The 5th Dragoon Regiment (''5^e Régiment de Dragons'' or ''5^e RD'') is a cavalry unit of 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 ...

, created under the

Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for " ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France {{disambig ...

in 1656 and reactivated in 2015. This regiment has a double heritage.

History

*1656–59:

La Fronde The Fronde () was a series of civil wars in the Kingdom of France between 1648 and 1653, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. The government of the young King Louis XIV confronted the combined opposition ...

*1667–68: Spanish War of Devolution * Flanders Campaign:

Battle of Seneffe The Battle of Seneffe took place on 11 August 1674 during the Franco-Dutch War, near Seneffe in Belgium, then part of the Spanish Netherlands. A Kingdom of France, French army commanded by Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, Condé and a comb ...

1674,

Battle of Cassel (1677) The Battle of Cassel, also known as the Battle of Peene, took place on 11 April 1677 during the Franco-Dutch War, near Cassel, west of Saint-Omer. A French army commanded by the duc de Luxembourg defeated a combined Dutch–Spanish force unde ...

War of the League of Augsburg The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between Kingdom of France, France and the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), Grand Alliance. Although largely concentrated in Europe, fighting spread to colonial poss ...

: Siege of Namur, Steenkerque 1692, Neerwinden 1693 *

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict fought between 1701 and 1714. The immediate cause was the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700, which led to a struggle for control of the Spanish E ...

: Spire 1703, Ramillies 1706, Lorch 1707, Malplaquet 1709 *

War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession was a European conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italian Peninsula, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Related conflicts include King Ge ...

: Rocoux 1746, Lauffeld 1747 *

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...

: Hastenbeck 1757 *French Army of the North: Valmy 1792, Neerwinden 1793 and Wattignies 1793 * Ardennes and Sambre-et-Meuse Armies 1794–95 * Army of Italy:

Mondovì Mondovì (; , ) is a town and ''comune'' (township) in Piedmont, northern Italy, about from Turin. The area around it is known as the Monregalese. The town, located on the Monte Regale hill, is divided into several '' rioni'' (ancient quart ...

, Castiglione, Bassano 1796, Cremona 1799, Marengo 1800 As part of Napoleon's ''

Grande Armée The (; ) was the primary field army of the French Imperial Army (1804–1815), French Imperial Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Commanded by Napoleon, from 1804 to 1808 it won a series of military victories that allowed the First French Empi ...

'' it fought at

Wertingen Wertingen () is a town in the district of Dillingen in Bavaria, Germany. It is located along the river Zusam in 13 km east of Dillingen, and 28 km northwest of Augsburg Augsburg ( , ; ; ) is a city in the Bavaria, Bavarian part o ...

, Austerlitz in 1805, Nasielsk in 1806, Eylau, and the

Battle of Friedland The Battle of Friedland (14 June 1807) was a major engagement of the Napoleonic Wars between the armies of the French Empire commanded by Napoleon I and the armies of the Russian Empire led by General Levin August von Bennigsen. Napoleon and t ...

in 1807. *Spain: Almonacid, 1809, Ocana 1809,

Battle of Vitoria At the Battle of Vitoria (21 June 1813), a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British, Kingdom of Portugal, Portuguese and Spanish Empire, Spanish army under the Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Marquess of Wellington bro ...

War of the Sixth Coalition In the War of the Sixth Coalition () (December 1812 – May 1814), sometimes known in Germany as the Wars of Liberation (), a coalition of Austrian Empire, Austria, Kingdom of Prussia, Prussia, Russian Empire, Russia, History of Spain (1808– ...

Battle of Craonne The Battle of Craonne (7 March 1814) was a battle between an Imperial French army under Emperor Napoleon I opposing a combined army of Imperial Russians and Prussians led by Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The War ...

Battle of La Fère-Champenoise A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

1814 In 1815, during the Waterloo campaign of the

Hundred Days The Hundred Days ( ), also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition (), marked the period between Napoleon's return from eleven months of exile on the island of Elba to Paris on20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII o ...

, the regiment was at the

Battle of Ligny The Battle of Ligny, in which French troops of the under the command of Napoleon I defeated part of a Prussian army under Field Marshal Blücher, was fought on 16 June 1815 near Ligny in what is now Belgium. The result was a tactical victor ...

and the

Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (then in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium), marking the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The French Imperial Army (1804–1815), Frenc ...

