Régiments de marche de volontaires étrangers, also known as RMVE or Marching Regiments of Foreign Volunteers were temporary formations of the French Foreign Legion organized from Foreign volunteers during World War II . These regiments were formed on 16 September 1939:
On September 16, 1939, the war minister decided to form special corps of foreign volunteers part of the Foreign Legion. They were part of the Marching Regiments of Foreign Volunteers.[1]
These regiments were not assigned Legion "cadres" from Sidi bel-Abbès to the exception of a couple of Legion officers, however crests carried the Legion Colors inverted and they celebrated Camerone day. These legion regiments had large numbers of Spanish Republicans, essentially Spaniards from the Retirada (French: Retirada),[2], foreign Jewish volunteers and other foreigners from Nazi Germany, Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia. These men were considered volunteers for the duration and many who escaped the fall of France were allowed to join their respective national armies before the Liberation.
They achieved a mixed success, but like many units during the Fall of France were overwhelmed by the German blitzkrieg. Their regimental honors live on in the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2e REI.
Sources
- Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion. New York: Harper Collins, 1991.
ISBN 0-06-092308-3
Bibliographies:
- Le livre d’or de la Légion étrangère (1831-1955), Jean Brunon et Georges Manue, éditions Charles Lavauzelle et Cie, 1958.
- Livre d'or du 22e RMVE : 1939-1945 par amicale des anciens du 22e Régiment de Marche de Volontaires étrangers.
- Naissance, vie et disparition du 21e RMVE en 1939-1940. Édité en 1961. In 8 de 75 pages. Képi blanc
References
- ↑ Porch, Douglas. The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force. p. 445.
- ↑ Evelyn Mesquida, La Nueve, 24 août 1944. Ces républicains espagnols qui ont libéré Paris, Paris, Le Cherche-Midi, 2011, collection « Documents ».
ISBN 978-2-7491-2046-1, p. 60
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Current units | |
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Defunct units | Administrative and training | |
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Parachute | |
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Infantry & marching regiments | |
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Saharan Legion units | |
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Material units | 15 Foreign Legion units |
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Pionniers & engineers |
- 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment 6e REG
- 61st Mixed Engineer Legion Battalion 61e BMGL
- 15th Engineer Maintenance Company (15e CEG)
- 16th Engineer Maintenance Company type I (16e CEG -I)
- 16th Engineer Maintenance Company type II (16e CEG -II)
- 1st Legion Engineer Instruction and Service Company (1re CIGSL)
- 2nd Company of the 74th Engineer Battalion (2/74eBG)
- 21st Company of the 61st Engineer Battalion type I (21/61eBG - I)
- 21st Company of the 61st Engineer Battalion type II (21/61eBG - II)
- 21st Company of the 71st Engineer Battalion type I (21/71eBG - I)
- 21st Company of the 71st Engineer Battalion type II (21/71eBG - II)
- 21st Company of the 73rd Engineer Battalion (21/73eBG)
- 22nd Legion Engineer Battalion (22e BGL)
- 26th Engineer Battalion (26e BG)
- Legion Engineer Company n° 76/3 (3/76e BG)
- 38th Bennes Truck Company type I (38eCCB)
- 39th River Boat Engineer Company (39e CEFG)
- 40th Bennes Truck Company type I (40e CCB-I)
- 40th Bennes Truck Company type II (40e CCB-II)
- Folding Boat Section of the 40th Bennes Truck Company (SBP 40eCCB)
- 4th Armored Boat Company of the 71st Engineer Battalion (4e CBB/ 71e BG)
- 76th Legion Engineer Battalion (76e BGL)
- Mechanic Platoon Equipment of the Far East (PEM/EO)
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Cavalry | |
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Pionniers & various |
- 12th Pionniers Battalion 12e BP
- Foreign Legion Battalion of Madagascar BLEM
- 3rd Marching Battalion of the Foreign Legion 3e BMLE
- Mobile Group N°4 MG4
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Transport (armored trains & heavy weight) | |
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Disciplinary companies | |
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Brigades | |
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