The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er REP) was an airborne unit of the French Foreign Legion, created in Algeria in late 1955. The regiment took part in the Algerian War and was seen as one of the most elite units of the French Army at the time. The prestigious 1er REP was prematurely disbanded in 1961, following its active participation in the Generals’ putsch of Algiers.

 
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1955: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

After its return from French Indochina in Southeast Asia to Algeria in France’s North Africa, the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1er BEP), a unit two times annihilated during the war in Indochina, was ordered to be transformed into a regiment.

Thus, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes, 1er REP) was established in Algeria on September 1, 1955 *, with the main base stationed in Zeralda, a town located close to Algiers, the capital. Major Pierre Jeanpierre kept command. His unit consisted of 36 officers, 112 NCOs, and 666 legionnaires (814 men in total).

The 1er REP inherited the battalion’s number, history, and traditions, as well as the yellow-green fourragère.

* - the date of August 1 was used in official Legion sources until the 1960s

 
– 1er REP composition in Algeria in August-September 1955:

• Command – Major Jeanpierre
• HQ Company – Captain Faulques
• 1st Company – Captain Abraham
• 2nd Company – Captain Giese
• 3rd Company – Captain de Saint Marc
• 4th Company – Captain Le Bras
• Combat Support Company (CA) – Lieutenant Dupoux

 
September-December 1955:
– September-December, military operations
– they took place in northeastern Algeria
– in the regions of Tebessa, Negrine, Ferkane, Bir El Ater
– legionnaires had to patrol the regions
– they often cooperated with Legion’s motorized companies
– 21e CPLE, 22e CPLE, 23e CPLE (later grouped in the GPLEA)

– Operation Timgad
– in late September, a large military operation
– aimed at groups of local FLN rebels
– in northeastern Algeria, along the border with Tunisia
– mainly in the Tebessa region
– the operation started on September 21
– thousands of French troops participated
– between them, legionnaires from 1er REP
– also 1re CSPL, 2e CSPL and 2e REI
– also 21e CPLE, 22e CPLE, 23e CPLE
– dozens of rebels were killed
– the operation ended in October

– in 1955, around 70 rebels were killed by the 1er BEP/1er REP

 

1956: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

January-February 1956:
– early January, operations in the Ferkane region

– Lt Colonel Albert Brothier took command
– also February 6, change of command
– Albert Brothier led the unit in 1952-53

• wounded in April 1953 while leading the 1er BEP
• sent to the hospital in France
• after being recovered, Major Brothier rejoined the Legion
• he took command of GPLEM in Morocco in January 1954
• in October 1954, he was promoted to Lt Colonel
• he commanded the GPLEM until January 1956

 
– Major Jeanpierre became a deputy commander

– in mid-February, 1er REP returned to Tebessa
– it patrolled the Nementchas range
– the operation in the region continued until April

April 1956:
– in early April, operations in northwestern Algeria
– 1st + 2nd Company participated in
– they were sent to Marnia, on the border with Morocco

– Reconnaissance Squadron (ER)
– a unit formed within the regiment in December 1955
– based in Soumaa, south of Zeralda
– equipped with Jeeps and Dodges 4×4
– ER squadron was sent to the Orleansville region
– to participate in operations there
– some 130 miles (200 km) west of Algiers
– the squadron returned to Zeralda in mid-April

– HQ + 3rd + 4th Company were still in Tebessa

– Operation 256
– April 25-26, a military operation
– aimed at groups of local rebels
– in the Ouarsenis range, northern Algeria
– in then region of Vialar (Tissemsilt now)
– the whole 1er REP took part in

May 1956:
– in early May, operations in the Ouarsenis
– thereafter, 1er REP moved to the Oran region
– west of the Ouarsenis range

– in May, operations in the Oran region
– aimed at groups of local rebels

– in mid-May, ER sent to the Algiers region
– it operated at Rivet, Bou Zegza and Rovigo

– in late May, 1er REP returned to Algiers
– it operated at Bou Zegza, south-east of the capital

– Operation Casbah
– May 26-27, a large military operation in the capital
– aimed at the FLN + ALN + another rebel groups
– Casbah is the old center of Algiers
– over 5,000 French troops took part in
– between them, 1er REP legionnaires
– the troops searched houses + flats
– some 400 individuals were arrested

June 1956:
– 1er REP’s regimental flag
– June 4, 1er REP received its regimental standard

