André Lalande (soldier)
Encyclopedia
André Lalande was an officer in the Chasseurs Alpins and in the French Foreign Legion
.
He was a Breton who studied at the French military academy, the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
from 1931 to 1933 and was posted 2nd Lieutenant at Metz
.
In 1937 he requested a transfer to the 6th Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (6e BCA); with this unit he fought at the Battle of Narvik in April–June 1940, where he was wounded. In 1942, this service was awarded the Krigskorset med Sverd or Norwegian War Cross with Sword.
After the Battle of France
, Lalande joined the Free French. In October 1941 he was posted to Beirut
where he joined the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE). With this unit he fought in the Battle of Bir Hakeim
in May 1942 and the Second Battle of El Alamein
, where he was again wounded.
He was promoted head of the 3rd battalion in June 1943. His unit was attached to the 1st Free French Division and took part in the assault on the Gustav Line in Italy in Spring 1944, Operation Dragoon
(the Allied invasion of southern France) in August 1944, the battles on the German frontier in Alsace in the winter of 1944–1945, and in the capture of the last German holdouts in the Alps in April 1945.
Following World War II, Lalande volunteered to serve in the First Indochina War
. Promoted to colonel of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
, he fought at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
in 1954, where he was in charge of the "Isabelle" strongpoint. Lalande was captured when the position fell on May 7, 1954 and spent five months in a Viet Minh
prison camp.
He fought in the Algerian War and was promoted to brigadier general in 1961.
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...
.
He was a Breton who studied at the French military academy, the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
from 1931 to 1933 and was posted 2nd Lieutenant at Metz
Fortifications of Metz
The Fortifications of Metz, a city in northeastern France, are extensive, due to the city's strategic position near the border of France and Germany. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the area was annexed by the newly created German Empire in 1871 by the Treaty of Frankfurt and became a...
.
In 1937 he requested a transfer to the 6th Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (6e BCA); with this unit he fought at the Battle of Narvik in April–June 1940, where he was wounded. In 1942, this service was awarded the Krigskorset med Sverd or Norwegian War Cross with Sword.
After the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, Lalande joined the Free French. In October 1941 he was posted to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
where he joined the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE). With this unit he fought in the Battle of Bir Hakeim
Battle of Bir Hakeim
Bir Hakeim is a remote oasis in the Libyan desert, and the former site of a Turkish fort. During the Battle of Gazala, the 1st Free French Division of General Marie Pierre Kœnig defended the site from 26 May-11 June 1942 against attacking German and Italian forces directed by Lieutenant-General ...
in May 1942 and the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
, where he was again wounded.
He was promoted head of the 3rd battalion in June 1943. His unit was attached to the 1st Free French Division and took part in the assault on the Gustav Line in Italy in Spring 1944, Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
(the Allied invasion of southern France) in August 1944, the battles on the German frontier in Alsace in the winter of 1944–1945, and in the capture of the last German holdouts in the Alps in April 1945.
Following World War II, Lalande volunteered to serve in the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
. Promoted to colonel of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the French Foreign Legion. The regiment is stationed in French Guiana, protecting the Centre Spatial Guyanais.-World War I:...
, he fought at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War between the French Union's French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. The battle occurred between March and May 1954 and culminated in a comprehensive French defeat that...
in 1954, where he was in charge of the "Isabelle" strongpoint. Lalande was captured when the position fell on May 7, 1954 and spent five months in a Viet Minh
Viet Minh
Việt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
prison camp.
He fought in the Algerian War and was promoted to brigadier general in 1961.
Decorations
- Grand Officer of the Légion d’Honneur
- Companion of the LiberationOrdre de la LibérationThe Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
- Grand Cross of the Ordre national du MériteOrdre National du MériteThe Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
- Croix de guerre 1939-1945Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France)The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II.-Recipients:...
(2 citations) - Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations ExtérieuresCroix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations ExterieuresThe Croix de guerre des théâtres d’opérations extérieures is a French medal rewarded for military service in foreign countries. It is granted to individuals who have received citations for their actions while engaged in military service overseas.-History:...
- Médaille Coloniale
- Norwegian War Cross with Sword