The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: 6e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 6e REI) was an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1955.[1]
When first established the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment consisted of 3,287 men. It was part of the 192nd Infantry Division. The regiment's organization featured:
This regiment was designated as the "Legion Regiment of the French Levant" (French: Régiment du Levant de La Légion étrangère).
On 1 January 1940 the regiment was formulated in two parts:
A mountain regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Barre, which became on 19 March the same year the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I, Integrated at the 192nd Infantry Division, 192e D.I; the regiment constituted:
1 Headquarter Staff
1 Command Company
1 Regimental Company (created March 1940 and designated (French: compagnie régimentaire d’engins, C.R.E))
1 Exterior Company (designated "CHR",(French: compagnie hors rang, C.H.R))
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
One motorized regiment typed outre-mer, which would become on 19 March the Foreign Legion Groupment of the Levant (French: Groupement de Légion étrangère du Levant, G.L.E.L); the regiment constituted:
On 28 April 1940 the 1st Marching Battalion of Foreign Volunteers (French: Bataillon de Marche des Volontaires étrangers, 1er BMVE), created in March 1940, was assigned to the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I and became the 11th Battalion of Foreign Volunteers (French: 11e bataillon de volontaires étrangers, 11e B.V.E) until dissolution on 16 October 1940.
On 1 January 1941 the Foreign Legion Groupment of the Levant (French: Groupement de Légion étrangère du Levant, G.L.E.L) and under the authority of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment created a Legion Artillery Group of the Levant (French: Groupe d’Artillerie de Légion du Levant, G.A.L.L) compromising of 3 artillery batteries and the reorganization of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment: the "C.H.R" and the "C.R.E" were dissolved and the command company became the regimental company.
The regiment left Lebanon on 16 August 1941 and rejoined the Camp Idron (Pau) on 25 August before rejoining Sidi-bel-Abbès on 3 December 1941.
During the regiment's dissolve on 31 December 1941, the legionnaires of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment were assigned to the later reconstituted 1st Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment (French: 1e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie de Marche, 1er R.E.I.M) and the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (French: Régiment de Marche de la Légion Etrangère, R.M.L.E).
The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I was recreated on 1 April 1949 in Tunisia. Accordingly, selection and dispatching was regularly done in order to reinforce Legion units engaged in combats in Indochina. In the meantime and while holding tenure in Tunisia, the regiment was assigned to tasks revolving around missions of maintaining of order. Subsequently, the regiment was dissolved for a second time on 30 June 1955.
History of the garrisons, campaigns and battlesedit
The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I was founded on 15 October 1939 in Syria from elements of the disbanded 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment, 1er R.E.I and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment.[1][2] The Regiment was established in part to handle the large number of foreign volunteers for French military service at the beginning of World War II, which numbered around 64,000 at the regiment's founding.[2] The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment remained loyal to Vichy France at the beginning of World War II while opposing fraternally allied and foreign forces from 8 June to 24 July 1941, mainly within the cadre of the liberation of Lebanon. Following, the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment was disbanded on 31 December 1941.
On another hand, the regiment was founded once more in Tunisia on 1 April 1949. The regiment went on to fight in the First Indochina War. Following service in Indochina, the regiment operated in Tunisia as part of French operations to maintain order. The Regiment was disbanded on 30 June 1955.
The insignia of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment is represented by the form of a hexagon, three Roman columns of the temple of Jupiter at Baalbek to the left of the insign and the symbols of the Foreign Legion: red and green colors with the grenade with 7 flames in the center.
Regimental Colorsedit
Regimental Colors of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment, 6e R.E.I
Regimental Songedit
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2016)
Decorationsedit
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2016)
^ abWindrow, Martin (1999). French Foreign Legion 1914–1945. p. 21.
^ abPorch, Douglas (1992).The French Foreign Legion: The Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force, p. 446.
Referencesedit
Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. ISBN978-0-06-092308-2
Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914–1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-85532-761-9.
External linksedit
6e REI - History & images of the 6e REI
October 27, 2023
foreign, infantry, regiment, french, régiment, Étranger, infanterie, infantry, regiment, foreign, legion, french, army, from, 1939, 1941, again, from, 1949, 1955, régiment, étranger, infanterieregimental, insignia, type, iiactive1939, 19401949, 1955disbanded19. The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment French 6e Regiment Etranger d Infanterie 6e REI was an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1955 1 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment6e regiment etranger d infanterieRegimental Insignia of 6e REI Type IIActive1939 19401949 1955Disbanded19401955Country FranceBranchFrench ArmyTypeInfantrySize3 300Motto s AD UNUM All to one End ColorsGreen amp RedEngagementsCamerone 1863Battle of MessifreWorld War II Syria Lebanon CampaignFirst Indochina War Algerian War Each year the Legion commemorates and celebrates Camaron in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way Contents 1 History creations and different nominations 2 History of the garrisons campaigns and battles 3 Tradition 3 1 Insignia 3 2 Regimental Colors 3 3 Regimental Song 3 4 Decorations 3 5 Honors 3 5 1 Battle Honors 4 Regimental Commander 5 Notable Officers 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory creations and different nominations editMain article Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion When first established the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment consisted of 3 287 men It was part of the 192nd Infantry Division The regiment s organization featured HQ Staff located at Homs 1st Battalion formerly 4th Battalion of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment garrisoned at Al Suwayda 2nd Battalion formerly 1st Battalion of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment garrisoned at Baalbek 3rd Battalion formerly 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment garrisoned at Damascus 4th Battalion formerly 6th Battalion of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment garrisoned at Homs and Palmyra This regiment was designated as the Legion Regiment of the French Levant French Regiment du Levant de La Legion etrangere On 1 January 1940 the regiment was formulated in two parts A mountain regiment commanded by Lieutenant colonel Barre which became on 19 March the same year the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e R E I Integrated at the 192nd Infantry Division 192e D I the regiment constituted 1 Headquarter Staff 1 Command Company 1 Regimental Company created March 1940 and designated French compagnie regimentaire d engins C R E 1 Exterior Company designated CHR French compagnie hors rang C H R 1st Battalion 2nd Battalion One motorized regiment typed outre mer which would become on 19 March the Foreign Legion Groupment of the Levant French Groupement de Legion etrangere du Levant G L E L the regiment constituted 1 Headquarter Staff 1 Command Section 3rd Battalion 4th Battalion Legion Special SectionOn 28 April 1940 the 1st Marching Battalion of Foreign Volunteers French Bataillon de Marche des Volontaires etrangers 1er BMVE created in March 1940 was assigned to the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e R E I and became the 11th Battalion of Foreign Volunteers French 11e bataillon de volontaires etrangers 11e B V E until dissolution on 16 October 1940 On 1 January 1941 the Foreign Legion Groupment of the Levant French Groupement de Legion etrangere du Levant G L E L and under the authority of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment created a Legion Artillery Group of the Levant French Groupe d Artillerie de Legion du Levant G A L L compromising of 3 artillery batteries and the reorganization of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment the C H R and the C R E were dissolved and the command company became the regimental company The regiment left Lebanon on 16 August 1941 and rejoined the Camp Idron Pau on 25 August before rejoining Sidi bel Abbes on 3 December 1941 During the regiment s dissolve on 31 December 1941 the legionnaires of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment were assigned to the later reconstituted 1st Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment French 1e Regiment Etranger d Infanterie de Marche 1er R E I M and the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion French Regiment de Marche de la Legion Etrangere R M L E The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e R E I was recreated on 1 April 1949 in Tunisia Accordingly selection and dispatching was regularly done in order to reinforce Legion units engaged in combats in Indochina In the meantime and while holding tenure in Tunisia the regiment was assigned to tasks revolving around missions of maintaining of order Subsequently the regiment was dissolved for a second time on 30 June 1955 History of the garrisons campaigns and battles editMain article Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e R E I was founded on 15 October 1939 in Syria from elements of the disbanded 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1er R E I and the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 1 2 The Regiment was established in part to handle the large number of foreign volunteers for French military service at the beginning of World War II which numbered around 64 000 at the regiment s founding 2 The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment remained loyal to Vichy France at the beginning of World War II while opposing fraternally allied and foreign forces from 8 June to 24 July 1941 mainly within the cadre of the liberation of Lebanon Following the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment was disbanded on 31 December 1941 On another hand the regiment was founded once more in Tunisia on 1 April 1949 The regiment went on to fight in the First Indochina War Following service in Indochina the regiment operated in Tunisia as part of French operations to maintain order The Regiment was disbanded on 30 June 1955 Tradition edit nbsp Regimental Insignia of the 6e REI Insignia edit nbsp Insignia of the Pionniers of the 1st Foreign Regiment nbsp Regimental Insignia of 6e REI Type IIThe insignia of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment is represented by the form of a hexagon three Roman columns of the temple of Jupiter at Baalbek to the left of the insign and the symbols of the Foreign Legion red and green colors with the grenade with 7 flames in the center Regimental Colors edit nbsp Regimental Colors of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e R E IRegimental Song edit This section is empty You can help by adding to it March 2016 Decorations edit This section is empty You can help by adding to it March 2016 Honors edit Battle Honors edit Camaron 1863 Musseifer 1925 Syria 1925 1926Regimental Commander editMain articles Foreign Legion Command and Honneur et Fidelite 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment Formation IColonel Imhaus 1 10 1939 20 12 1939 Lieutenant colonel Barre 20 12 1939 10 1941 Lieutenant colonel Delore 10 1941 12 1941 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment Formation II 01 04 1949 au 01 07 1955Lieutenant colonel Rene Babonneau Lieutenant colonel Rossi Chef de bataillon GeorgeonNotable Officers editCaptain Pierre Segretain later regimental commander in the rank of chef de bataillon commandant of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion killed in action in Indochina in October 1950 during the evacuation of Cao Bang by the RC4 Lieutenant Pierre Jeanpierre survivor of the battle of RC4 later regimental commander of Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment killed in action in Algeria in May 1958 Sous lieutenant then Lieutenant Pepin Lehalleur 1st battalion of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment who would become general Lieutenant Houzel Captain Serge Andolenko headed the CR of the regiment in 1941 became general after being regimental commander of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment in Algeria 1956 1958 See also editMajor France French Foreign Legion Music Band MLE Raoul Magrin Vernerey the first regimental commander of the 13th Demi Brigade of the Foreign Legion 1st Free French DivisionNotes edit a b Windrow Martin 1999 French Foreign Legion 1914 1945 p 21 a b Porch Douglas 1992 The French Foreign Legion The Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force p 446 References editPorch Douglas The French Foreign Legion New York Harper Collins 1991 ISBN 978 0 06 092308 2 Windrow Martin 1996 French Foreign Legion 1914 1945 Oxford Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 85532 761 9 External links edit6e REI History amp images of the 6e REI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment amp oldid 1165163999, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
