The 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes, 1er RHP) is an airborne cavalry unit in the French Army, founded in 1720 by Hungarian noble Ladislas Ignace de Bercheny. It is stationed in Tarbes and is a part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.
Creation and different nominations
1719 - 1720 : The Hussard of Bercheny are raised at Constantinople, following the demand of the Regent Philippe I, Duke of Orléans by Count of Bercheny.1791 : Units of the French Army are named after their function of arms and numbered in terms of their seniority. The Regiment of Bercheny becomes accordingly 1st Hussards Regiment.29 floréal an IV ( 29 - floréal: meaing the second month of spring - an IV or year IV : end of 1795 and debut of 1796 in the Gregorian calendar) : The regiment received half of the cavalry of the 13th Hussard Regiment (French: 13e régiment de hussards).1815 : The regiment is dissolved.1816 : Creation of the 1st Hussard Regiment of Jura.1824 : Redesiganted as 1st Hussard Regiment of Chartres.1940 : dissolved following the Armistice with Germany.1945 : recreated by the political resistance during World War II and designated Reconnaissance Regiment of the 25th Division.1946 : designated as 1st Parachute Hussard Regiment at the corps of the 25th Airborne Division 25e D.A.P on the occasion of the regiment's voyage to Algeria.The 1er RHP consists of:
Command and Logistics Squadron (ECL)1st Squadron, Air-transportable armored (1er Escadron)6 VBL3 AMX 10 RC6 VAB C202nd Squadron, Air-transportable armored (2e Escadron)13 VBL12 ERC 90 Sagaie3rd Squadron, Reconnaissance and Anti-Tank (ERIAC) (only unit fully parachutable, both men and equipment) (3e Escadron)VBLVBL reconnaissance, 7.62 mm AA-52 machine gunVBL anti-tank, MILAN anti-tank missileVBL support, 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gunVBL command4th Squadron, Air-transportable armored (4e Escadron)13 VBL12 ERC 90 Sagaie5th Squadron, operational reserve (5e Escadron)11th Squadron, training and education (disbanded on 14 January 2011)2 GCP TeamsAMX 10 RC (3)ERC 90 Sagaie (36)Véhicule Blindé Léger (68)Peugeot P4 (84)Cagiva motorcyclesVéhicule de l'Avant BlindéMILAN anti-tank guided missile (24)Except for the Legionnaires of the 1er REG, 2ème REG, 2ème REP that conserve the Green Beret; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.
The Archangel Saint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on September 29.
The prière du Para (Prayer of the Paratrooper) was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.
Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army; the Insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed <>, meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents <>, the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the <>. This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.
Based on the melody of the revolutionary Polish song Whirlwinds of Danger :
Original versionValmy 1792Jemmapes 1792Castiglione 1796Eylau 1807Sebastopol 1855La Mortagne 1914La Serre 1918AFN 1952-19621720 : de Bercheny1722 : de Bonnaire1744 : de Nordmann1749 : de Totte1751 : de Bercheny (2), fils du précédent.1762 : de Polleretsky1762 : de Bercheny François Antoine Ladislas (1744-1811), son of the former.1762 : de Sombreuil1771 : de Humbert1776 : de Thumery1785 : de Pange1789 : Henri Roland Lancelot Turpin de CrisséFrench Revolution and First French Empire
1792 : Henri Christian Michel Stengel-Colonel (**)1792 : Joseph Armand Nordman-Colonel1793 : Philippe Glad-Chef de brigade1795 : Louis Jean Charles Bougon-Duclos-Chef de brigade1796 : Antoine Henri de Carowe-Chef de brigade1797 : Joseph-Denis Picard-Chef de brigade (*)1803 : Philippe Augustin Rouvillois-Colonel1807 : Jacques Begougne de Juniac-Colonel1810 : Eugène Antoine François Merlin-Colonel (*)1813 : François Joseph Marie Clary-Colonel1814 : Nicolas Oudinot-Colonel1815 : François Joseph Marie Clary-ColonelColonels wounded and killed while commanding the 1st Hussards during that periodcolonel Stengel, wounded April 21, 1796 during the battle of Mondovi, died from his wounds on April 28.chef de brigade Bouglon-Duclos, died of fever.chef de brigade Carrowe killed during the battle