. *Spain 1823 *Belgium 1831 *

Army of the Rhine (France) An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by p ...

Spicheren Spicheren (; ) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is located on the German border, lying next to the city of Saarbrücken. It was also where the first shots of the Franco-Prussian war were fired duri ...

, Borny, Rezonville, Noiseville, Colombey 1870.

World War I

On July 31, 1914, the regiment was assigned to the Sordet cavalry corps, brigaded with the 21st Dragoons in General Lastour's 5th Division. In August, it participated in the raid on Belgium which led to the siege of Liège, then Neufchâteau,

Fleurus Fleurus (; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It has been the site of four major battles. The municipality consists of the following districts: Brye, Heppignies, Fleurus, Lambusart, Saint-Am ...

and Orbais, and then was back in France in

Maubeuge Maubeuge (; historical or ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. It is situated on both banks of the Sambre (here canalized), east of Valenciennes and ab ...

on August 21. From August 23 to September 4, the regiment covered the retreat of the French Army after the defeat at the

Battle of Charleroi The Battle of Charleroi () or the Battle of the Sambre, was fought on 21 August 1914, by the French Fifth Army and the German 2nd and 3rd armies, during the Battle of the Frontiers. The French were planning an attack across the Sambre River, when ...

. The regiment was near

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

on September 5. In the

First Battle of the Marne The First Battle of the Marne or known in France as the Miracle on the Marne () was a battle of the First World War fought from the 5th to the 12th September 1914. The German army invaded France with a plan for winning the war in 40 days by oc ...

, from September 5 to 14, the 5th Dragoons were engaged in Betz,

Nanteuil Nanteuil () is a commune of the Deux-Sèvres department in western France. See also * Communes of the Deux-Sèvres department The following is a list of the 252 communes of the Deux-Sèvres department of France. The communes cooperate in ...

, Margny, Rosière and

Senlis Senlis () is a commune in the northern French department of Oise, Hauts-de-France. The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived in Senlis, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. It is known for its Gothic cathedral and other ...

. Following these successes, the regiment received the honour of adding "L'Ourcq 1914" on its banner. In the "

Race to the Sea The Race to the Sea (; , ) took place from 17 September to 19 October 1914 during the First World War, after the Battle of the Frontiers () and the German Empire, German advance into France. The invasion had been stopped at the First Battle of ...

" from September 14, the 5th Dragoons crossed the

Somme __NOTOC__ Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places *Somme (department), a department of France * Somme, Queensland, Australia * Canal de la Somme, a canal in France *Somme (river), a river in France Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Somme'' (book), ...

at Péronne, fighting in the First Battle of Arras,

Picardy Picardy (; Picard language, Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former regions of France, administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained it ...

, in

Lens A lens is a transmissive optical device that focuses or disperses a light beam by means of refraction. A simple lens consists of a single piece of transparent material, while a compound lens consists of several simple lenses (''elements'') ...

on October 4, an attack by foot in Riez-Bailleul where it pushed the enemy back several kilometres. On November 11, it arrived near

Ypres Ypres ( ; ; ; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though the Dutch name is the official one, the city's French name is most commonly used in English. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres/Ieper ...

, where it dug in the trenches. In February 1915, the regiment embarked for

Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...

, then in March for the

Vosges The Vosges ( , ; ; Franconian and ) is a range of medium mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single geomorphological unit and ...

, where it has the honour of inscribing "Vosges 1915" on its banner. In May, the 5th Dragoon is in

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

, in June in

Artois Artois ( , ; ; Picard: ''Artoé;'' English adjective: ''Artesian'') is a region of northern France. Its territory covers an area of about 4,000 km2 and it has a population of about one million. Its principal cities include Arras (Dutch: ...

where it goes back to serving in the trenches. 1916: The regiment still serves in the trenches, in groups of 200 men. Colonel Massiat replace Colonel Dauve at the commandment of the regiment. 1917: On March 19, the 5th Dragoon reaches

Noyon Noyon (; ; , Noviomagus of the Viromandui, Veromandui, then ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department, Northern France. Geography Noyon lies on the river Oise (river), Oise, about northeast of Paris. The ...

