2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)

The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment () is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is one of two mechanized infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
Since the regiment's arrival from Bonifacio in 1983, it has been stationed at Quartier Colonel de Chabrières; named in honor of Colonel de Chabrières who was shot in the chest while leading a charge of the regiment. Quartier Colonel Chabrières is situated in Nimes, a historical Roman city, in the south of France.
An armored infantry regiment, equipment includes more than 135 Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) and Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL), to provide armoured protection of personnel during combat. The regiment also has the Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie (VBCI). The Regiment has responsibility for field testing new equipment for the French Army as a whole.
The regiment benefits from a long tradition of conflicts and interventions. Recent engagements, from the Balkans to Afghanistan while passing by the Ivory Coast and the Central African Republic added additional experiences for the regiment.
History.
Under the first restoration, the Bourbons only retained the Swiss, in souvenir to their loyal service rendered to France during four centuries, and with them also, four foreign regiments out of which one colonial, formed of Spanish and Portuguese. The eight reorganized foreign regiments by Napoleon at the hundred days formed in 1815 the Royal Foreign Legion (), which became the Hohenlohe Legion (), then in 1821 the Hohenlohe Regiment. Licensed in 1830, the latter contributed to form the Twenty First Light, then the French Foreign Legion (). The Swiss regiments of the restoration disappeared in 1830, nevertheless, the Swiss joined the French Army again from 1855 to 1859 under the successive denomination of 2nd Foreign Legion () and 1st Foreign Regiment ().
Foreign Legion since 1831.
On March 10, 1831; the Foreign Legion was created.
On April 1, 1841, the Legion was split in two formations. The 2nd Regiment was organized at Bône, on April 13, 1841, provisionary at two battalions of the 1st Foreign Regiment; the 4th battalion was sent to Algiers and the 5th battalion was garrisoned at Bône. The regiment consisted, just like the other Line infantry regiments of the époque, a formation of 3,000 men. The 3rd battalion was formed in the following month of May.
The regiment was quartered at Constantine in Algeria, with garrisons held at Bône, Bougie, and Djidjelli. Colonel Senilhes was the first regimental commander. The first regimental flag was received in 1848 by colonel Jean-Luc Carbuccia.
In 1854, Napoleon III decided to create a 2nd Legion, composed uniquely of Swiss. However, with a reduced form of recruitment, the two units, which were engaged in Crimea, were dismissed at the end of the conflict and regrouped to form the 2nd Foreign Regiment, which re-departed to Algeria in 1856.
On January 1, 1862, the two foreign regiments merged under the title of the Foreign Regiment.
As part of a reorganisation of the Armee d'Afrique, the regiment was retitled the Foreign Legion (« Légion étrangère ») on March 13, 1875. It numbered 3018 men. On January 1, 1885, the 2nd Foreign Regiment was reformed. The 1st and 2nd battalion remained in Algeria. The 3rd battalion was assigned to Tonkin and the 4th battalion was sent to Formosa in 1884, then returned to Tonkin.
Sudan Campaign and Dahomey Expedition.
On August 29, 1907 a "regiment de marche" was created from the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2 RE) in Morocco.
Pacification of Algeria.
From 1841 to 1907 legionnaires from the 2nd Regiment were deployed in Algeria.
In the early twentieth century, France faced numerous incidents, attacks and looting by uncontrolled armed groups, in the newly occupied areas in the south of Oran (Algeria). Under the command of General Lyautey, the French Army's mission was to protect these areas newly seized in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.
On 17 August 1903, the first battle of the South-Oranese campaign took place in Taghit, where Foreign legionnaires were assailed by a contingent of more than 1,000 well-equipped Berbers. For 3 days, the legionnaires repelled repeated attacks of an enemy more than 10 times higher in number, and inflicted huge losses on the attackers, forcing them finally into a hasty retreat.
A few months after the Battle of Taghit, 148 legionnaires of the 22nd mounted company, from the 2ème REI, commanded by Captain Vauchez and Lieutenant Selchauhansen, 20 spahis and two Mokhaznis were escorting a supply convoy, when they were ambushed at 9:30 am on 2 September by 3,000 Moroccans marauders. The half-company had halted to eat, no sentries had been posted and only a few cavalry pickets had been placed.
The first volleys wounded or killed half of the detachment. Both officers and most of the non-commissioned officers were killed in the first stage of the fight. At 10:30 am, Quartermaster Sergeant (sergent-fourrier) Tisserand, who commanded the survivors, sent two spahi cavalrymen to Taghit for reinforcements. They immediately left.
About forty survivors of the French force gathered on a nearby hill and under a scorching sun, on hot sand and without water, fought off the enemy for more than eight hours. Near the end of the battle, Tisserand, wounded, gave over command to Corporal Detz; the highest-ranked man still able. At 5 pm, they were relieved by Captain de Sulbielle, who rode from Taghit with his Spahis. At the sight of the approaching French cavalry, the Moroccans retreated in small groups.
In November 1908; the Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (R.M.2èmeR.E) was dissolved . 
On August 7, 1914, following the outbreak of World War I; the 1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (1er R.M.2èmeR.E) remained in Morocco with the formed combat company and the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2èmeR.M.2èmeR.E) took arms at the fronts in mainland France; receiving 5 citations at the orders of the armed forces. In September 1915, the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment was dissolved and the components were merged with the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment to form the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) created November 11, 1915. During the interwar period, combat in Morocco persevered from 1919 to 1934 and the regiment received 7 citations at the orders of the armed forces.
2nd Foreign Regiment in 1972.
On September 1, 1972; the recreation of the 2nd Foreign Regiment took place in Corsica. While in Corsica the regiment was garrisoned in Corte (basic training unit) and Bonifacio.
Organization.
The regiment is composed of around 1,337 men organized into 10 companies, making it one of the largest infantry regiments in the French Army.
Traditions.
Regimental Song.
Chant de Marche: Anne-Marie du 2ème REI in the German language featuring:
&lt;poem&gt;
-I- 
 Anne-Marie, wo geht die Reise in, 
 Anne-Marie, wo geht die Reise in,
 Sie geht in's Städtelein 
 Wo die Soldaten sein.
 Ein, zwei, drei 
 Junge, junge, junge Anne-Marie
 -II- 
 Anne-Marie, heute wollen wir lustig sein,
 Anne-Marie, heute wollen wir lustig sein,
 Wir wollen tanzen gehen 
 Und uns im Kreise drehen.
 Ein, zwei, drei 
 Junge, junge, junge Anne-Marie.
&lt;/poem&gt;
Decorations.
The standard and regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is heir to 28 citations at the orders of the armed forces.
Personnels of the regiment are authorized to wear the fourragère with colors of the Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'Opérations Extérieurs.
Honours.
Battle Honours.
In the 19th century, the colors of the 2nd Foreign Legion Regiment were inscribed with the following battles and campaigns:
Regimental Annual Celebration.
The annual celebration of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment is the second Campaign of Madagascar, which took place on September 2, 1903. The regiment honors that day with a parade commemorating and presenting hommage to the old combatants and anciens.