In April 2016, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) of the French Foreign Legion celebrated the 175th Anniversary. It has been the longest-serving regiment of the Legion. During its campaigns in Africa, Europe, Mexico, French Indochina or the Middle East, the famous 2e REI gained 6 unit citations, mentioned in the order of the Army. Its battalions and companies have gained another 22 unit citations since 1841.
2e REI: History of the Foreign Legion’s longest-serving regiment
In 2016, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) of the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 175th Anniversary of its activation. The history of the 2e REI started in Algeria, in April 1841, when the French Foreign Legion divided into two parts. Its legionnaires fought in Algeria, Crimea, Italy, Mexico, French Indochina, Madagascar, Morocco, France, Chad, Iraq, ex-Yugoslavia, Ivory Coast, Mali or in the Central African Republic. Currently (2016), the 2e REI is also the largest regiment of the Foreign Legion.
Read more2e REI: History of the Foreign Legion’s longest-serving regiment
40th Anniversary: 1976 Djibouti helicopter crash
40 years ago, on May 24, 1976, the French Foreign Legion suffered its worst losses in a single incident since the end of the Algerian War in 1962. In the then French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (today’s Djibouti), six of its legionnaires died during a helicopter crash. Nevertheless, the accident will be totally forgotten during next 40 years. On the internet, there is no article in French (still less in English) being concerned with the accident, which still remains the second deadliest incident for the French Foreign Legion since the Algerian War ended…
Foreign Legion: Camerone Day 2016
Every year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the most famous event in its history. Also in 2016, on April 30, Camerone Day, the officers, NCOs and legionnaires of the Foreign Legion commemorated the 153rd Anniversary of the battle. See Camerone Day videos from several Legion regiments.
2e REI: Infernal Run 2016
On April 15, the fourth Infernal Run event was organized by the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) at Camp de Garrigues near Nimes, its garrison, at the occasion of coming Camerone Day (April 30). Hundreds of legionnaires from 2e REI and other regiments of the French Foreign Legion participated in.
2e REI: More VBCI vehicles
The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), a motorized infantry unit of the French Foreign Legion stationed at Nimes (southern France), was reinforced by another 12 VBCI armored vehicles. The new ones arrived at the regiment on February 26, 2016.
2e REI: Live Fire Exercise
An unofficial video showing legionnaires from the Recce Platoon, 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) testing their weapons at a shooting range located near Nimes, the garrison of the 2e REI in southern France.
French Foreign Legion: New units establishing
While the year of 2014 was marked by reorganization of the French Army with reducing its personnel and several unit dissolutions, including combat units within the Foreign Legion (e.g. 5th Squadron of 1er REC, 5th Company of 2e REI), the current year of 2015 is significant by reverse policy actions – increasing personnel serving in the French Army and (re-)creating the new combat units.
2e REI: 5th Company training
As stated before, the re-created 5th Company from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), the French Foreign Legion unit based in Nimes, has been placed in Paris since last month to participate in Operation Sentinelle. The French government launched this operation in the wake of the Paris Islamist attacks in January 2015.
2e REI: 5th Company patrolling in Paris
As stated before, within the Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), the 5th Company was re-created in June 2015. A few months later, the company is already en mission. Its legionnaires deployed to Paris, to participate in Operation SENTINELLE.
2e REI: Nice motivation video
A nice motivation video shows the legionnaires from the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) based in Nimes, during a challenge event conducted by the regiment.