire was continuous. The survivors of the 1st battalion lead their progression charging, followed by the 11th combat company of the 3rd battalion. Legion officers were lost first leading assaults and the legionnaires would find themselves often deprived of their lead. Legionnaire Kemmler, a Luxembourgian volunteer, a medic in the Machine gun section, took charge of the lead. Even though wounded, Kemmler took command of injured legionnaires and despite the environment, managed to dress and maintain the atmosphere around the men. Accordingly, the legionnaires found their lead and made front valiantly until the arrival of an adjudant. Consequently, the assault of the regiment was saved. The nights and days that succeeded until May 6, revolved around maintaining positions and repelling a series of incessant counter-attacks. The siege of "Le bois de Hangard" on April 26 witnessed the destruction of the 1st and 2nd battalions; losses for the regiment included 822 men out of which thirteen officers]].

May–June 1918 - La Montagne de Paris

On May 29, the Moroccan Division and the RMLE had to block an advancement towards Villers-Cotterêts while taking position on the "Montagne de Paris". The attack was launched at dawn following a storming incessant rainy series of artillery round batteries. Superior in number forces, opposing forces succeeded in reaching the vicinity of legion positions. Forced to economize their ammunitions, Legionnaires endured 47 killed, 219 wounded and 70 missing in two days of combat. Losses for the legion increased to those of the previous month, almost 1250 men. Nevertheless, the RMLE succeeded in maintaining its positions and blocked the German advance in the Legion's designated combat area sectors.

Until May 31, on a 5km stretch, the RMLE, which included Armenian volunteers, along with the 3e BCP and 10e BCP, held the line during six days and six nights, without rear forces support, heavy artillery, air support, and with only one available short artillery battery; the regiment managed to halt all successive attacks.

July 1918 - Second Battle of the Marne

Colonel
Paul-Frédéric Rollet in 1919.

The RMLE participated after July 18 in the grand counter-offensive of Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch, in the region of Villers-Cotterêts. The 1st Battalion lost their commander, commandant Husson de Sampigny.

September 1918 - Hindenburg Line

In August 1918, the regiment recuperated the wounded and filled the ranks with reinforcements from the depot in Lyon and cadres from Morocco counting 48 officers and 2,540 legionnaires):

  • Regimental Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Frédéric Rollet
    • 1st battalion: Captain Jacquesson
    • 2nd battalion: Captain Lannurien then Captain Sanchez-Carrero
    • 3rd battalion: Commandant (Major) Marseille

On September 2, the regiment launched an assault on the defense line of Hindenburg at the elevation of Terny-Sorny. In two weeks of combat, the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion lost half the men in the regiment (275 killed out of which 10 officers and 1118 wounded of whom 15 were officers).

Consequently, the regiment endured the loss of it's chef de battaillon Captain Lannurien. Nevertheless, on September 14 the RMLE pushed forward and relaunched the attacks while piercing the front at the village of Allemant.

Interwar period (1918-1939)

The regiment was ,stationed for a short duration in Germany and was then dispatched to take part in campaigns of Morocco. On September 20, 1920, the RMLE was designated the 3rd Foreign Regiment, 3e RE.

World War II (1939-1945)

December 1942 - 3e REIM

Following the disembarcation of United States Army units in Morocco (Operation Torch of November 8, 1942), the French Foreign Legion was ordered to form units to combat the Germans in Tunisia. Following the brief existence of a Colonial Infantry and Foreign Legion Marching Demi-Brigade (5/12/1942), Général Henri Giraud on December 15 1942 created the 3rd Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment 3e REIM, from elements of the I (battalion) / 3e REI, the III (battalion) / 3e REI, and a third mixed battalion constituting formation from the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, 3e REI and 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, 2e REI. Each battalion had four combat companies.

  • Regimental Commander, Colonel Lambert
    • I / 3e R.E.I.M: Commandant (Major) Laparra
    • II / 3e R.E.I.M: Commandant Boissier
    • III / 3eR.E.I.M: Commandant Langlet

In January 1943, the 3e R.E.I.M was engaged in total to resist the German offensive, engaged in separating the communication couloir between the Armies of Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim of Tunisia, and the Armies of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, set back since the Second Battle of El Alamein. On the 18, during the combats of the reservoir of l'Oued Kebir, the II (battalion) / 3e R.E.I.M was completely destroyed and the battalion's Commandant, wounded was made captive. The next day, to the turn, the I (battalion) / 3e R.E.I.M disappeared. During combats, the regiment had the sad privilege to meet the first German Tiger I tanks and the regiment endured the loss of 35 Officers and 1634 legionnaires.

Consequently, the regiment had only two battalions capable left still, each with 2 combat companies. Retrieved from the front on February 10 to reform battle formations, the regiment was reinforced on March 30, 1943 by a detachment from Morocco.

