Since the regiment's arrival from Bonifacio in 1983, it has been stationed at Quartier Colonel de Chabrières; named in honor of Colonel de Chabrières who was shot in the chest while leading a charge of the regiment. Quartier Colonel Chabrières is situated in Nimes, a historical Roman city, in the south of France.[4]
The regiment benefits from a long tradition of conflicts and interventions. Recent engagements, from the Balkans to Afghanistan while passing by the Ivory Coast and the Central African Republic added additional experiences for the regiment.[6]
History
Under the first restoration, the Bourbons only retained the Swiss, in souvenir to their loyal service rendered to France during four centuries, and with them also, four foreign regiments out of which one colonial, formed of Spanish and Portuguese. The eight reorganized foreign regiments by Napoleon at the hundred days formed in 1815 the Royal Foreign Legion (French: « Légion Royale Etrangère »), which became the Hohenlohe Legion (French: « La Légion de Hohenlohe »), then in 1821 the Hohenlohe Regiment. Licensed in 1830, the latter contributed to form the Twenty First Light, then the French Foreign Legion (French: La Légion Étrangère). The Swiss regiments of the restoration disappeared in 1830, nevertheless, the Swiss joined the French Army again from 1855 to 1859 under the successive denomination of 2nd Foreign Legion (French: « La Deuxième Légion Etrangère ») and 1st Foreign Regiment (French: 1er Régiment Etranger).
On April 1, 1841, the Legion was split in two formations. The 2nd Regiment was organized at Bône, on April 13, 1841, provisionary at two battalions of the 1st Foreign Regiment; the 4th battalion was sent to Algiers and the 5th battalion was garrisoned at Bône. The regiment consisted, just like the other Line infantry regiments of the époque, a formation of 3,000 men. The 3rd battalion was formed in the following month of May.
The regiment was quartered at Constantine in Algeria, with garrisons held at Bône, Bougie, and Djidjelli. Colonel Senilhes was the first regimental commander. The first regimental flag was received in 1848 by colonel Jean-Luc Carbuccia.
In 1854, Napoleon III decided to create a 2nd Legion, composed uniquely of Swiss. However, with a reduced form of recruitment, the two units, which were engaged in Crimea, were dismissed at the end of the conflict and regrouped to form the 2nd Foreign Regiment, which re-departed to Algeria in 1856.
On January 1, 1862, the two foreign regiments merged under the title of the Foreign Regiment.
As part of a reorganisation of the Armee d'Afrique, the regiment was retitled the Foreign Legion (« Légion étrangère ») on March 13, 1875. It numbered 3018 men. On January 1, 1885, the 2nd Foreign Regiment was reformed. The 1st and 2nd battalion remained in Algeria. The 3rd battalion was assigned to Tonkin and the 4th battalion was sent to Formosa in 1884, then returned to Tonkin.
2nd Regiment of the 1st Foreign Legion in 1855
On April 3, 1841; the 2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion (2ème R.L.E) was created at Bône and commanded by Colonel Sinelhes,[7] constituted of 2240 legionnaires and organized in 3 battalions stationed in Bone, Bougie and Djidjelli, respectively, starting from 1842.[7]
From 1841 to 1857: the 2nd Regiment (2ème R.L.E) participated at the conquest and campaigns of Algeria.[7]
From 1870 to 1871: the Foreign Regiment took part in the Franco-Prussian War.[7] Three battalions of the regiment (two battalions from Algeria and one formed in France) participated in the Battles of Orleans, the Battle of Coulmiers and the Battle of Saint Suzanne.[7] Immediately following the war, the Foreign Regiment was amongst those troops used to suppress the rising of the Paris Commune (May 1871).
Foreign Legion of the 1st Foreign Regiment in 1875
On April 10, 1875; the 2nd Foreign Regiment became the Foreign Legion (L.E).[7]
From 1907 to 1918: the 2nd Foreign Regiment took part in the French conquest of Morocco; during which combat units of the regiment received 7 citations at the orders of the armed forces.[7]
On August 29, 1907 a regiment de marche was created from the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2 RE) in Morocco.[7]
Pacification of Algeria
From 1841 to 1907 legionnaires from the 2nd Regiment were deployed in Algeria.