– June 8, 1er REP deployed to Tindouf
– a region in the Sahara of western Algeria
– close to the border with Mauritania
– a two-week operation aimed at local rebel groups
– HQ + 1st + 3rd Company + ER
– 1er REP operated alongside 4e CSPL

– also June 8, 2nd + 4th Company moved to Guentis
– a sector in the Tebessa region
– a week operation

– in late June, HQ + 1st + 3rd Company back in Zeralda
– ER squadron continued to operate around Tindouf
– it also operated in Mauritania in desert raids on rebels

July-August 1956:
– 10th Parachute Division
– July 1, a new airborne division was born
– 10th Parachute Division (10e DP)
– based in Algeria, North Africa
– led by General Massu
– 1er REP was assigned to the 10e DP

– in July, operations in the Médéa region, northern Algeria

– early August, ER squadron returned from Tindouf

 

 

August 1956:
– Operation Hamilcar (Amilcar in France)
– August 2, a Suez landing preparation started
– originally code-named Operation Hamilcar
– later, Operation Musketeer (Mousquetaire in France)
– an Anglo-French invasion of Egypt, alongside Israel
– planned for early September
– then delayed until November
– 1er REP chosen as a French main landing force
– equipped with LVT (landing vehicles)

– 2nd Squadron, 2e REC
– in August, 2nd Squadron, 2e REC arrived
– the squadron was transferred to the 1er REP
– equipped with 17 tanks (AMX-13, a French light tank)
– 2nd Squadron would participate in the invasion
– commanded by Captain Maurice Hautechaud
– a French officer, he had already commanded the squadron since 1954

 
– Landing exercises
– also in August, intensive landing exercises started
– 1er REP + 2nd Squadron, 2e REC took part in
– thousands of troops trained the invasion’s landings
– the exercises took place on the beach near Algiers

– between the exercises, operations in the region

September-October 1956:
– September-October, landing exercises continued

– in October, several military operations
– in the regions of Algiers, Blida or Orleansville

– in mid-October, an operation to maintain order
– it took place in the Sahel sector, west of Algiers
– the whole 1er REP participated in

– October 22-31, embarkation for Egypt
– loading military equipment and vehicles into ships

November 1956:
– 1er REP left Algeria for Egypt
– November 1, 1er REP left Algeria
– it moved to Cyprus
– in Cyprus, the regiment was reinforced
– French Army + Navy elements were assigned to
– 1er REP left Cyprus for Egypt on November 5

November-December 1956:
– Suez Crisis
– November 6, a large operation started
– Anglo-French invasion of Egypt
– code-named Operation Musketeer (ex-Operation Hamilcar)
– a response to Egypt’s Suez Canal nationalization
– in co-operation with Israel’s own invasion of Egypt
– Britain wanted to regain Western control of the Suez Canal
– also, France saw then Egypt as a national threat
– the country continuously supported FLN rebels in Algeria
– because of that, France joined the operation
– Anglo-French landings at Port Said and Port Fouad
– at Port Fouad, landing assault were led by Lt Col Brothier
– the Egyptian troops quickly retreated
– 1er REP successfully seized the town

– however, the United States stopped the invasion
– they also immediatelly punishied British financial system
– these sanctions broke the British effort
– although successfull, the operation would be canceled
– Anglo-French troops were forced to withdraw
– the operation lasted only two days
– in late December, Anglo-French troops left Egypt
– they were replaced by U.N. peacekeeping forces

– the invasion of Egypt is seen by historians as Great Britain’s last attempt to act as the world’s independent major power
– also the French were very dissatisfied
– a number of legionnaires saw it as a betrayal
– they were well-prepared and determined to win

– December 29, 1er REP returned to Algeria

 

 
 

1957: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

January 1957:
– Tank Squadron
– Escadron de Chars (EC)
– January 1, EC was constituted
– ex-2nd Squadron, 2e REC
– it consolidated with the 1er REP
– composed of three pelotons + LVT landing vehicle detachment
– officers Blesch, Berthier, Rogez, de La Forest Divonne
– the unit became an airborne cavalry squadron
– its cavalry legionnaires obtained para-badges
– they distinguished themselves as cavalrymen
– bearing silver rank insignias + cavalry ranks
– the only airborne cavalrymen of the Legion
– unlike the title, EC would be equipped with Jeeps
– after Egypt, its tanks became needless
– Captain Maurice Hautechaud kept command
– Lieutenant Chevallereau became his deputy

