Christian Piquemal

Christian Piquemal
Retired general Christian Piquemal during a manifestation against "Massive Immigration" at Versailles.
Born	(1940-12-17) 17 December 1940 Huos, Haute-Garonne
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	French Army French Foreign Legion
Years of service	1962-2000
Rank	Général de corps d'armée
Unit	1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Choc Paratrooper Battalion 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment
Commands held	3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment Commandement de la Légion Étrangère
Battles/wars	Opération Épervier

Christian Piquemal born 17 December 1940 in Huos (Haute-Garonne), is a retired^[1] army corps general of the French Army and Commandant of the Legion from 1994 to 1999.^[1]

He was brought into the international media spotlight when he was arrested for being present at a manifestation which took place at the same time as another far right Pegida organized demonstration (which he is not linked to or has any relationship with according to General Piquemal^[2][3])^[4][5], not allowed by the prefecture, in Calais on 6 February 2016. His trial was scheduled to take place on 12 May 2016 at Boulogne-sur-Mer.^[6] Marion Maréchal-Le Pen supports him.^[7] During the same night, General Christian Piquemal, accorded an interview in which he stated that he regretted that the far right movement Pegida (which he is not linked to in anyway sort of way nor was he aware that Pegida was on site^[8]) was present on the scene at the same time as he and others were present there; however, he clearly stated that he does not regret being present in Calais while manifesting only and exclusively issues not related to any sort of religion nor the concept of immigration.^[9] · ^[10].

For General Piquemal, this was not an anti-immigration manifestation nor was it related to religion.^[11] The general added that this manifestation was not organized by the Circle of Patriotic-Citizens (French: Cercle de "Citoyens-Patriotes") which he is the President.^[12] The general added that the organization of Circle of Patriotic-Citizens (French: Cercle de "Citoyens-Patriotes"), which he presides over is totally apolitical (as in not interested nor involved in politics) (French: apolitique), adding that the Circle of Patriotic-Citizens is an organization that is not racist, nor is it xenophobic (not being prejudice or disliking people from other countries), nor is the organization against Islam ( as in General Piquemal and his organization is not against Islam or Muslims - coming from a foreign legion general who led in combat numerous religions faiths including Muslims in the French Foreign Legion).^[13] General Piquemal went on explaining that he took the microphone because it was handed to him, while stating clearly why he was present and also stating that this manifestation was not related to any anti-immigration.^[14] General Piquemal added that while voicing his opinion, other movements were present, notably Pegida, and that he ignored that they would rally there.^[15] He firmly denies any involvement with that group.^[16]

General Piquemal also firmly added in a statement that he and others did not manifest, while standing attentively, explaining tenaciously that he is not a general that does not respect the law.^[17]

On 26 May 2016, General Christian Piquemal was acquitted.^[18]

Military career

Educated at the Lycée Hoche in Versailles, Piquemal joined the special interarm school (French: école speciale interarmes de Coëtquidan) in quality of a Saint-Cyrien as a cadet in October 1960 and after passing out was commissioned as a Sous-Lieutenant in April 1962.

In October the same year, he joined the Infantry School of Application at Saint-Maixent (French: école d'application de l'infanterie at Saint-Maixent), then the following year opted to serve in the French Foreign Legion.

His first operational unit was the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment, 1^e REI, at Aubagne, which in August 1964 sent him to Mers El Kébir, then the home of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, 2^e REP. After that, he took part with his regiment in a posting to New Caledonia lasting eight months.

Promoted to Lieutenant, Piquemal served as a platoon commander (chef de section), then as sports training officer for legionnaires, and next as assistant (French: adjoint) to the commandant of the 4th combat company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, 2^e REP.^[19]

With the same rank, Piquemal next served under the command of Général Marcel Bigeard. In June 1967, he joined the new headquarters of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, at Calvi, which had previously been assigned to the 1st Paratroop Choc Battalion (French: 1^er Bataillon Parachutiste de Choc) of the 11th Choc Parachute Half-Brigade.

He was promoted to the rank of captain on January 1 1970.