, where it is employed in discovery missions in the surroundings of Chauny-Tergnier and then, by foot, goes back in the trenches in the Coucy sector. On August 15, Lieutenant-Colonel Bucant succeeds to Colonel Massiat. 1918: Until the end of May, the regiment remains inactive, stationed for rest. On March 18, a new change in the corps commandment brings Lieutement-Colonel Letexerant at the head of the 5th Dragoon. On May 28, the regiment brings itself towards

Meaux Meaux () is a Communes of France, commune on the river Marne (river), Marne in the Seine-et-Marne Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region in the Functional area (France), metropolitan area of Paris, Franc ...

, after a long horse march. The 5th Dragoon sets foot in Mareuil and occupies Montigny. On June 2, it attacks the enemy by foot in Marizy and Passy-en-Valois. This surprise attack, without artillery preparation, stops the progression of German troops. In July, in Villesaint, the Germans, who had taken over Dermans and Château-Tierry and has crossed the Marne are driven back, after several counter-attacks, by-foot members of the 5th Dragoon. On July 17, the regiment participates in the recapture of Œuilly and to the enemy's rejection on the Marne. The Second Battle of the Marne is won and the banner now bears the name of that victory: "La Marne 1918". The Germans are retreating and the 5th Dragoon is informed of the victory a few kilometres before Nancy on November 11, 1918. The 5th Dragoon Regiment participated in the final offensive, entering the Palatinate on December 6 and was stationed in

Pirmasens Pirmasens (; (also ''Bermesens'' or ''Bärmasens'')) is an independent town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, near the border with France. It was famous for the manufacture of shoes. The surrounding rural district was called ''Landkreis Pirmasens ...

from December to January 1919, then in

Landau Landau (), officially Landau in der Pfalz (, ), is an autonomous (''kreisfrei'') town surrounded by the Südliche Weinstraße ("Southern Wine Route") district of southern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is a university town (since 1990), a long ...

in February, then Nierstein Oppenhiem on the Rhine in July 1919. In September, the regiment settles in

Worms The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive catalogue and list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scien ...

, then

Düsseldorf Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants, seventh-largest city ...

. It was not until 1925 that the 5th Dragoon returned to France, first in

Auxonne Auxonne ( or ) is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. Auxonne is one of the sites of the defensive structures of Vauban, clearly seen from the train bridge as it enters the train s ...

and then in

Gray Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

, where it was disbanded on October 28, 1928. In November 1929 the regimental banner was entrusted to the 5^e Bataillon de dragons portés, a unit that had just been created, on March 9, 1929, replacing the 6^e groupe de Chasseurs Cyclistes.

World War II

In 1939 the ''5^e bataillon de dragons portés'' was transformed into the "5th Dragoon Regiment". As part of the 1st Cavalry Division it embarked for

Aisne Aisne ( , ; ; ) is a French departments of France, department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It is named after the river Aisne (river), Aisne. In 2020, it had a population of 529,374. Geography The department borders No ...

on August 27. Following a reorganization in 1940 it passed in the 11th B.L.M. of the

Arras Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...

General in February. On May 10, it is in

Revin Revin () is a commune in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region in northern France. Revin is situated on the banks of the Meuse. The Revin Pumped Storage Power Plant is near Revin. Population Personalities Yazid Mansouri, the Alg ...

, crossed over the Meuse in

Dinan Dinan (; ) is a walled Brittany, Breton town and a commune in France, commune in the Côtes-d'Armor Departments of France, department in northwestern France. On 1 January 2018, the former commune of Léhon was merged into Dinan. Geography Inst ...

and fought in Belgium until May 15, where it participated in the beautiful feat of arms of Morville which allowed the banner to bear the inscription "Meuse 1940". Significantly diminished, the remaining elements pulled back and took position from

Hirson Hirson (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography Location Hirson is adjacent to Belgium. It is located in the northeastern Departments of France, ...

, after which they regrouped in Le Nouvion on May 16. On May 17, they settle as support in Oisy. On May 18, what remained of the regiment, 10 officers and 130 brigadiers and dragoons carrying about 5 cartridges each, withdraw in Bohain. While moving, they were intercepted by German tanks. After this last combat with no ammunition left, they remaining elements were taken prisoner. The survivors and the regimental batch withdraw in

la Souterraine La Souterraine (; Limousin dialect, Limousin: ''La Sotarrana'') is a Communes of France, commune in the west-central French Departments of France, department of Creuse. Geography La Souterraine is an area of farming and light industry, comprisi ...