– Battle of Algiers
– in January, Battle of Algiers started
– military operations to restore order in the capital
– January 7, first 1er REP elements in the capital
– a response to growing activities of the FLN rebels
– a growing number of terrorist attacks in Algiers
– these attacks with explosives were aimed at civilians
– January 15, the whole 1er REP joined the battle
– the unit was accommodated in the city
– legionnaires were placed at flats and villas
– conducting daily patrols to maintain order
– in the nights, searching the rebel firearms’ hideouts
– also raids aimed at rebel suspects and leaders
– both squadrons (ER + EC) conducted roadside checks
– Battle of Algiers would continue until October

March 1957:
– March 25, Lt Colonel Pierre Jeanpierre took command

• 1954-56, he had served as the commander
• since February 1956, 1er REP’s deputy commander
• in October 1956, he was promoted to Lt Colonel

 
– 1er REP composition in Algeria in March 1957:

• Command – Lt Colonel Jeanpierre
• HQ Company – Captain Faulques
• 1st Company – Captain Martin
• 2nd Company – Captain Estoup
• 3rd Company – Captain Allaire
• 4th Company – Captain Gamas
• Combat Support Company (CA) – Captain Glasser
• Reconnaissance Squadron (ER) – Captain Abraham
• Tank Squadron (EC) – Captain Hautechaud

 

 

April-May 1957:
– in mid-April, 1er REP left Algiers
– it returned to Zeralda

– Operations in Mauritania
– in April-May, operations in Mauritania again
– ER squadron returned to the Tindouf region
– it took part in operations in the western Sahara
– taking place around Tindouf and Fort Trinquet
– close to Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara)
– alongside two motorized companies of the 4e REI
– in mid-June, ER returned back to Zeralda

– in late April, a week operation in northern Algeria
– in the Medea region, south-west of Algiers
– 29 rebels were killed

May 1957:
– Operation NK3
– May 5, an operation started south-east of Algiers
– a six-week operation in the Kabylie region
– in the Palestro and Tablat sectors
– legionnaires from 1er REP took part in
– the operation ended on June 15
– during the operation, 175 rebels were killed
– 102 rebels were imprisoned

– Battle of Djebel Bou Zegza
– May 17, a fierce battle in the Kabylie region
– it took six hours
– part of Operation NK3
– 1st Company, 1er REP were involved
– led by Captain Martin
– at least 83 rebels were killed

June-July 1957:
– June-July, maintaining order in Algiers
– part of the Battle of Algiers
– 4th Company + CA took part in

– July 12, an operation in the Tablat region
– Lieutenant Thouron was killed

– Bastille Day Military Parade in Paris
– July 14, Bastille Day Military Parade in Paris
– 1er REP participated in
– Lt Col Jeanpierre + color guard + a honorable company
– the company was led by Captain Louis Martin

• nicknamed Loulou, he was born in France in 1924
• one of the most famous officers of the 1er REP
• as a young French officer, he joined the Legion in 1947
• with the Legion, he served in Tunisia in 1947-48
• assigned to the 13e DBLE in Indochina in 1948
• 1950, back in Algeria to join the 3e BEP
• in early 1953, he returned to Indochina
• Lieutenant Martin joined 3rd Company, 1er BEP
• several times wounded at Dien Bien Phu in 1954
• promoted to Captain, badly wounded, imprisoned
• liberated in late 1954 to be sent to a hospital
• Captain Martin rejoined the battalion in mid-1955
• in 1956-58, he led 1st Company, 1er REP
• in May 1957, Battle of Djebel Bou Zegza
• in 1958-59, an aide to the Chief of the French Army in Paris
• in 1958, he became the youngest Commander of the Légion d’Honneur
• in 1959, back in Algeria to rejoin the 1er REP
• promoted to Major in December 1960
• in January 1961, transferred to Germany
• leaving the French Army in 1963
• in 1970-88, the security chief of Gabonese President Bongo
• on Camerone Day 1999, he bore the wooden hand of Captain Danjou
• 5 times wounded, 14 mentions in dispatches
• High Officer of the Légion d’Honneur
• Major Louis “Loulou” Martin died in France in 2005

 
July 1957:
– Operation NC15
– July 25, an operation started
– a three-week operation in the Tablat and Medea regions
– legionnaires from 1er REP took part in
– the operation ended in mid-August
– at least 92 rebels were killed

September 1957:
– in early September, 1er REP sent back to Algiers
– the regiment had to finish the battle in the capital
– intensive raids were conducted