  • Regimental Commander, Colonel Lambert
    • I / 3e R.E.I.M : Commandant (Major) Laparra
    • II / 3e R.E.I.M : Commandant Gombeaud

On April 16, the regiment was assigned to the Moroccan Marching Division commanded by Général Mathemet.

Reformation of the R.M.L.E

On July 1, 1943, the 3e R.E.I.M was subsequently entirely U.S. American built equipped and was redesignated as the R.M.L.E. The regiment was integrated in the 5th Armored Division.

  • Regimental Commander, Colonel Gentis
    • I / R.M.L.E: Commandant (Major) Daigny (assigned to CC5)
    • II / R.M.L.E: Commandant Charton (assigned to CC4)
    • III / R.M.L.E: A Commandant (assgined to CC6)

Belfort - November 1944

On September 14 and 20 1944, the 3 battalions disembarked near Saint-Raphaël on the beach of Dramont. From November 15 to December 13, the battalions of the R.M.L.E participated with the different designated Combat Command of the 5th Armored Division to operations of Trouée de Belfort. The 3rd combat company of the I / R.M.L.E was decimated at Montreux-Château while elements of the 7th combat company (I battalion / R.M.L.E) illustrated savoir-faire near Delle and halted a German combat company.

Colmar Pocket- January 1945

Général
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny in 1946.
  • Regimental Commander, Colonel Gaultier (by interim of Colonel Tristschler)
    • I / R.M.L.E: Commandant (Major) Daigny (assigned to CC5)
    • II / R.M.L.E: Commandant de Chambost (assigned to CC4)
    • III / R.M.L.E: Commandant Boulanger (assigned to CC6)

The regiment was engaged again with the 5th Armored Division starting January 22, 1945 in the counter-offensive put into motion by Marshal of France (posthumous) Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, to relieve Strasbourg. The CC6 including the III(battalion) / R.M.L.E combat engaged alongside the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 1er R.C.P; of the French Air Force transferred to the French Army; at Jebsheim (N-E de Colmar) from January 25 to January 30. The CC5 acquired Urschenheim on February 1, 1945 while the CC4 liberated Colmar on the 2nd.

Germany - Austria - March to May 1945

On March 11, 1945, Colonel Jean Olié replaced Colonel Tritschler who died at the Military Hospital of Val-de-Grâce. On March 15, the CC6 (III (battalion)/ R.M.L.E) was engaged with the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division for the conquest of the Annemarie Line then in the piercing of the Siegfried Line on the 20th. On April 9, the regiment penetrated the Forêt-Noire and acquired Stuttgart on the 21st. Having continued down south, the regiment cleared and made way to Danube and then Lac de Constance. Subsequently, the regiment penetrated Austria in May 1945 on the eve of the 8th.

Traditions

Regimental Colors

At creation, on November 11, 1915, the R.M.L.E had for regimental colors, the Flag of:

2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment

During World War II, the new R.M.L.E received the regimental colors of the 3rd Foreign Regiment, (3e RE).

Decorations

The regimental colors of the RMLE are decorated with:

The R.M.L.E was first regiment in France to receive the fourragere with colors of the Médaille militaire.

Honours

Battle Honours

Regimental Commanders

Period 1914-1915
The Marching Regiments prior the R.M.L.E

2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment
2eR.M.1erR.E

3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment
3eR.M.1erR.E

  • 1914 - 1914 : colonel Thiebault
  • 1914 - 1915 : lieutenant-colonel Desgouille

4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment
Garibaldi Legion, 4eR.M.1eR.E

2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment
2eR.M.2eR.E

  • 1914 - 1914 : colonel Passard
  • 1914 - 1915 : colonel Lecomte-Denis
  • 1915 - 1915 : colonel de Lavenue de Choulot

Period 1915-1920 : Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion
R.M.L.E

  • 1915 - 1917 : lieutenant-colonel Cot
  • 1917 - 1917 : colonel Duriez
  • 1917 - 1920 : lieutenant-colonel Rollet

Period 1920 -1943 : 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

Period 1943-1945 : Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion

  • 1943 - 1943 : colonel Gentis
  • 1943 - 1944 : colonel Tritschler
  • 1944 - 1945 : lieutenant-colonel Louis-Antoine Gaultier
  • 1945 - 1945 : colonel Jean Olié

Période 1945–present : 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

Honorary Regimental Arms Celebration

The R.M.L.E, was decorated for piercing the Hindenburg Line on September 14, 1918. Since then this battle has been celebrated by the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, (3e R.E.I), since this regiment inherited the traditions of the RMLE.

Notable Officers and legionnaires

References

Bibliographies:

  • Le livre d’or de la Légion étrangère (1831-1955), Jean Brunon et Georges Manue, éditions Charles Lavauzelle et Cie, 1958.
  • Le livre d’or de la Légion étrangère (1831-1955), Jean Brunon et Georges Manue, éditions Charles Lavauzelle et Cie, 1958.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marching_Regiment_of_the_Foreign_Legion&oldid=843629693"