In the early twentieth century, France faced numerous incidents, attacks and looting by uncontrolled armed groups, in the newly occupied areas in the south of Oran (Algeria). Under the command of General Lyautey, the French Army's mission was to protect these areas newly seized in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.
On 17 August 1903, the first battle of the South-Oranese campaign took place in Taghit, where Foreign legionnaires were assailed by a contingent of more than 1,000 well-equipped Berbers. For 3 days, the legionnaires repelled repeated attacks of an enemy more than 10 times higher in number, and inflicted huge losses on the attackers, forcing them finally into a hasty retreat.
A few months after the Battle of Taghit, 148 legionnaires of the 22nd mounted company, from the 2ème REI, commanded by Captain Vauchez and Lieutenant Selchauhansen, 20 spahis and two Mokhaznis were escorting a supply convoy, when they were ambushed at 9:30 am on 2 September by 3,000 Moroccans marauders. The half-company had halted to eat, no sentries had been posted and only a few cavalry pickets had been placed.
The first volleys wounded or killed half of the detachment. Both officers and most of the non-commissioned officers were killed in the first stage of the fight. At 10:30 am, Quartermaster Sergeant (sergent-fourrier) Tisserand, who commanded the survivors, sent two spahi cavalrymen to Taghit for reinforcements. They immediately left.
About forty survivors of the French force gathered on a nearby hill and under a scorching sun, on hot sand and without water, fought off the enemy for more than eight hours. Near the end of the battle, Tisserand, wounded, gave over command to Corporal Detz; the highest-ranked man still able. At 5 pm, they were relieved by Captain de Sulbielle, who rode from Taghit with his Spahis. At the sight of the approaching French cavalry, the Moroccans retreated in small groups.
In November 1908; the Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (R.M.2èmeR.E) was dissolved .[7]
Far East Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion in 1945
On August 1, 1945; the Far East Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (or R.M.L.E/E.O. for Régiment de marche de la Légion Etrangère d'Extrême-Orient) was formed.[7]
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1946
On January 1, 1946; the regiment was renamed the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2èmeR.E.I).[7]
From 1946 to 1955: the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment took part in the First Indochina War and receives 9 citations at the orders of the armed forces.[7]
From 1955 to 1956: the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment rejoined Tunisia, then Morocco.[7]
From 1956 to 1962: the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment participated in combat operations during the Algerian War.[7]
From 1962 to 1967: the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment was placed at the disposition of central command of military sites in the Sahara.[7]
On January 1, 1968; the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment was dissolved.[7]
2nd Foreign Regiment in 1972
On September 1, 1972; the recreation of the 2nd Foreign Regiment took place in Corsica.[7] While in Corsica the regiment was garrisoned in Corte (basic training unit) and Bonifacio.
