Country France Branch French Army Nickname(s) Dauphin | Allegiance French Foreign Legion Type Foreign Cavalry | |
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Active July 1939 – January 1, 1946
November 1946 – January 1962 | ||
The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (French: 2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie, 2e REC) was a foreign cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion. While the regiment was dissolved twice in 1946 and 1962; the regimental colors have been entrusted by the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte since 1984.
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2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment since 1939
The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e R.E.C) was created on July 1939 on the substance of the squadron groups of Morocco issued from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC.
World War II
With the debut of World War II, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was stationed in Morocco and part of its elements were quickly attached to the 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division, (G.R.D 97) (French: Groupement de reconnaissance divisionnaire 97 (GRD97)) which engaged in combat on the metropolitan terrain during the German spring offensive of 1940, and which the divisionary group commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Boyer de Latour was killed leading at the bois de Noroy the 9th of July of the same year. Following the armistice, the dissolution of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment, 2e R.E.C was pronounced on November 15, 1940 and the regimental colors of the 2ème R.E.C were entrusted to the honor guard of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment.
Indochina
The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was officially dissolved on June 1, 1946 at Sidi Bel Abbès, however, units forming the 2e R.E.C were recreated in November of the same year. Taking garrison at Oujda, where the regiment would remain until 1956; the regiment had for mission to instruct and train the reinforcements destined for the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC making way to the Far East.
North Africa and Algerian War
Following the Paris accords in 1954 and the departure for Indochina in 1955, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment participated to the securing of Moroccan territories then, starting from 1956 to the missions of maintaining order of Algerian terrains, first in the sector of Laghouat, then, starting from 1958, the similar on the Tunisian barrage. In January 1962, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment made way on Biskra before being dissolved again following the accords of Evian.
In 5 years of campaigns in Algeria, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment, 2ème REC placed outside their combat element more than 1022 terrorist rebels and recuperated 697 arms of which 30 automatic machine guns. The 2nd Squadron (2e Esc) was attached to the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment when deployed to take part in the operations of the Suez Canal Crisis.
Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte
In 1984, the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte received the honor guard regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment.
Regimental Colors
Regimental Colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment entrusted to the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte as of 1984.
Decorations
Decorations of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment with cited decorations of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte as of 1984.
Battle honours
As inscribed on the regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment: