1st Foreign Engineer Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment
is a Military engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...

 regiment in the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...

. It is a part of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. The regiment is stationed at Quartier General Rollet in Laudun.

World War II

It was created on 1 October 1939 in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

 as the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment. The manpower came from 3 battalions of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment and one from 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment, and Clayton (1988:133) says it possessed its own light artillery. It was disbanded 1 January 1942 after the British success in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...

 and its soldiers were transferred into the 1st Foreign Regiment
1st Foreign Regiment
The 1st Foreign Regiment is the senior regiment in the French Foreign Legion. Today the regiment is mainly administrative, and provides staff for the Command of the Foreign Legion....

 and Foreign Legion depots. Clayton (1988:136) says that some 690 of the 6th Etranger opted for De Gaulle.

Indochina

It was recreated on 1 April 1949 in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

 from elements of the 1st Foreign Regiment as a reception/transit pool for Indochina drafts. 1954-55 a single battalion operated against Tunisian insurgents before disbanded again in June, 1955.

6th Foreign Engineer Regiment

On 1 July 1984 the 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment was created, which inherited the traditions of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment. The regiment took part in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

 as part of Opération Daguet
Opération Daguet
Opération Daguet was the codename for French operations during the 1991 Gulf War...

.

1st Foreign Engineer Regiment

It is renamed 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment on July 1, 1999 with creation of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment
2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment is one of two Combat engineering regiment in the French Foreign Legion. The regiment is the combat engineering component of 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade.-History:...

.

Sources and references

  • Anthony Clayton, 'France, Soldiers, and Africa', Brassey's Defence Publishers, 1988
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