, where the regiment is disbanded. The banner was taken from the Germans and hidden in the castle of Meyrieu, where it remained until the Libération. Following the model of the armistice army, the regiment was reformed in

Mâcon Mâcon (), historically Anglicization, anglicised as Mascon, is a city in east-central France. It is the Prefectures of France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Saône-et-Loire in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Mâcon is home t ...

in August 1940. On November 8, 1942, following the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa, the regiment was sent to

Toulon Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department. The Commune of Toulon h ...

to participate in coastal defence, which lasted 10 days. Under

Case Anton Case Anton () was the military occupation of Vichy France carried out by Germany and Italy in November 1942. It marked the end of the Vichy regime as a nominally independent state and the disbanding of its army (the severely-limited '' Armisti ...

, the Germans occupied Vichy France and the regiment was disarmed at Macon on September 27.

The Resistance

Most of the demobilized dragoons fought on in clandestinity. Many of them, arrested by the

Gestapo The (, ), Syllabic abbreviation, abbreviated Gestapo (), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of F ...

were tortured, massacred or died in deportation. Their sacrifice allows for the inscription "Résistance Bourgogne 1944" on the regimental banner. The 5th in resistance participated in the liberation of Mâcon,

Chalon-sur-Saône Chalon-sur-Saône (, literally ''Chalon on Saône'') is a city in the Saône-et-Loire Departments of France, department in the Regions of France, region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefectu ...

and

Autun Autun () is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Saône-et-Loire Departments of France, department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region of central-eastern France. It was founded during the Principate era of the e ...

. In September 1944, reconstituted in G.R.D., it held the sector of the Beaufortin in the

Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...

and fought in the

Ubaye The Ubaye (; ) is a river of southeastern France. It is long and flows through the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. Its drainage basin is .

valley. On April 22 and 23, 1944, it took the La Roche-la-Croix and Saint-Ours forts and participated in the capture of the

Col de Larche The Maddalena Pass (Italian: ''Colle della Maddalena'' French: ''Col de Larche'', historically ''Col de l'Argentière'') (elevation 1996 m.) is a high mountain pass between the Cottian Alps and the Maritime Alps, located on the border between Ita ...

. On Easter Monday of 1945 in

Chambéry Chambéry (, , ; Franco-Provençal, Arpitan: ''Chambèri'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Savoie Departments of France, department in the southeastern ...

General de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

gave the regiment its banner back. The 5th Dragoon was reformed with two squadrons of Hotchkiss tanks and two reconnaissance squadrons on Bren Carriers.

Austria

*1945: Early September, the regiment leaves

for the surroundings of l'Arbois to receive complementary material. On September 8, 1945, it leaves its quarters for Austria. On November 8, it is reviewed by General Betouard in

Dornbirn Dornbirn () is a city in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is the administrative centre for the district of Dornbirn, which also includes the town of Hohenems, and the market town Lustenau. Dornbirn is the largest city in Vorarlb ...

then moves towards West

Tyrol Tyrol ( ; historically the Tyrole; ; ) is a historical region in the Alps of Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary, f ...

on November 10. The squadrons settle in Lemoos,

Ehrwald Ehrwald is a municipality in the district of Reutte in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Geography Ehrwald lies at the southern base of the Zugspitze (2950 meters above sea level), Germany's highest mountain, but which is shared with Austria. The tow ...

, Muhl, the headquarters and the EHR in

Reutte Reutte (; Swabian: ) is a town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative center of the Reutte district (''Districts of Austria''). Reutte is located on the Lech, and has a population of 6,704 (as of 2018). Neighbouring municipal ...

From French North Africa to today

*1955: After five years of living in Austria, the 5th Dragoons goes back to France and settles in

Périgueux Périgueux (, ; or ) is a commune in the Dordogne department, in the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. Périgueux is the prefecture of Dordogne, and the capital city of Périgord. It is also the seat of ...

where it is transformed into a medium

Sherman Sherman most commonly refers to: *Sherman (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname ** William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–1891), American Civil War General *M4 Sherman, a World War II American tank S ...

tank regiment. On February 1, the regiment is transformed into an Instruction Center for the Armored Arm and Cavalry branch for units engaged in French North Africa. It is disbanded in 1964. On September 5, 1955, an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

-type battalion is created with officers of the 5th Dragoons. This unit, assembled at the Ruchart Camp, takes the name of "Dragoon Battalion 2/342". It lands in

Casablanca Casablanca (, ) is the largest city in Morocco and the country's economic and business centre. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of the Chaouia (Morocco), Chaouia plain in the central-western part of Morocco, the city has a populatio ...

on October 10 and is stationed east of

Rabat Rabat (, also , ; ) is the Capital (political), capital city of Morocco and the List of cities in Morocco, country's seventh-largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. ...

