11e régiment parachutiste de choc
Encyclopedia
The 11e régiment parachutiste de choc ("11th shock parachute regiment), often called 11e choc, was a parachute
elite regiment of the French Army
. It used to serve as the armed branch of the SDECE. Its insignia, designed by lieutenant Dupas, features Bagheera
in the moonlight and a golden wing. The motto is Qui ose gagne ("who dares wins"), in continuation of the tradition of the British Special Air Service
.
In the aftermath of the First Indochina War
, an "action service" of the SDECE was created by Jacques Morlane. It grouped veterans of the Second World War having served in the Bataillon de Choc of 1936, in the 1er bataillon de choc (founded in 1943), or as SOE
agents, as well as veterans of Indochina .
In spring of 1947, Morlane sent R. Mautaint in Montlouis
to train the new unit. Mautaint had authored numerous reports on SOE training that inspired that of the French services.
In July 1947, as the complement of the 11e choc grew, Morlane nominated Paul Aussaresses
to replace Mautaint. Aussaresses described his mission as "perform what was by then called 'psychological warfare
', wherever it was necessary, notably in Indochina (...) I trained my men for clandestine operations, airborn or otherwise, that could range from building demolition to sabotage or elimination of ennemies". From 1952, elements of the 11e choc were sent to Indochina to lead and train the Groupement de commandos mixtes aéroportés (GCMA), though the 11e Choc did not take part in the conflict as a unit.
Back from Indochina in 1952, Aussaresses was tasked to assassinate supporters of the FLN
. Morlane "was convinced that a Soviet invasion was imminent, and had been busy constituting secret weapon caches all over the territory so that, when time would come, a resistance could be organised"
On 1 October 1955, a 12e bataillon parachutiste de choc was created. It was stationned in Calvi
and Corte
, in Corsica. Together, the 11th and 12th Battalions were the 11e demi-brigade parachutiste de choc (11e DBPC) , also formed on 1 October. The insignia of the 12e BPC featured an eagle and a star on a parachute background.
In late October 1956, elements of both battalions took part in the Suez Crisis
.
The 12e BPC was disbanded on 30 April 1957 and immediately re-created as the 1er bataillon parachutiste de choc. Its insignia featured a dagger with a map of France as background, and its motto was En pointe toujours ("at the tip, always"). From 1 May 1957, the 11e DBPC was thus constituted of the 11th BPC, the 1st BPC and the bataillon d'instruction spécialisé (BIS, "training special battalion"), based in Calvi, Corté, Collioure, and Mont-Louis.
During the Algerian War, the 11e Choc at first deployed a groupement léger d'intervention (GLI, "light intervention group"), and later a groupement de marche (GM 11.DBPC), as well as local antennas of the "action service", and a specialised detachement called DS 111.
The 11e Choc did not take part in the Algiers putsch of 1961, but some officers did sympathise towards the putschists. The unit was disbanded on 31 December 1963 and its standard handed over to the National Commando Training Centre at Mont-Louis.
In 1985, general René Imbot, director of the DGSE, re-created the 11e Choc as the 11e régiment parachutiste de choc (11e RPC). In 1988, elements took part in the Ouvéa cave assault
.
The restructuring of the French Intelligence and Special Operations organs following the Gulf War
entailed the disbanding of the 11e RPC on 31 December 1993.
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
elite regiment of the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
. It used to serve as the armed branch of the SDECE. Its insignia, designed by lieutenant Dupas, features Bagheera
Bagheera
Bagheera the black-toned Indian Leopard is an animal fictional character in Rudyard Kipling's Mowgli stories in The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book...
in the moonlight and a golden wing. The motto is Qui ose gagne ("who dares wins"), in continuation of the tradition of the British Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
.
History
The 11e choc was meant from the start to constitute a reserve of soldiers available to the French special services. The 11e choc was initially composed of one single battalion, the 11e bataillon parachutiste de choc. From 1 September 1946, it was stationned in Mont-Louis.In the aftermath of the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
, an "action service" of the SDECE was created by Jacques Morlane. It grouped veterans of the Second World War having served in the Bataillon de Choc of 1936, in the 1er bataillon de choc (founded in 1943), or as SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
agents, as well as veterans of Indochina .
In spring of 1947, Morlane sent R. Mautaint in Montlouis
Montlouis
Montlouis is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:A farming area comprising a small village and a couple of hamlets, situated some southwest of Bourges, at the junction of the D15 with the D940 road. The small river Auzon flows through the north of the...
to train the new unit. Mautaint had authored numerous reports on SOE training that inspired that of the French services.
