27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (France)
The 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (French: 27e Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne, 27e BIM) is a mountain infantry formation of the French Army. It is heir to the traditions of the 27th Alpine Division FFI, created in September 1944, renamed the 27th Alpine Infantry Division in December 1944, the 27th Alpine Brigade in December 1962, the 27th Alpine Division in August 1976, and then the 27th division d'infanterie de montagne (27th DIM) in July 1994. With the end of conscription, all of the French Army's divisions were downsized and the 27th became a brigade in 1999.
27th Mountain Infantry Brigade | |
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27e Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne | |
Badge of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade | |
Active | 1888–present |
Country | France |
Branch | French Army |
Type | Mountain infantry |
Size | ~ 6,400 (including Legionnaires) |
Part of | 1st Division |
Garrison/HQ | Varces, France |
History
After the liberation of the Combe de Savoie and the Grésivaudan, Colonel Jean Vallette d'Osia became the commander of the 1st Alpine Division of the French Forces of the Interior (1ere Division alpine FFI) in September 1944, which unified the mountain units created in the French Resistance in the northern Alps. The unit, the first FFI division, was formed at the suggestion of Colonel Marcel Descour, the FFI commander in Lyon, and approved by General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. Vallette d'Osia located his headquarters in Challes-les-Eaux. Charles de Gaulle reformed the 27th Alpine Infantry Division on 17 November 1944 under the command of General Molle. The division, which became operational in January 1945, included the 5th Alpine Demi-Brigade (DBA) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Le Ray and the 7th Alpine Demi-Brigade under the command of Colonel De Galbert. Its 159th Infantry Regiment was sent to defend Strasbourg in the same month and did not return to the Alps until March. While the 27th was reorganized, the Alpine valleys were held by the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division (4e DMM), which rejoined the 1st Army on 17 November. The 4e DMM left behind its artillery, which was used to reform the 27th's 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (93e RAM).[1]
Organisation 2016
The 27th BIM comprises the:
- 27e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions de Montagne (27e CCTM) – Command and Signals Company in Varces
- 4e Régiment de Chasseurs (4e RCh) – Wheeled Armoured Regiment in Gap with 36 ERC 90, 16 VBL and 6 Gazelle helicopters
- 7e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (7e BCA) – Mountain Infantry Battalion in Varces with VAB and VHM
- 13e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (11e BCA) – Mountain Infantry Battalion in Saint-Alban-Leysse with VAB and VHM
- 27e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (27e BCA) – Mountain Infantry Battalion in Annecy with VAB and VHM
- 93e Régiment d'Artillerie de Montagne (93e RAM) – Mountain Artillery Regiment in Varces with CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, RTF1 mortars and Mistral Surface-to-air missiles
- 2e Régiment Etranger de Génie (2e REG) in Saint-Christol
External links
- (in French) Official page
References
Citations
- Léon 1997, p. 24.
Bibliography
- Léon, Marie-Hélène (1997). Les Chasseurs Alpins – Mythe et réalité des troupes de Montagne [The Alpine Hunters: Myths and Realities of the mountain troops] (in French). Paris: L'Harmattan. ISBN 2738447376.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)