. *1956: In January, the 2/342 moves to Touissit, south of

Oujda Oujda (, ) is a major city in northeast Morocco near the Algeria–Morocco border, border with Algeria. Oujda is the capital city of the Oriental (Morocco), Oriental region of northeastern Morocco and has a population of 506,224 people (2024 censu ...

to ensure the protection of the Algeria-Morocco border between

and

Figuig Figuig or Figig is an oasis town in eastern Morocco near the Atlas Mountains, on the border with Algeria. The town is built around an oasis of date palms, surrounded by rugged, mountainous wilderness. Modernization has somewhat raised the stan ...

. On March 1, it becomes the 21st Dragoon Regiment. *1964–1978: On June 1, 1964, the 7th Chasseur Regiment of Africa in

Friedrichshafen Friedrichshafen ( or ; Low Alemannic: ''Hafe'' or ''Fridrichshafe'') is a city on the northern shoreline of Lake Constance (the ''Bodensee'') in Southern Germany, near the borders of both Switzerland and Austria. It is the district capital (''K ...

takes the name of 5th Dragoon Regiment. It is equipped with

AMX-13 The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1952 to 1987. It served with the French Army, as the Char 13t-75 Modèle 51, and was exported to more than 26 other nations. Named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes, and featuring a tough and re ...

and AMX SS-11 tanks. In 1968, it is garrisoned in

Tübingen Tübingen (; ) is a traditional college town, university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer (Neckar), Ammer rivers. about one in ...

until it is disbanded on August 31, 1978. *1978–2003: On September 1, 1978, the 5th Dragoon Regiment is reborn in

Valdahon Valdahon () is a commune in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. Population Climate See also * Communes of the Doubs department The following is a list of the 563 communes of the Doubs depart ...

as an

AMX-30 The AMX-30 is a French main battle tank designed by Ateliers de construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX, then Nexter, GIAT) and first delivered to the French Army in August 1966. The first five tanks were issued to the 501st ''Régiment de Chars ...

B combat tank regiment, replacing the disbanded 30th Dragoons. *In 1991, it is part of the 7th Regional Military Division and comprises a command and service squadron (ECS), 3 tank squadrons with AMX-17, an instruction squadron and the lighting squadron of the armored division. *In 1992, it receives more

B and gets another tank squadron. In July 1994, the land army reorganization put the regiment into the 27th Mountain Infantry Division. It became the armored regiment of the division with its headquarters in

Grenoble Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...

. *The 5th Dragoon Regiment remains operational until the end. Its squadrons are engaged in UN peace missions in

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

and

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

as well as in missions overseas, including

Guadeloupe Guadeloupe is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre Island, Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galant ...

Structure

*Combat Squadrons ** Escadron de reconnaissance et d'intervention - Armored recon squadron ** 1er Escadron blindé - 1st Armored squadron ** 2e Escadron blindé - 2nd Armored squadron ** 3e Escadron blindé - 3rd Armored squadron ** 1ère Compagnie d'infanterie - 1st Support infantry company ** 2e Compagnie d'infanterie - 2nd Support infantry company *Support Squadrons ** Escadron de commandement et de logistique - Command and logistics squadron ** Compagnie d'appui mixte (génie et artillerie) - Mixed engineer and artillery company ** Escadron d'intervention de réserve - Reserve squadron

Filiation

Double heritage: * 1656: Foreign Dragoons of the King (''Dragons étrangers du Roi'') * 1668: Colonel-General Regiment (''Régiment Colonel-Général''), formed by the duplication of the Foreign Dragoons of the King * 1791: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1814: Dragoon Regiment of the Dauphin (n°3) * 1815: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1816: Dragoon Regiment of the Hérault (n°5) * 1825: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1928: Disbanded * 1929: Recreated following the traditions of the 6th group of cyclist chasseurs ( 6e groupe de chasseurs cyclistes (6th DC) and of the 5th dragoons under the name of 5th carrier dragoons battalion * 1939: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1942: Disbanded * 1944: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1946: Disbanded * 1948: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1951: Disbanded * 1953: 5th Dragoon Regiment * 1964: Disbanded and immediately recreated with elements from the 7th Chasseurs Regiment of Africa (7^e Régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique (7^e RCA ) *2003: Disbanded on June 30, 2003.