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1980
On July 1, 1980; the 2nd Foreign Regiment became the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment.[7]
From 1982 to 1984: the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment filled the ranks of the Multinational Force in Lebanon. During the deployment of the regiment to Lebanon in 1983; the men took part in several training and combatpeacekeeping missions while also finding out that they will not be seeing Corsica again and will return to Nîmes, the new garrison of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment as of November 11, 1983, while the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), moved to Calvi.[7]
In 1986, elements of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment were deployed to Chad as part of Operation Sparrowhawk (Operation Épervier).[9]
The regiment has also participated in several recent conflicts, most notably in the Gulf War (1991), in Bosnia, Chad and other parts of Africa.[10]
Since 2001, the regiment took part in the global War on Terror. In 2006, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment deployed as part of the French contingent of the ISAF.[9]
Organization
The regiment is composed of around 1,337 men organized into 10 companies, making it one of the largest infantry regiments in the French Army.[11]
Compagnie de Commandement et de Logistique (CCL) – Command and Logistics Company
Compagnie d'Administration et de Soutien (CAS) – Administrative and Support Company
1re Compagnie de Combat (1re Cie) – 1st Combat Company (4 combat sections)
2ème Compagnie de Combat (2e Cie) – 2nd Combat Company (4 combat sections)
3ème Compagnie de Combat (3e Cie) – 3rd Combat Company (4 combat sections)
4ème Compagnie de Combat (4e Cie) – 4th Combat Company (4 combat sections)
5ème Compagnie de Combat (5e Cie) – 5th Combat Company (4 combat sections)[12]
Compagnie Antichar (CAC) – Anti-Tank Company (4 sections)
Compagnie d'Eclairage et d'Appui (CEA) – Reconnaissance and Support Company (3 sections)
Section de reconnaissance régimentaire (SRR) – Regimental Recce Section (VBL)
Regimental Colors of the 2nd REI with Honneur et Fidélité.Recto of Regimental Colors
Regimental Song
Chant de Marche: Anne-Marie du 2ème REI in the German language featuring:[13]
-I- Anne-Marie, wo geht die Reise in, Anne-Marie, wo geht die Reise in, Sie geht in's Städtelein Wo die Soldaten sein. Ein, zwei, drei Junge, junge, junge Anne-Marie
-II- Anne-Marie, heute wollen wir lustig sein, Anne-Marie, heute wollen wir lustig sein, Wir wollen tanzen gehen Und uns im Kreise drehen. Ein, zwei, drei Junge, junge, junge Anne-Marie.
The annual celebration of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is the second Campaign of Madagascar, which took place on September 2, 1903. The regiment honors that day with a parade commemorating and presenting hommage to the old combatants and anciens.
Général Dary served in the 2nd Foreign Regiment; 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1980; in Haute-Corse from 1975 to 1977 prior serving in the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment in Haute-Crose.
^"2e régiment étranger d'infanterie - Armée de terre". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
^"6e brigade legere blindee - Armée de terre". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
^"2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment | French Army". Retrieved 2022-03-26.
^"La garrison - 2e régiment étranger de infanterie". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
^"Histoire - 2e régiment étranger de infanterie". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
^"Mission - Armée de terre". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am"Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Historique du 2 REI, La Creation (Creation)". Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
^[1] Archived 2016-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, 2nd Foreign Regiment Timeline Formation
^ a b"Les campagnes du 2ème REI". 2e Régiment étranger d'infanterie (in French). Ministère de la Défense. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
^"2rei". Archived from the original on 2010-02-14. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
^"Composition - 2e Régiment Étranger de Infanterie". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
^"De nouvelles unités pour la Légion étrangère". Foreign Legion. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
^"Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Historique du 2REI, Le chant du 2ème REI". Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-06-28.
^ a b c"Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Historique du 2e REI, Le drapeau du 2ème REI". Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
^"Édition Chronologique n° 45 du 29 octobre 2010".Le Ministère de la Défense instruction n°1515/DEF/EMA/OL/2 du 23 septembre 1983, modifiée, sur les filiations et l'héritage des traditions des unités; décision n°010318/DEF/CAB/SDBG/CPAG du 15 juillet 2008 portant création d'une commission des emblèmes. Art 1er. L'inscription "Koweït 1990-1991" est attribuée aux drapeaux et étendards des formations des armées énumérées ci-dessous. 2e R.E.I, 1er R.E.C, 6e R.E.G, 3e R.I.Ma, 1er R.P.I.Ma, 11e R.A.Ma, 4e Régiment de dragon, 1er Régiment de Spahis, 6e Régiment de Commandement et de Soutien, 1er R.H.C, 3e R.H.C, puis les formations de l'Armée de l'Air les 5e, 7e, 11e escadre de chasse, la 33e escadre de reconnaissance et les 61e et 64e escadre de transport. Le présent arrêté sera publié au bulletin officiel des armées, Hervé Morin.
^Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, Le Chef de corps, Les anciens chef de corps
References
Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion. Harper Collins, New York, 1991. ISBN 978-0-06-092308-2
Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914–1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-761-9.
Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-621-3.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2e régiment étranger d'infanterie.
Official website
2e REI's History (in English) – History & images of the 2e REI
)
United Kingdom – The Rifles (Bond of Friendship)
