The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2e REI) is an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion. The regiment is one of two mechanized infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade The regiment is currently stationed at Quartier Colonel Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix 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.
As a mobile infantry regiment, the 2ème REI may undertake any mission being allocated to. The Regiment has responsibility for field testing new equipment for the French Army as a whole.
On March 10, 1831; the French Foreign Legion (L.E) was created.
On April 3, 1841; the 2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion (2ème R.L.E) was created at Bône and commanded by Colonel Sinelhes, constituted of 2240 legionnaires and organized in 3 battalions stationed in Bone, Bougie and Djidjelli respectively starting from 1842.
From 1841 to 1857 : the 2nd Regiment (2ème R.L.E) participated at the conquest and campaigns of Algeria.
From 1854 to 1855 : the 2nd Regiment (2ème R.L.E) took part in the Crimean War in the Battle of Alma and the Siege of Sevastopol.
On January 17, 1855: the 2nd Regiment (2ème R.L.E) became the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Foreign Legion (2èmeR.1èreL.E)
In 1856, the 2nd Regiment became the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2èmeR.E).
In 1859, the 2nd Foreign Regiment took part in the Second Italian War of Independence.
On June 4, 1859; Colonel de Chabrière, the regimental commander, was killed in action leading the charge during the Battle of Magenta.
In 1862, the 2nd Foreign Regiment became the Foreign Regiment (R.E).
From 1863 to 1867 : the Foreign Regiment took part in the French intervention in Mexico.
On April 30, 1863; the Foreign Regiment (R.E) took part in the legendary Battle of Camarón where legion officers, Captain Jean Danjou, Sous-Lieutenant Jean Vilain, Sous-Lieutenant Clément Maudet led 62 legionnaires against 800 Mexican cavalry and 2200 Mexican infantry. When only six of the French-led soldiers remained, and were out of ammunition, a bayonet assault was launched in which three of the legionnaires were killed.
From 1864 to 1907 : the Foreign Regiment took part in the South-Oranese Campaign.
From 1870 to 1871 : the Foreign Regiment took part in the Franco-Prussian War. 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. Immediately following the war, the Foreign Regiment was amongst those troops used to suppress the rising of the Paris Commune (May 1871).
On April 10, 1875; the 2nd Foreign Regiment became the Foreign Legion (L.E).
In 1883, the Foreign Legion took part in the Far East in the Sino-French War, notably during the Capture of Sontay, the Bắc Ninh Campaign, the Siege of Tuyên Quang and the disembarking of Formosa.
On January 1, 1885; the Foreign Legion became the 2nd Foreign Regiment.
Sudan Campaign and Dahomey Expedition
From 1892 to 1894, the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2ème R.E) took part in the Sudan Campaign and the Second Franco-Dahomean War.
In 1903, the 2nd Foreign Regiment took part in the Battle of El-Moungar.
From 1895 to 1905 : the 2nd Foreign Regiment took part in the Campaigns of Madagascar.
From 1907 to 1918 : the 2nd Foreign Regiment took part in the Pacification of Morocco; during which combat units of the regiment received 7 citations at the orders of the armed forces.
On August 29, 1907; the Marching Regiment (R.M) was created from the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2ème R.E) in Morocco.
From 1841–1907 legionnaires from the 2nd Regiment where 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 controlled in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.
This loose boundary, between French Algeria and the Sultanate of Morocco, promotes incursions and attacks perpetrated by Moroccan tribesmen.
On 17 August 1903, the first battle of the South-Oranese campaign took place in Taghit, where French 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.
On November 1908; the Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (R.M.2èmeR.E) was dissolved .
On August 7, 1914 following the outbreak of World War I; the 1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (1er R.M.2èmeR.E) remained in Morocco with the formed combat company and the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2èmeR.M.2èmeR.E) took arms at the fronts in mainland France; receiving 5 citations at the orders of the armed forces. In September 1915, the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment was dissolved and the components were merged with the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment to form the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) created November 11, 1915. During the interwar period, combat in Morocco persevered from 1919-1934 and the regiment received 7 citations at the orders of the armed forces.
In 1922, the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2èmeR.E) became the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2èmeR.E.I).
On April 1, 1943 during World War II; the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment was dissolved and its components were transferred to the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion, (R.M.L.E) from 1943-1945.
On August 1, 1945; the Far East Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E/E.O) was formed ("Régiment de marche de la Légion Etrangère d'Extrême-Orient (RMLE/EO").
On January 1, 1946; the regiment was renamed the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2èmeR.E.I).
From 1946 to 1945 : the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment took part in the First Indochina War and receives 9 citations at the orders of the armed forces.
From 1955 to 1956 : the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment rejoined Tunisia, then Morocco.
From 1956 to 1962 : the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment participated in combat operations during the Algerian War.
From 1962 to 1967 : the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment was placed at the disposition of central command of military sites in the Sahara.
On January 1, 1968; the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment was dissolved.
On September 1, 1972; the recreation of the 2nd Foreign Regiment took place in Corsica. While in Corsica the regiment was garrisoned in Corte (basic training unit) and Bonifacio.
On July 1, 1980; the 2nd Foreign Regiment became the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment.
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 combat peacekeeping 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 2ème REP, housed Calvi.
In 1986, elements of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment were deployed to Chad as part of Operation Sparrowhawk (Opération Epervier).
The regiment has also participated in several recent conflicts, most notably in the Gulf War (1991), in Bosnia, Chad and other parts of Africa.
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.
The regiment is composed of around 1230 men organised into 10 companies, thus making it the largest regiment of the Foreign Legion and one of the largest around the ensemble of infantry regiments forming the French Army.
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)
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)
Section antichars (SAC) – Anti-Tank Section (Milan)
Section de tireurs d'élite (STE) – Sniper Section (PGM 12.7mm)
8ème Compagnie de reserve (8e Cie) – 8th Reserve Company
Chant de Marche : Anne-Marie du 2ème REI in the German language featuring:
Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Extérieures with 3 palms ( First Indochina War 1945 to 1954 and Gulf War 1990 to 1991).
Cross for Military Valour with palm Afghanistan.
Gold Medal of the City of Milan in recognition for the victors in the battles Magenta and Solférino.
The standard and regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is heir to 28 citations at the orders of the armed forces.
Personnels of the regiment are authorized to wear the fourragère with colors of the Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'Opérations Extérieurs.
Sevastopol 1855
Kabilie 1857
Magenta 1859
Camerone 1863
Extreme Orient 1884–1885
Dahomey 1892
Madagascar 1898–1905
Maroc 1907–1913–1921–1934
Indochine 1946–1954
AFN 1952–1962
Koweït 1990–1991
In the 19th century, the colors of the 2nd Foreign Regiment were inscribed with the following battles and campaigns:
Constantine, Algeria (1837)
Mostaganem (1839)
Mouzaïa (1840)
Coleah (1841)
Djidjelli (1842)
Zaatcha (1849)
Fedj-Menazel (1851)
Battle of Alma (1854)
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.
19 century
20th century
United Kingdom – The Rifles (Bond of Friendship)