Garrisons

*1871–1873: Camp de Graves, Abbeville, Amiens *1873–1885: Saint Omer *1885–1914: Compiègne *1919–1925: Worms puis Düsseldorf *1925–1928: Auxonne puis Gray *1948–1951: Schwaz et Hall (Austria) *1953–1964: Périgueux *1964–1968:

*1968–1978:

*1978–2003: Le Valdahon

Corps chiefs

Colonel Generals Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

(from 1668) * 1668:

Antoine Nompar de Caumont, Duke of Lauzun Antonin Nompar de Caumont, 1st Duke of Lauzun (, 163219 November 1723) was a French courtier and soldier. He was the only love interest of the "greatest heiress in Europe", Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, cousin of Louis X ...

* 1669: Nicolas d'Argouges, Marquis of Rannes * 1678:

Louis François, duc de Boufflers Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also * ...

* 1692:

René de Froulay de Tessé René (''born again'' or ''reborn'' in French) is a common first name in French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and German-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin name Renatus. René is the masculine form of the name (Renée being the feminine ...

* 1703:

Antoine V de Gramont Antoine de Gramont, 4th Duke of Gramont (January 1672 – 16 September 1725), Duke of Guiche, was a Marshal of France. Early life French military figure and member of the Gramont family, House of Gramont, he was the oldest child of Antoine Charle ...

, Duke of Guiche * 1704:

François de Franquetot de Coigny François de Franquetot de Coigny (16 March 1670 – 18 December 1759) was a Marshal of France, Count, and from 1747, the Duke of Coigny. Biography He was born in Coigny château near Coutances, Normandy, into an old French noble family as son o ...

* 1734: Jean-Antoine-François de Franquetot, Count of Coigny * 1748: François de Franquetot, Duke of Coigny (for the second time, in replacement of his brother, killed in a duel) * 1754: Marie-Charles-Louis d'Albert de Luynes, Duke of Chevreuse * 1771: François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny, Duke of Coigny * 1783: Louis-Joseph-Charles-Amable d'Albert,

Duke of Luynes The Duke of Luynes ( ) is a territorial name belonging to the noble France, French house d'Albert. Luynes, Indre-et-Loire, Luynes is, today, a commune in France, commune of the Indre-et-Loire ''département in France, département'' in France. The ...

Mestres de camp, commandants and colonels

* 1671: Gabriel de Cassagnet, Marquis of Tilladet * 1681: Balthazar Phelypeaux, Count of Saint Florentin * 1692: N. de Saint Mars * 1694: N. Moret de Bournonville * 1702: Charles Legendre de Berville * 1719: N. de Préval * 1727: Jean Toussaint de La Pierre, Marquis of Frémeur * 1744: Gédéon Marie Léopold, Marquis of Goyon * 1748: Charles Marie Léopold, Count of Dunois * 1758: Marie Jean Louis Riquet, Chevalier of Caraman * 1769: Louis-Joseph-Charles-Amable d'Albert, Duke of Luynes * 1771: Jean-Philippe de Franquetot, Chevalier of Coigny * 1780: Jean Jacob, Baron of Coëhorn * 1784: Antoine Louis de La Vieuville, Marquis of Wignacourt * 1786: Hugues Hyacinthe-Timoléon, Duke of Cossé * 1788: Pierre Charles, Count of Seuil * 1791: Joachim Charton * 1792:

Auguste Marie Henri Picot de Dampierre Auguste Marie Henri Picot de Dampierre (; 19 August 1756 – 9 May 1793), styled the Marquis de Dampierre and usually known as Dampierre , was a French general during the time of the French Revolution. He served in many of the early battles of t ...

* 1792:

Marc Antoine de Beaumont Marc-Antoine de Beaumont (; 23 September 1763 – 4 February 1830) a French nobleman, became a page to the king and joined the army of the Old Regime. He stayed in the army during the French Revolution and narrowly escaped being execute ...