– Capture of Saadi Yacef
– September 24, Saadi Yacef captured
– a well-known rebel leader
– the FLN rebels’ military chief of Algiers
– captured by 1er REP legionnaires
– Lt Col Jeanpierre + Adjudant Tasnady wounded
– they were wounded by grenades’ shrapnels
– the capture helped to end the Battle of Algiers

October 1957:
– Ali La Pointe killed
– Ali Ammar, nicknamed Ali La Pointe
– the second most important FLN rebel leader in Algiers
– responsible for many terrorist attacks
– killed by 1er REP legionnaires on October 8

– October 12, Lt Col Jeanpierre left the hospital
– he rejoined his regiment

– Capture of Abderrahmane Benhamida
– October 15, Abderrahmane Benhamida captured
– nicknamed Salim El Kaiam
– chief of the FLN’s political bureau of Algiers
– his detention ended the Battle of Algiers

– mid-October, 1er REP returned to Zeralda
– the Battle of Algiers was a great success
– the regiment suffered minor losses
– during the battle, Lieutenant Pierre Bourgoin was killed

November-December 1957:
– Hassi Messaoud in the Sahara
– November 24, 1er REP deployed to the Sahara
– it was stationed in the Ouargla region, eastern Algeria
– its mission was to guard freshly producing oil fields
– located between Hassi Messaoud and Ouargla
– also to secure a future oil road Hassi Messaoud-Biskra
– engineering works were threatened by rebels
– the legionnaires had to clear the region
– the units placed at Hassi Messaoud, Ouargla and M’Raier
– during the mission, 39 rebels were killed
– 186 rebels were imprisoned
– 1er REP stayed in the Sahara until January 1958

 

 
 

1958: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

January 1958:
– Battle of the Borders
– it started on January 21
– composed of many military operations
– under the command of General Vanuxem
– in northeastern Algeria, in the Guelma region
– close to the border with Tunisia
– in Tunisia, alongside the border, many FLN military camps
– the rebels were crossing the border regularly
– also their supplies and reinforcements
– the French started to build electric fence barriers in 1957
– five French airborne regiments took part in the battle
– in the first place, 1er REP
– they were chasing the rebels alongside the border
– the battle ended on May 31

February 1958:
– until late February, several important battles
– conducted by the 1er REP
– during five weeks, over 600 rebels were killed
– for these results, the unit gained a high compliment
– expressed by General Vanuxem
– he called the 1er REP as the most elite regiment of the French Army

– Battle of Fedj Zezoua
– February 12, a fierce battle
– a part of the Battle of the Borders
– north of Beni Mezline, Guelma region
– 1er REP men were involved
– 47 rebels were killed

– Tank Squadron dissolution
– February 14, EC squadron was officially dissolved
– considerably reduced unit
– led by an NCO, a Maréchal des logis-chef (MDC)
– a cavalry rank for Staff Sergeant
– even that day, the unit actively took part in an operation
– its reduced personnel would consolidate with ex-ER
– called Motorized Company (CP) at the time

– Battle of Koudiat Megroum
– February 26, another fierce battle
– in the Guelma region
– a part of the Battle of the Borders
– 1er REP were involved
– 149 rebels were killed
– Lieutenant Georges Maroni was killed

March 1958:
– Battle of Djebel Marioun
– March 18-19, a severe battle
– a part of the Battle of the Borders
– in the Guelma region
– 1er REP took part
– 118 rebels were killed
– 12 legionnaires were also killed

– Battle of Chaba Ben Said
– March 29, another severe battle
– also part of the Battle of the Borders
– in the Guelma region
– 1st Company, 1er REP participated
– led by Captain Martin
– 70 rebels were killed

May 1958:
– Putsch of 13 May 1958
– a putsch in support of General de Gaulle
– the leader of Free France 1940-44
– the provisional leader of France 1944-46
– French Army generals organized the putsch
– they seized Algiers and took over the local power
– putschists were led by General Salan + General Massu
– a demand to approve de Gaulle as leader of France
– May 24, Corsica was seized by French paratroopers
– also a plan to seize Paris
– May 29, then French President left the office
– General de Gaulle returned to power
– he promised that Algeria would remain French

– Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Jeanpierre killed
– May 29, a military operation in the Guelma region
– Operation Taureau III, part of the Battle of the Borders
– at Djebel Mermera, west of Guelma
– 1er REP was chasing an important rebel group
– Lt Col Jeanpierre led his men from a helicopter
– the helicopter was hit by rebel fire and crashed
– Lt Col Pierre Jeanpierre was killed

