Philippe Erulin
Encyclopedia
Philippe Louis Edmé Marie François Erulin (5 July 1932, Dole, Jura
– 26 September 1979) was a French Army
officer. He gained notoriety in Algeria for taking part in the torture of Henri Alleg
, and in Africa for leading the Battle of Kolwezi
.
On 1 October 1954, Erulin was promoted to sous-lieutenant, and attented course at the École d'application de l'infanterie, in Saint Maixent.
On 20 January 1955, he was transferred to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
, and rose to full lieutenant on 1 October 1956. On 10 June 1957, he took part in the arrest of Maurice Audin
, and later in the torture of Henri Alleg
, who later described his ordeal in La Question
.
On 1 April 1961, Erulin was promoted to Captain. On 1 June 1962, he was put at the head of the 6th company of the 153rd motorised infantry regiment. On July 1968, he rose to major, and to lieutenant-colonel on 1 October 1973.
On 1 July 1976, Erulin was promoted to full colonel, and received command of the 2 REP, in Calvi. In this capacity, he led the regiment during the Battle of Kolwezi
. During this period, he had Ante Gotovina
as his personal driver.
The battle raised Erulin's mediatic profile and brought back the torture of Alleg to the foreground of public debate, with an article in Le Monde
on 18 March 1978, and a television broadcast on Les Dossiers de l'Ecran, where René Andrieu
mentioned Alleg's ordeal.
Dole, Jura
Dole is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France, of which it is a subprefecture ....
– 26 September 1979) was a 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...
officer. He gained notoriety in Algeria for taking part in the torture of Henri Alleg
Henri Alleg
Henri Alleg , born Henri Salem, is a French-Algerian journalist, director of the "Alger républicain" newspaper, and a member of the French Communist Party...
, and in Africa for leading the Battle of Kolwezi
Battle of Kolwezi
The Battle of Kolwezi was an airborne operation by the French Army that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo. It aimed at rescuing European and Zairian hostages held by Katangese rebels after they conquered the...
.
Biography
Erulin graduated from the ESMIA on 29 September 1952. On 1 February 1953, he was promoted to corporal, and to sergeant on 1 April.On 1 October 1954, Erulin was promoted to sous-lieutenant, and attented course at the École d'application de l'infanterie, in Saint Maixent.
On 20 January 1955, he was transferred to the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment is an airborne unit of the French Army. It was the first French parachute regiment and is today part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.-Organisation:*Command and Logistic “Yellow” Company*Support and Lightning “Blue” Company...
, and rose to full lieutenant on 1 October 1956. On 10 June 1957, he took part in the arrest of Maurice Audin
Maurice Audin
Maurice Audin was a French mathematics assistant at the University of Algiers, a member of the Algerian Communist Party and an activist in the anticolonialist cause, who was one of the "disappeared" during the Battle of Algiers.In the centre of Algiers, beside the university, the intersection of...
, and later in the torture of Henri Alleg
Henri Alleg
Henri Alleg , born Henri Salem, is a French-Algerian journalist, director of the "Alger républicain" newspaper, and a member of the French Communist Party...
, who later described his ordeal in La Question
La Question
La Question is a book by Henri Alleg, published in 1958. It is notorious for precisely describing the methods of torture used by French paratroopers during the Algerian War from the point of view of a victim...
.
On 1 April 1961, Erulin was promoted to Captain. On 1 June 1962, he was put at the head of the 6th company of the 153rd motorised infantry regiment. On July 1968, he rose to major, and to lieutenant-colonel on 1 October 1973.
On 1 July 1976, Erulin was promoted to full colonel, and received command of the 2 REP, in Calvi. In this capacity, he led the regiment during the Battle of Kolwezi
Battle of Kolwezi
The Battle of Kolwezi was an airborne operation by the French Army that took place in May 1978 in Zaire during the Shaba II invasion of Zaire by the Front for the National Liberation of the Congo. It aimed at rescuing European and Zairian hostages held by Katangese rebels after they conquered the...
. During this period, he had Ante Gotovina
Ante Gotovina
Ante Gotovina is a former Senior Corporal of the French Foreign Legion and former Lieutenant General of the Croatian Army who served in the Croatian War for Independence...
as his personal driver.
The battle raised Erulin's mediatic profile and brought back the torture of Alleg to the foreground of public debate, with an article in Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
on 18 March 1978, and a television broadcast on Les Dossiers de l'Ecran, where René Andrieu
René Andrieu
René Andrieu was a French Communist Resistance fighter, journalist and politician. He served in the Francs-Tireurs Partisans during the Second World War, and headed the Communist newspaper l'Humanité from 1958 to 1984...
mentioned Alleg's ordeal.
Quotes
Honours
- Commander of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Croix de la Valeur militaireCroix de la Valeur MilitaireThe Croix de la Valeur Militaire is a military decoration of France that recognizes individual holding a mention in Dispatches earned in theaters of operations which are not subject to the award of the Croix de guerre....
(4 citations) - Overseas MedalOverseas MedalThe Overseas Medal is a commemorative or campaign medal issued to members of the French Armed Forces for participating in operations outside national territory...
with "Zaire" clasp - Croix de la bravoure militaire with palm (Zaire)
- Croix du combattantCroix du combattantThe Croix du combattant is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France.-History:...
- Chevalier dans l'ordre du Mérite agricole
- Commemorative Medal for the Middle East (1956)
- Commemorative Medal of security operations and policing in North Africa with "Algérie" clasp (1958)
- Insigne des blessés militairesInsigne des blessés militairesThe Insigne des blessés militaires is a French military decoration for wounds received in the line of duty.-History:It was instituted by a law of 11 December 1916, after an idea by the nationalist writer Maurice Barrès...
(twice) - Médaille de bronze de la Jeunesse et des Sports