In July 1947, as the complement of the 11e choc grew, Morlane nominated Paul Aussaresses
Paul Aussaresses
Paul Aussaresses is a retired French Army general, who fought during World War II, the First Indochina War and Algerian War...
to replace Mautaint. Aussaresses described his mission as "perform what was by then called 'psychological warfare
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
', wherever it was necessary, notably in Indochina (...) I trained my men for clandestine operations, airborn or otherwise, that could range from building demolition to sabotage or elimination of ennemies". From 1952, elements of the 11e choc were sent to Indochina to lead and train the Groupement de commandos mixtes aéroportés (GCMA), though the 11e Choc did not take part in the conflict as a unit.
Back from Indochina in 1952, Aussaresses was tasked to assassinate supporters of the FLN
FLN
FLN may refer to:* One of a number of organisations named National Liberation Front* The National Liberation Front * The National Liberation Front * The National Liberation Front of Chad...
. Morlane "was convinced that a Soviet invasion was imminent, and had been busy constituting secret weapon caches all over the territory so that, when time would come, a resistance could be organised"
On 1 October 1955, a 12e bataillon parachutiste de choc was created. It was stationned in Calvi
Calvi
Calvi is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.It is the seat of the Canton of Calvi, which contains Calvi and one other commune, Lumio...
and Corte
Corte
Corte is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It is the fourth-largest commune in Corsica .-Administration:Corte is a subprefecture of the Haute-Corse department.-History:...
, in Corsica. Together, the 11th and 12th Battalions were the 11e demi-brigade parachutiste de choc (11e DBPC) , also formed on 1 October. The insignia of the 12e BPC featured an eagle and a star on a parachute background.
In late October 1956, elements of both battalions took part in the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
.
The 12e BPC was disbanded on 30 April 1957 and immediately re-created as the 1er bataillon parachutiste de choc. Its insignia featured a dagger with a map of France as background, and its motto was En pointe toujours ("at the tip, always"). From 1 May 1957, the 11e DBPC was thus constituted of the 11th BPC, the 1st BPC and the bataillon d'instruction spécialisé (BIS, "training special battalion"), based in Calvi, Corté, Collioure, and Mont-Louis.
During the Algerian War, the 11e Choc at first deployed a groupement léger d'intervention (GLI, "light intervention group"), and later a groupement de marche (GM 11.DBPC), as well as local antennas of the "action service", and a specialised detachement called DS 111.
The 11e Choc did not take part in the Algiers putsch of 1961, but some officers did sympathise towards the putschists. The unit was disbanded on 31 December 1963 and its standard handed over to the National Commando Training Centre at Mont-Louis.
In 1985, general René Imbot, director of the DGSE, re-created the 11e Choc as the 11e régiment parachutiste de choc (11e RPC). In 1988, elements took part in the Ouvéa cave assault
Ouvéa cave hostage taking
The Ouvéa cave hostage taking was an event occurring from April 22, 1988 to May 5, 1988 in which members of the separatist group the National Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front took 27 including a French gendarme and a judge hostage in the island of Ouvéa, New...
.
The restructuring of the French Intelligence and Special Operations organs following the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
entailed the disbanding of the 11e RPC on 31 December 1993.
11e bataillon parachutiste de choc
- 1946-1947 : CNE Mautaint
- 1947 : CNE Rivière
- 1947-1948 : CNE Paul AussaressesPaul AussaressesPaul Aussaresses is a retired French Army general, who fought during World War II, the First Indochina War and Algerian War...
- 1948-1953 : CBN Yves GodardYves Godard (French officer)Yves Godard was a French Army officer who fought in World War II, First Indochina War and Algerian War. A graduate of Saint-Cyr and Chasseur Alpin, he served as a ski instructor in Poland during 1939, but after World War II begun he returned to France...
- 1953-1955 : CES Pierre Decorse
- 1955-1957 : CNE Bauer
- 1958-1960 : CNE Erouart
- 1960-1961 : CBN Crousillac
- 1961-1962 : CBN Mouton
- 1962-1963 : CBN Dabezies
- 1963 : CBN Barthes
11e demi-brigade parachutiste de choc
- 1955-1961 : Col Pierre Decorse
- 1961-1963 : LCL Merglen