• 46 years old when killed
• 21 years of service in the Foreign Legion
• one of the 23 survivors of the 1er BEP in 1950
• he led the unit in 1954-56 and 1957-58
• a deputy commander in 1948-50 and 1956-57
• he saw the 1er BEP/1er REP as his own unit
• very popular officer among his men
• he became a legend

 
– Battle of the Borders ended
– May 31, the successful battle ended
– 1,193 rebels were killed by the 1er REP
– 82 rebels were imprisoned
– 111 men of the 1er REP were killed
– 278 officers + legionnaires were wounded

 

 
 

June 1958:
– June 11, 1er REP returned to Zeralda

– June 17, Colonel Albert Brothier took command

• the commander of the 1er REP until March 1957
• in 1957-58, Lt Col Brothier served with a French regular unit
• he commanded a divisional parachute training center

 
July-August 1958:
– early July, operations in Algiers

– Bastille Day Military Parade in Paris
– July 14, Bastille Day Military Parade in Paris
– 1er REP was invited for its great results in 1958
– 1er REP’s Colonel Brothier + color guard participated in

– in mid-August, Operation Flavien
– near Palestro, south-east of Algiers
– 1st Company took part in

September 1958:
– Operation Referendum
– September 28, French National Referendum
– a referendum about France’s new constitution
– also about the future of French colonies
– in Algeria, the majority voted for France
– muslims and the French voted for being part of France
– it was an important defeat for the FLN rebels
– that day, 1er REP patrolled in the streets of Algiers

October 1958:
– in mid-October, 1er REP moved to the Oran region
– in northwestern Algeria
– operations near Mascara and Saida

November-December 1958:
– November-December, operations in the Ain Sefra region
– western Algeria, close to the border with Morocco
– operations alongside 2e REI

December 1958:
– late December, 1er REP moved back to Zeralda

– Zeralda Road Accident
– December 21, a fatal road accident
– during a heavy rain, close to Zeralda
– the 1er REP column returning from western Algeria
– a 1st Company truck slipped on a wet road
– it crashed into a ravine
– Lieutenant René Gastaud + 6 legionnaires died

– Operation Couronne II
– December 28-31, a military operation
– near Berrouaghia, south-west of Algiers
– 129 rebels were killed
– 5 legionnaires were also killed

 

 
 

1959: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

January 1959:
– early January, Operation Couronne II once again

– January 27, a military operation
– 3rd Company + CA took part in
– over 20 rebels were killed

February 1959:
– Challe’s Plan
– a successful strategy of General Challe
– February 1959 – January 1961
– a series of large military operations
– Challe’s Plan had three goals to achieve
– to destroy the ALN (FLN’s military branch) in Algeria
– to occupy their current positions
– to destroy the FLN’s organization

February-March 1959:
– February-March, military operations
– regions of Tenes, Orleansville (now Chlef), Frenda

– Chief Menouar’s katiba destroyed
– February 14, Menouar’s katiba destroyed
– an important rebel group (katiba in Algerian)
– led by Chief Menouar, a local leader
– destroyed during a military operation
– 3rd Company + CA, 1er REP were involved
– it took place in the Tenes region
– Chief Menouar + 30 rebels were killed
– it was the same group as on January 27

– March 20, a military operation
– it took place in the Frenda region
– 4th Company, 1er REP participated in
– 29 rebels were killed

April-May 1959:
– early April, a week-long military operation
– in northern Algeria
– near Messena, in the Orleansville region
– 2nd Company + CP took part in

– Operation Courroie
– April-May, a large military operation
– part of Challe’s Plan
– in the Cherchell region of the Ouarsenis mountains
– 1er REP + 3e REI + 5e REI took part in

May 1959:
– early May, Lt Colonel Henri Dufour took command

• Henri Dufour was born in France in 1912
• as a French officer, he joined the Legion in 1934
• he served with the 1er REI in Algeria
• in 1935, he was assigned to the 3e REI in Morocco
• promoted to Captain in September 1942
• he took part in the Tunisian Campaign in 1942-43
• Captain Dufour was transferred to a French division in 1944
• he participated in the Liberation of France in 1944-45
• in 1950, he rejoined the Legion and was sent to Indochina in 1951
• being promoted to Major, he served with the 5e REI 1951-53
• in 1953, Major Dufour returned to Algeria
• he led the Legion HQ’s general staff in 1953-55
• 1955-58, he served outside the Legion, in Germany
• promoted to Lt Colonel in 1957
• assigned to the 1er REP in late 1958

