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The 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment () was a regiment of the Foreign Legion in the
11e REI
- History of the 11e REI {{French Foreign Legion navbox 11th 1939 establishments in France Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1940
The 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment () was a regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...
which served during World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
from 1939 to 1940.
History
The 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment was stationed inLorraine
Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...
, France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
from late 1939 to the spring of 1940.
The 11th REI defended the northern Inor Wood near Verdun
Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department.
In 843, the Treaty of V ...
from the German offensive early on in the battle until June 11, 1940, when the regiment began a fighting retreat to the south. By June 18, the 11th REI had lost three-fourths of its strength and the regiment withdrew to the south near Toul
Toul () is a Communes of France, commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle Departments of France, department in north-eastern France.
It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department.
Geography
Toul is between Commercy and Nancy, Fra ...
. The regimental flag was burned at Crezilles near Nancy to prevent it falling into German hands.
Organization
The 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment was composed of 2,500 veterans of the Legion who had served in North Africa and 500 Legionnaire reservists.See also
*Major (France)
() is the seniormost non-commissioned officer rank in France and other Francophone countries. Unlike most other countries which use the old European rank system, France uses as its lowest ranking Senior officer#France, senior officer.
While t ...
* Music of the Foreign Legion (MLE)
* Peter J. Ortiz
*12th Foreign Infantry Regiment
The 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment () was an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which existed from 1939 to 1940 at the beginning of World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 ...
Notes
References
*Porch, Douglas. ''The French Foreign Legion: The Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force.'' HarperCollins, New York, 1991. *External links
11e REI
- History of the 11e REI {{French Foreign Legion navbox 11th 1939 establishments in France Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1940