The 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french:
e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 3e B.E.P) was parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion formed based on the Parachute Instruction Company (C.I.P) of the 7th combat company of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment">1st Foreign Infantry Regiment.
History, Creation and different nomination designations
3
e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, 3
e BEP - I, II, III, IV Formations -
Before becoming the 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment; the
List of French paratrooper units, 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created in April 1949 at Mascara.
Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion ''3e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes'' The 7th combat company of paratrooper training of the 1st Foreign rejoins Sétif 7 months later, starting November 15, 1949, to become officially the
List of French paratrooper units, 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion.
The mission of the 3
e BEP was to instruct and form the legionnaires destined to relieve the
1st Foreign Parachute Battalion
The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes (1er BEP)) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion formed from the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment.
History
1er Bataillon ...
(1
er B.E.P) and
2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 2e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 2e B.E.P) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion in the French Army initially composed of volunteers of the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legio ...
(2
e B.E.P).
While mainly formed and created to instruct the Legionnaires, the 3rd Foreign Paratrooper Battalion participates in operations of maintaining order in
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
from January to June 1952.
Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion ''3e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste''
On May 4, 1954; when struggle becomes of a rage at Dien Bien Phu, the 3e BEP makes and clears way to Indochina
Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...
. On May 25, 1954, the battalion is at Haïphong. On June 1, the count of the men forming the 3e BEP is transferred to the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 2e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 2e B.E.P) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion in the French Army initially composed of volunteers of the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legio ...
during the reconstitution of the later. The 3e BEP merges with the injured of annihilated foreign battalions while in the meantime, owing to numerous volunteers, the 3e BEP is seen reconstituted at Sétif. Back to Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, religi ...
, the three foreign paratrooper battalions ( 1er BEP, 2e BEP, 3e BEP) will be seen filling the ranks of the foreign regiment. On September 1, 1955, the 3e BEP becomes the 3rd Foreign Paratrooper Regiment (3e R.E.P). Based at Batna, the regiment becomes operational but then is dissolved on December 1, 1955; the men constituting the regiment are merged with the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 2e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 2e B.E.P) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion in the French Army initially composed of volunteers of the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legio ...
, (2e B.E.P) to form a new corps, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part of ...
.
The insignia of the 3rd Foreign Paratropper Battalion was created in 1950 by Captain Darmuzai, battalion commander ''Chef de Bataillon, CBA'' of the 3e BEP.
Organization
Traditions
File:Brevet Parachutiste.jpg, French Army Parachute Brevet.
Insignias
The insignia of the French metropolitan paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel
Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the hierarchy of angels. The word ''archangel'' itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other re ...
which according to Liturgy is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.
File:Insigne1erBEP.jpg, 1er B.E.P Insignia
File:2rep.jpg, 2e B.E.P and 2e R.E.P Insignia
File:Insigne3REP.jpg, 3e B.E.P then 3e R.E.P Insignia
Battalion Colors
Battalion Song
Decorations
Honours
Battle honours
Battalion Commanders
3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion, 3e BEP ( 1948 - 1955 ) - I, II, III, IV Formations -
Notable Officers and Legionnaires
*Paul Arnaud de Foïard
Paul Marie Félix Jacques René Arnaud de Foïard (9 September 1921 – 7 August 2005) was a général of the French Army who served primarily in the French Foreign Legion taking part in World War II and the conflicts of Indochina and Algeria.
...
*Pierre Segretain
Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...
*Pierre Jeanpierre
Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (14 March 1912 – 29 May 1958) was a senior officer of the Foreign Legion.
He initially served in the French Army and fought during World War II, the First Indochina War, the Suez Crisis and the Algerian War, where he ...
*Hélie de Saint Marc
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc or Hélie de Saint Marc, (11 February 1922 – 26 August 2013) was a senior member of the French resistance and a senior active officer of the French Army, having served in the French Foreign Legion, in particular at t ...
See also
*Major (France)
() in France, is a senior superior military rank (french: grade militaire) across various military and security institutions with history dating back well beyond the 18th century.
Typically, the contemporary rank of Major is situated differen ...
*French Foreign Legion Music Band (MLE)
The Music of the Foreign Legion (french: Musique de la Légion étrangère, MLE), formerly known as the Principal Music of the Foreign Legion (french: Musique principale de la Légion étrangère) is a Military band of the French Foreign Legion.
...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Parachute Battalion, 3rd
Parachute infantry battalions of France
Military units and formations established in 1949
Military units and formations disestablished in 1955