 
– 1er REP composition in Algeria in May 1959:

• Command – Lt Colonel Dufour
• HQ Company – Captain Clementin
• 1st Company – Captain Sergent
• 2nd Company – Captain Ysquierdo
• 3rd Company – Captain Chiron
• 4th Company – Captain Cattelotte
• Combat Support Company (CA) – Captain Roux
• Motorized Company (CP) – Captain Bésineau

 
– Adjudant Laszlo Tasnady killed
– May 14, Adjudant Laszlo Tasnady was killed
– a legendary NCO within the 1er REP
– born in 1926, he joined the Legion in 1946
– one of the Legion’s three Hungarian senior NCOs killed that May

July 1959:
– Operation Etincelle
– between July 8-20
– a large military operation, part of Challe’s Plan
– in the Hodna range of the M’Sila region
– 1er REP + 3e REI + 5e REI + 2e REC took part in

– Operation Jumelles
– late July 1959 – March 1960
– a large military operation, part of Challe’s Plan
– it took place in the Tizi Ouzou region, northern Algeria
– composed of several smaller operations
– 1er REP + 3e REI + 5e REI + 13e DBLE took part in
– 1er REP participated in until January 1960
– during the operation, over 510 rebels were killed
– over 220 rebels were imprisoned

– Training Company, 1er REP
– Compagnie d’Instruction (CI)
– August 1, Training Company was established
– to relieve the 1er RE of parachute training
– to train fresh legionnaires for both, 1er REP + 2 REP
– Captain Louis Martin took command
– the popular officer, nicknamed Loulou

– during Operation Jumelles, Lieutenant Pasteau killed
– December 19, in the Tizi Ouzou region
– Christian Pasteau was killed during his first battle

– Second Lieutenant Marcel Lemahieu killed
– during Operation Jumelles, Marcel Lemahieu was killed
– December 26, in the Illoula Oumalou region

• Marcel Lemahieu was born in France in 1926
• he joined the French Army in 1944
• having served in Indochina in 1945-47
• then he joined the Legion in late 1947
• in 1951, again in Indochina with the 3e REI
• back in Algeria, a paratrooper in early 1952
• assigned to the 1er BEP in Indochina in mid-1952
• he fought at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, then imprisoned
• back in Algeria in 1955, he served with the 1er REP
• promoted to an officer rank in October 1959
• two months later, he was killed by a machine-gun fire
• one of those very popular members of the regiment
• 15 years of service
• 11 mentions in dispatches, 7 times wounded

 
– in 1959, 972 rebels were killed by the 1er REP
– the same year, the regiment lost 139 men
– 42 of them were killed

 

 
 

1960: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

January 1960:
– Week of Barricades
– January 24 – February 1, in Algiers
– demonstrations in support of French Algeria
– a response to General de Gaulle‘s proclamation
– a proclamation about Algeria’s self-determination
– also a response to a removal of General Massu
– then commander of French forces in Algiers
– he criticized de Gaulle and his policy in Algeria
– several military units sent to restore order
– between them, the 1er REP
– however, legionnaires sympathized with demonstrators
– the demonstrations were led by 1958 May Putschists (civilians)
– in 1958, they helped to General de Gaulle to gain power
– ironically, in 1960, de Gaulle imprisoned them to 10 years
– as a punishment for the Week of Barricades
– these issues would result in future problems

May-June 1960:
– May-June, several operations in the Hodna and Bou Saada regions
– between them, Operation Flammeche or Operation Pamphile

– in late June, 1er REP moved to the Collo region
– a guerrilla war with rebels

July-September 1960:
– Operation Cigale
– a two-month military operation
– late July – late September
– in the Ouarsenis range, northern Algeria
– in then Vialar region (now Tissemsilt)
– 1er REP participated in
– at least 115 rebels were killed

– 1er REP composition in Algeria in September 1960:

• Command – Lt Colonel Dufour
• HQ Company – Lieutenant Bernard
• 1st Company – Captain Sergent
• 2nd Company – Captain Simonot
• 3rd Company – Captain Estoup
• 4th Company – Captain Cattelotte
• Combat Support Company (CA) – Captain Ponsolle
• Motorized Company (CP) – Captain de la Forest Divonne

