| 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
2ème Régiment étranger d'infanterie |
|
|---|---|
Regimental badge of 2eREI |
|
| Active | 3 Apr 1841 - 1 Apr 1943
1 Aug 1945 - 1 Jan 1968 1 Sept 1972 - Present |
| Country | France |
| Allegiance | French Foreign Legion |
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Motorized infantry |
| Size | 1230 men |
| Part of | 6e brigade légère blindée |
| Garrison/HQ | Nîmes, France |
| Nickname | 2e Étranger |
| Motto | Être prêt ("Be ready") |
| Colors | Green and red |
| March | Anne-Marie du "2" |
| Mascot | Tapanar (mule) |
| Anniversaries | Camerone Day (April 30) and El-Moungar day (2 September) |
| Engagements | Battle of El-Moungar |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Hervé FOUILLAND |
| Notable commanders |
François Certain Canrobert Patrice MacMahon |
| Insignia | |
| Beret badge of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment | |
| Abbreviation | 2e REI |
The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2e REI) is an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion. It is one of two armoured infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.[1] Currently stationed at Quartier Vallongue, Nimes in the south of France.[2]
A very mobile infantry regiment, it can be sent to any part of the world through naval or air means. The Regiment has taken on the responsibility of field testing new equipment for the French Army as whole.[3]
Contents |
The original 2nd Regiment was raised on April 3, 1841.[4] It became the 2nd Foreign Regiment (French: 2e Régiment Étranger, 2e RE) in 1856.[4] Took part in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71.
Became the 2nd Foreign Regiment of Infantry (French: 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2e REI) in 1922.[4] It was disbanded on April 1, 1943 with it's remaining men transferred to the RMLE.
On August 1, 1945 a training regiment was raised known as the Régiment de marche de la Légion Etrangère d'Extrême-Orient (RMLE/EO).[4] On January 1, 1946 this was renamed 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie and was committed to action in Indo-China until 1954.[4]
After returning to North Africa the regiment participated in the Algerian War from 1956 to 1962.[4] It was disbanded in 1968.[4]
A new 2nd Foreign Regiment was formed 1 September 1972 in Corsica.[4] It was renamed 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1 July 1980.[4] It has participated in several recent conflicts, most notably in the Gulf War (1991), in Bosnia, Chad and other parts of Africa.[2]
The regiment consists of 1230 men organised into 10 companies, thus making it the largest regiment of the French army.[1]
The companies are as follows:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||