From 1973 to 1974, Piquemal finished his scholarity by following the cycle of higher military studies. In September 1974, he was assigned to the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment, 9^e RCP at Toulouse where he perpetuated his command time as a captain. With his unit, he conducted a deployment of 8 months to New Caledonia.

Already holding an engineering diploma from Supélec,^[20] in 1969 he began to study nuclear engineering at the University of Paris-Jussieu (French: Université de Paris-Jussieu) and at the School of Military Nuclear Energy Applications (French: École des applications militaires de l'énergie atomique) and consequently earned a technical brevet for higher military studies from the Superior War College (French: École supérieure de guerre).

He was promoted to the rank of Chef de bataillon on December 1 1976.

Appointed as deputy senior officer (chef-adjoint) of the Technical and Radiology Studies Centre of the Directorate for Nuclear Tests, from 1978 to 1980 he was based at the Pacific Ocean Test Centre.

From 1980 to 1982, he occupied the functions of second in command of the 4th Foreign Regiment 4^e RE. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, on December 1 1980.

From 1982 to 1985, he was designated as the officer treating the study section of the inspection of the Infantry (French: section etudes de l'inspection de l'infanterie) where he was promoted to the rank of colonel on October 1 1984.

On August 1985, Piquemal was appointed as commanding officer of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3^e REI, a two-year posting until 1987. Then for three years he was deputy to the Head of the Prime Minister's military cabinet (French: Chef du cabinet militaire du Premier ministre) during the tenure of three Socialist French Prime Ministers:^[21] The Government of Michel Rocard (1989-1991),^[22] the Government of Édith Cresson (1991-1992),^[23] then the Government of Pierre Bérégovoy (1992-1993)^[24] · .^[25]

In 1994, with the rank of Divisional General, Piquemal took command of the French Foreign Legion, a fighting force of various religious faiths which includes also numerous Muslim Legionnaires, a combat leadership role, which Foreign Legion general Piquemal held until 1999.^[1][26]

During his years in command of the French Foreign Legion, Piquemal created a cross-country team within the Legion which included several Legionnaires.^[27] As part of his team, Mohamed Ouaadi took first place in the Paris Marathon of 2000.

In 1999, Christian Piquemal was promoted to the rank of Général de corps d'armée.

In retirement, he was also the President of the National Union of Paratroopers (French: Union nationale des parachutistes, UNP) from 2004 to 2014.^[28]

Recognitions and Honors

• Officier of the Legion of Honor (1996)
• Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (1985)
• Commandeur of the Ordre national du Mérite (1999)
• Officer of the Ordre national du Mérite (1992)
• Youth, Sports and Associated Engagement Medal
• Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• Officier de l'ordre de l’Étoile de Grande Comore

• He was designated at the instar of the King of Spain as an Honorary Legionnaire of the Bandera.

See also

• Pierre Segretain
• Pierre Jeanpierre
• Pierre Darmuzai
• Jacques Lefort
• Paul Arnaud de Foïard
• Helie de Saint Marc
• Paul Gardy
• Roger Faulques
• Bruno Dary

References

Foreign Legion Command French Foreign Legion
Honneur et Fidélité History of the French Foreign Legion Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers) List of French paratrooper units Képi Blanc (publication)
Current Foreign Legion Units	Administrative Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments 1st Foreign Regiment Foreign Legion Command Foreign Legion Recruiting Group Infantry & Parachute Infantry 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Cavalry 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Engineer & Parachute Engineer 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment Training 4th Foreign Regiment Jungle Training Center Combat Training Center at Arta Beach
Defunct Foreign Legion Units	Administrative and Training Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments Parachute Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion Foreign Air Supply Company 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company Infantry 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1st Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment/Garibaldi Legion 1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment 21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers 1st Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion 2nd Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion 3rd Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion 4th Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion 1st Mounted Saharan Squadron of the Foreign Legion Cavalry 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division Transport Armored Train of the Foreign Legion Disciplinary Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East Foreign Legion Brigades 31st Brigade (France)