– 1er REP was composed of 1,285 officers, NCOs and legionnaires

 
October-November 1960:
– Operation Ariege
– October 5 – November 19
– the first phase of Operation Trident
– in the Setif and Batna regions, northeastern Algeria
– over 110 rebels were killed

– November 10, a fierce battle
– a battle during Operation Ariege
– between Corneille (now Merouana) and Batna
– 1st Company, 1er REP were involved
– led by Lieutenant Godot temporarily
– the fierce battle took several hours
– 9 rebels were killed
– however, 11 legionnaires were also killed
– 6 legionnaires were wounded

December 1960:
– December 5, Colonel Henri Dufour left regiment

• its commanding officer since May 1959
• promoted to Colonel in October 1960
• during the Week of Barricades, he sympathized with protesters
• in the Legion since 1934, he supported French Algeria
• Colonel Dufour disagreed with Algerian independence
• because of that, he opposed French President de Gaulle
• as a result, Colonel Dufour was removed from command
• he was tranferred to the French Forces in Germany
• Colonel Dufour would secretly return to Algeria
• he would fight for French Algeria illegally, as a partisan

 
– December 15, Lt Colonel Maurice Guiraud took command

• 1953-54, then Major Guiraud commanded the 1er BEP
• imprisoned at Dien Bien Phu, freed in September 1954
• assigned to the French Forces in Germany in late 1954
• a military course in Great Britain in 1955
• in France in 1956, a French division’s general staff member
• in 1957, he rejoined the 1er REP in Algeria
• in 1958-59, a French airborne school at Pau, France
• promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October 1959
• in 1959-60, EMI military academy at Saint-Maixent, France

 

 

1961: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment in Algeria

January 1961:
– French referendum on Algerian self-determination
– January 8, the referendum was held
– ordered by French President de Gaulle
– in Algeria, 70% of voters voted for Yes
– the referendum was seen as a provocation
– many Legion officers didn’t agree with it

– 1er REP Officers’ Revolt
– January 8, 1er REP officers revolted
– a unique, extraordinary issue
– while being stationed on the Tunisia border
– four company commanders
– 1st + 2nd Company + CA + CP
– Sergent, Simonot, Ponsolle, de La Forest Divonne
– they refused to carry out a military operation
– they didn’t want to see their men being killed for nothing
– their revolt was a response to the referendum
– the captains were transferred outside of the Legion
– also other officers would leave the regiment

– January 14, 1er REP returned to Zeralda

– 1er REP composition in Algeria in late January 1961:

• Command – Lt Colonel Guiraud
• HQ Company – Captain Bésineau
• 1st Company – Captain Rubin de Cervens
• 2nd Company – Lieutenant Picot d’Alignies d’Assignies
• 3rd Company – Captain Estoup
• 4th Company – Lieutenant (later Captain) Bonelli
• Combat Support Company (CA) – Captain Carreté
• Motorized Company (CP) – Lieutenant Durand-Ruel

– Major Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc rejoined the 1er REP
– to reinforce moral of the regiment
– he became the deputy commander

 
January-April 1961:
– January 29 – April 15, military operations
– in the regions of Bougie, Djidjelli and El Milia
– almost 200 rebels would be killed, wounded or imprisoned

– January 31, clashes with rebels
– they took place at Douar Arres
– close to Mila, in the Djidjelli region
– the clashes continued until February 1
– 21 rebels were killed

– February 24-25, clashes with rebels
– close to Kherrata, in the Bougie region
– 38 rebels were killed

March 1961:
– March 2, a military operation
– at Douar El M’Cid, in the El Milia region
– many rebels were killed

– March 11, another military operation
– at Oued Irdjana, in the Djidjelli region
– 15 rebels killed

April 1961:
– April 15, military operations ended
– 1er REP returned back to Zeralda
– to take a break

– Lt Colonel Guiraud went on leave
– he moved to France for several days
– Major Helié de Saint Marc replaced him
– he would command the 1er REP temporarily

– Generals’ Putsch in Algiers
– April 22-25, Generals’ putsch in Algiers
– led by four French Army generals
– aimed at then French President Charles de Gaulle
– seen by putschists as a betrayal of France, French settlers in Algeria, and the fallen French soldiers in the Algerian War (1954-62)
– because of de Gaulle’s acceptance of Algerian independence
– the putschists called for French Algeria
– they believed that the Algerian rebels could be defeated
– 1er REP took part in the Putsch
– led by Major Hélie de Saint Marc (temporarily)
– the unit would move to Algiers
– to take control of several strategic points there
– later, other Legion units would join the Putsch too
– nevertheless, the action would be over three days later
– April 25, Generals’ Putsch in Algiers failed