of Rovero on September 6, 1796.colonel Rouvillois, wounded on December 19, 1806.colonel Juniac, wounded on February 6, 1807.Officers killed and wounded while serving in the 1st Hussards Regiment between (1805 and 1815)Officers killed : 5Officers dying from wounds : 6Officers wounded : 57État-major du régiment nearing 1815colonel Auguste-Ambroise-Joselin de Verdièrelieutenant-colonel : Armand-Louis, chavalier de l'Ormechefs d'escadrons : M. Vidal de Léry et Jacques-Victor de Suzainnecourtmajor : Joseph-Antoine, vicomte de Lodin du Mauvoiccapitaines adjoint-majors : Pierre de Vigneras et Alexandre Pothéelieutenant-trésorier : François Vialcapitaine d'habillement : Jean-Pierre Carmignacsous-lieutenant porte-étendard : Michel-Rémi Renaudaumônier : Jean Didierchirurgien major : Jean-Baptiste Hermautchirurgien aide-major : Antoine-Claude Marchal, dit Lafontaine1824-1830colonel : Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans, duc de Chartres, futur duc d'Orléans1830-1832 :colonel Royal Prince of France, duc d'Orléanscieutenant-colonel Lanthonnetchef d'escadron de Suremainchef d'escadron Lestocquoy1832-1836 : colonel Joseph Simon Pozac1845 : colonel Berryer1854 : colonel comte Lion1856 : colonel Moucheton de Gerbrois1864 : colonel de la Jaille1867 : colonel prince de Bauffremont1870 : colonel prince de Bauffremont1872 : colonel d'Agoult1884 : colonel Poulard1889 : colonel Buffet1892 : colonel Geslin de Bourgogne1894 : colonel Lageon1897 : colonel de Quinemont1907 : colonel Simon de la Mortière1912 : colonel Renaudeau d'Arc1914 : colonel Leps1914-1918 : colonel d'Amade1926 : colonel Robert1931 : colonel Aubry de la Noé1932 : colonel Malcor1939 : colonel Rabany1940 : colonel de Groulard ( wounded in 1940, died from injuries sustained in 1947)1946-19xx : colonel De Gastines1952-1953: colonel Teyssou1954-1956 : colonel Bertrand de Quénetain**1956-1958 : lieutenant-colonel Hebrard1958-1960 : lieutenant-colonel Compagnon1960-1962 : colonel Gautier1962-1963 : lieutenant-colonel Teule1963-1964 : colonel Donnart1964-1966 : colonel de Boifleury**1966-1968 : colonel Laflaquiere1968-1970 : colonel Jean Combette***1970-1972 : colonel Boissau1972-1974 : colonel Delmotte**1974-1976 : colonel Morel1976-1978 : colonel Gouttenoire***1978-1980 : colonel Berge1980-1982 : colonel Varret1982-1984 : colonel Genest1984-1986 : colonel Gobillard****1986-1988 : colonel d'Astorg1988-1990 : colonel Le Mière***1990-1992 : colonel Valentin****1992-1994 : colonel Hubin1994-1996 : colonel Duhesme1996-1998 : colonel Maes*1998-2000 : colonel Duquesne***2000-2002 : colonel de Bavinchove*** ( CEM ISAF in Afghanistan )2002-2004 : colonel Delort-Laval** ( Director of the War School since August 2011 )** division since 20122004-2006 : colonel de Marisy2006-2008 : colonel de Lapresle*2008-2010 : colonel Villiaumey2010-2012 : colonel Langlade de Montgros2012-2014 : colonel Peltier2014-.... : colonel Aumonier(*) Officers which subsequently were promoted to Brigade generals.
(**) Officers which subsequently were promoted to Divisional generals
(***)Officers which subsequently were promoted to Corps generals
(****)Officers which subsequently were promoted to Army Generals.
Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans, duc de Chartres then duc d'Orléans, Dauphin de FranceCésar de Vachon de Belmont-Briançon then captainGénéral Jean-Antoine MarbotGénéral Baron Jean Baptiste Antoine Marcellin de MarbotGénéral comte Frédéric Henri Walther (from the rank of a regular soldier -private- to the officer rank of captain)Général Nicolas-François Christophe (captain in 1793)Louis Bro (1781-1844), soldier, then futur cavalry generalColonel Nicolas Oudinot, son of Empire Marshal Nicolas-Charles OudinotMaurice Dupin de Francueil, first capitain on December 21 1805, then chef d'escadron on March 21 1807Général Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angély (in 1815, to the rank of captain)Charles-Marie-Augustin, comte de Goyon (1803-1870), division general, major at 1er hussards le on January 15 1839Charles Louis SchulmeisterCharles Théodore Ernest de Hédouville (1809-1890), French politician, served in the regiment after 1829.Olivier de GermayGaston de GalliffetLieutenant Robert Chezeau