* 1793: Pierre Joseph Le Clerc, ''dit'' Verdet * 1796:

Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud Édouard Jean-Baptiste Milhaud (; 10 July 1766 – 10 December 1833) was a French politician and general. He distinguished himself throughout the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and is considered one of the best generals of cavalry of ...

* 1800:

Louis Bonaparte Louis Bonaparte (born Luigi Buonaparte; 2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846) was a younger brother of Napoleon, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. He was a monarch in his own right from 1806 to 1810, ruling over the Kingdom of Holland (a French c ...

* 1803: Ythier Sylvain Privé * 1804: Jacques Nicolas, Baron Lacour * 1808: Louis Ernest Joseph, Count of Sparre * 1812: Jean-Baptiste Louis Morin * 1815: Jean-Baptiste Antoine Canavas de Saint-Amand * 1815: Borie de Vintimille * 1816: de Calvières * 1818: de Hanache * 1830: de Lafitte * 1833: Koenig * 1843: de Solliers

Corps chiefs

*1900: Villiers *1903: Granier de Cassagnac *1906: Gallet *1907: Boudenat *1910: de Lallemand du Marais *1914: Dauve *1916: Maissiat *1917: Bucant *1918: Letixerant *1920: Morgon *1921: Herbillon *1923: Villemont *1925: Wallace *1929: de Causans *1934: de Saint-Laumer *1938: Drand de Villers *1940: Chavannes de Dalmassy *1940: Brousset *1940: Watteau *1944: de La Ferté Senectère *1945: de Legue de Keplean *1946: de Coulanges *1948: d'Origny *1951: Dewatre *1952: Brute de Remur *1954: Jouslin de Noray *1957: Lavigne *1959: de Chasteignier *1961: Ceroni *1964: Duplay *1966: Gilliot *1968: Martin *1970: Ract-Madoux *1972: de la Follye de Joux *1974: Pichot *1975: Chaix *1977: Morin *1978: Allard *1979: Charpy *1981: Toujouse *1983: d'Hérouville *1985: Millier *1987: Ledeuil *1989: Saulais *1991: Boyer *1993: Leduc *1995: de Quatrebarbes *1997: de La Bretoigne *1999–2001: Colonel MARTIAL *2001–2003: Colonel ESPARBES

Banner

''It bears, sewed in golden letters in its layers, the following inscriptions:''Decision n°12350/SGA/DPMA/SHD/DAT of September 14, 2007, relative to the inscription of battle names of the flags and banners of the land army troop corps, of the army health service and of the army fuel services, Bulletin officiel des armées, n°27, November 9, 2007 * Valmy 1792 * Wattignies 1793 * Arcole 1796 * Austerlitz 1805 * Eylau 1807 * L'Ourcq 1914 * Vosges 1915 (traditions of the 6th groupe de chasseurs cyclistes) * La Marne 1918 * La Meuse 1940 * Bourgogne Resistance 1944

Decorations

''Its tie is decorated'': *With the

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

1914–1918, with 3 palms and 2 silver stars (distinctions of the 6 chasseurs cyclistes). * With the

1939–1945, with 1 palm. * Fourragère, with the colours of the

ribbon, 1914–1918.

Badges

Heraldry

The first badge was designed in 1929 by Captain Lemaire. It represented an "azure star kept in a giant ivory number 5- the badge being entirely enamelled and unframed". The last badge to be used was created in 1965. It features the model helmet from 1874, with which the Dragoons went to the front in 1914. The mane was exaggeratedly widened in order to accommodate the crowned monogram of king

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

, framing the number 5. The inscription on the edging reminds us that the regiment was created in 1668 to be attached to the responsibility of the

Colonel General Colonel general is a military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically General officer#Old European system, general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, ...

of the

Dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat wi ...

s created the same year for the benefit of the famous Duke of Lauzun. Image:Drag5e.gif, 1929 Image:1936.png, 1936 Image:1945.gif, 1945 Image:9 48.gif, 1948 Image:5 RC LIBAN.jpg, Liban Image:Drag5f.png, 1965

References

{{Reflist Dragoon regiments of France Regiments of France in World War I Cavalry regiments of France in World War II Military units and formations established in 1656 Military units and formations disestablished in 2003 1656 establishments in France