 

 

1961: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment after the Putsch

April 26, 1961:
– 1er REP returned to Zeralda
– in the early morning, the unit returned to its camp
– including three Generals-putschists
– General Challe + General Salan + General Jouhaud
– later, the three Generals would leave the camp

– later that day, the camp of Zeralda would be besieged
– by gendarmes and French regular units

April 27, 1961:
– Lt Colonel Guiraud to return from France
– that day, Lt Colonel Guiraud returned from France
– he took over the command of his regiment
– later, he moved to Sidi Bel Abbes, the Legion’s HQ

– Major Hélie de Saint Marc arrested
– also that day, the 1er REP’s deputy commander was arrested
– for his participation in the putsch
– in June, he would be sentenced to 10 years in prison
– freed in December 1966, after more than five years of imprisonment
– in 1982, Major Hélie de Saint Marc would be fully rehabilitated
– he died in 2013

– 1er REP’s officers arrested or detained
– also 1er REP’s captains were arrested
– they were sent to the High Military Tribunal
– to be condemned to 1-2 years in prison
– all of their sentences would be suspended
– 1er REP’s lieutenants were detained
– later, they would be released

– 1er REP to leave Zeralda
– 05.30 PM (17:30), 1er REP left its Camp Jeanpierre of Zeralda
– the regiment would move to Thiersville (today’s Ghriss)
– a small town in northwestern Algeria, with a former military air base
– located south of Mascara
– the 1er REP arrived in Thiersville the next day
– the regiment waited there for its dissolution
– during the movement, tens of legionnaires deserted
– many of them would fight for French Algeria as partisans

– Liquidation Detachment
– at the camp of Zeralda, only a detachment remained
– about 100 men, led by Captain Caumont
– they were appointed as liquidators
– their mission was to execute the unit’s dissolution
– they had to collect all documents, weapons, munitions etc.
– a few days later, reinforced by a team from 1er RE
– the liquidators would remain at the camp until late May

 
April 29, 1961:
– another 60 legionnaires left Camp Jeanpierre of Zeralda
– they also moved to Thiersville
– only some 40 legionnaires remained at Zeralda
– Lt Colonel Guiraud returned from Sidi Bel Abbes
– in Zeralda, he would take part in the liquidation of his unit

 

 

1961: 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment’s dissolution

April 30, 1961:
– 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment dissolution
– April 30, 1er REP was officially dissolved
– the same date as Camerone Day
– it was a punishment for the unit’s participation in the Putsch

– The Last Camerone Day
– a small ceremony took place at Camp Jeanpierre of Zeralda
– carried out by Lieutenant Soum
– one of the very few undetained 1er REP officers
– he returned from his official leave in France on April 29

April 30 – May 3, 1961:
– at Thiersville, 1er REP men got their assignments
– they were assigned to other Legion units (mainly to the 1er RE)
– the mission was carried out by a special 1er RE detachment

– 1er REP’s results
– in Algeria in 1955-61, 1er BEP/1er REP men carried out their mission well
– 3,507 rebels were killed, wounded or imprisoned by them
– 1er REP was called the most elite regiment of the French Army
– it survived two annihilations during the First Indochina War
– eventually, the unit didn’t survive a political decision
– the 1er REP has never been re-established

 

 

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment’s hymn

The regimental song of the 1er REP: Contre les Viets

 
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Main information & images sources:
Képi blanc magazines
Foreign Legion annual bulletins
More Majorum (German legionnaires in Indochina)
Fanion Vert et Rouge (Fr)
FSALE (Fr)
Google Maps
Wikipedia.org
Pierre Montagnon: Les parachutistes de la Légion (Pygmalion, 2005)
Alain Gandy: La Légion en Algerie (Presses de la Cité, 1989)
Henri Le Mire: L’épopée moderne de la Légion (SPL, 1977)

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More from the history of the Foreign Legion’s paratroopers:
3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment
Parachute Company of 3e REI
1st Heavy Mortar Foreign Parachute Company
CERA – Foreign Airdrop Company
 

See other Foreign Legion’s disbanded regiments:
2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment
4th Foreign Infantry Regiment
5th Foreign Regiment
6th Foreign Infantry Regiment

 

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The page was updated on: May 10, 2018

 

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