The 27ème bataillon de chasseurs alpins (27e BCA) is a Chasseurs alpins battalion of the French Army

French Army

The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...

. It is a heavily decorated unit, whose members wear the fourragère

Fourragère

The fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...

 of the Legion of Honour.

Organisation

The 27e BCA operated under the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade

27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (France)

The 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade is a mountain infantry formation of the French Army. It is heir to the traditions of the 27th Alpine Division, the division alpine FFI créée in 1944,...

, which specialises in combat in extreme conditions, both in mountain and urban zones.

The 27e BCA comprises

• 5 combat companies, including one reserve intervention unit
• 1 exploration and support company
• 1 command and logistics company
• 1 administration and support unit

History

The 27e BCA was created after the Franco-Prussian War

Franco-Prussian War

The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...

. It distinguished itself during the First World War, earning 9 mentions in despatches and the fourragère of the Legion of Honour.

During the Second World War, it notably took part in the Battles of Narvik

Battles of Narvik

The Battles of Narvik were fought from 9 April-8 June 1940 as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian city of Narvik as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War....

. After it was disbanded after Case Anton

Case Anton

Operation Anton was the codename for the military occupation of Vichy France carried out by Germany and Italy in November 1942.- Background :...

, some of its elements trained the Maquis des Glières

Maquis des Glières

The Maquis des Glières was a Free French Resistance group, which fought against the 1940-1944 German occupation of France in World War II. The name is also given to the military conflict that opposed Resistance fighters to German, Vichy and Milice forces....

; in subsequent combat against SS units the Battalion gained the motto of Vivre libre ou mourir ("live as free men, or die").

It took part in the Algerian War, in Kabily, until 1962.

Recently, the 27e BCA has been engaged in Afghanistan, notably taking part in the Battle of Alasay

Battle of Alasay

The Battle of Alasay, codenamed Operation Dinner Out, was a military operation carried out by French troops of the Chasseurs Alpins's 27e Battalion and the Afghan National Army 1st Kandak between the 14th and 23rd of March 2009...

.

Commander

Major Fauquignon (1871–1874) Major Michaud (1874–1878) Major Obry (1878–1880) Major Malaper (1880–1883) Major Dechizelle (1883–1892) Major Baugillot (1892–1901) Major Marjoulet (1901–1910) Major Eychnene (1911–1914) Major Renie (August 1914) Major Stirn (June 1915 – February 1916) Major Demain (March – August 1916) Major de Galbert (August – September 1916) Major Pigeaud (October – November 1916) Major Richier (December 1916 – September 1918) Major Tessier (September – October 1918) Major Croisset (November 1918 – October 1920) Major Montalegre (October 1920) Major Petitpas (August 1921 – September 1922) Major Michal (September 1922 – September 1926) Major Agliany (September 1926 – October 1928) Major Bonnet de la Tour (October 1928 – July 1930) Major Vinot (July 1930 – January 1934) Major Molle (January 1934 – April 1936) Major Chomel de Jarnieu (April 1936 – September 1938) Major Mazaud (September 1938 – July 1940) Major Jean Vallette d'Osia Jean Vallette d'Osia Jean Vallette d'Osia was a French officer best known for his action in the French Resistance during World War II in Haute-Savoie, notably supervising the liberation of Lyon....  (August 1940 – February 1942) Major Schumeckel (March – November 1942) Major Yves Godard (December 1944 – February 1946) Major Ponvienne (February 1946 – October 1947) Major Juille (October 1947 – October 1949) Major Bourdel (October 1949 – April 1951)

Major Flotard (April 1951 – October 1953) Major Baillis (October 1953 – September 1955) Major Pascal (September 1955 – September 1957) Major Martinerie (September 1957 – August 1959) Major Claude Vanbremeerch (August 1959 – June 1961) Major Saulnier (June 1961 – February 1963) Major Civet (February 1963 – December 1963) Major Klasser (December 1963 – September 1965) Major Curtet (September 1965 – September 1967) Lieutenant Colonel Neyton (September 1967 – October 1969) Lieutenant Colonel Bernard-Maugiron (October 1969 – September 1971) Lieutenant Colonel Motte (September 1971 – September 1973) Lieutenant Colonel Legros (September 1973 – August 1975) Lieutenant Colonel Lafont (August 1975 – September 1977) Lieutenant Colonel de Peyrelongue (September 1977 – August 1979) Lieutenant Colonel Pichot-Duclos (August 1979 – September 1981) Lieutenant Colonel Miray (September 1981 – September 1983) Colonel de Metz (September 1983 – August 1985) Colonel Glevarec (August 1985 – August 1987) Colonel Bachelet (August 1987 – September 1989) Colonel Barrie (September 1989 – August 1991) Colonel Sublet (August 1991 – August 1993) Colonel Ratel (August 1993 – August 1995) Colonel Bertucchi (August 1995 – August 1997) Colonel de Lardemelle (August 1997 – August 1999) Colonel Recule (August 1999 – August 2001) Colonel Berne (August 2001 – August 2003) Colonel Palasset (August 2003 – August 2005) Colonel Houssay (August 2005 – August 2007) Colonel Nicolas Le Nen Nicolas Le Nen Nicolas Le Nen is a French Army officer. Since 2007, he has commanded the 27ème bataillon de chasseurs alpins, and heads the Groupement tactique interarmes de Kapisa.-Biography:Le Nen joined Saint-Cyr in 1986, and chose Infantry after graduation... (August 2007 - August 2009) Colonel Pierre-Joseph Givre (August 2009 - )