Jean Rémy
Encyclopedia
Jean Stanislas Rémy, commonly known as Jean Rémy, (Paris
, October 3, 1899 - Toulouse
, August 15, 1955) was a French
colonel
, a member of the Free French, and a Companion of the Liberation
.
during World War I
at the age of 17. He subsequently joined the French Army
in 1919. He remained in the Army of the Orient as a non-commissioned officer
until 1924 when he was sent to the Saumur
Officer School.
In 1925 he became a Second Lieutenant
and was sent to Tunisia
, then part of France. He served a few years in France and then went to the Levant
where he took part in peace-keeping operations.
Rémy was promoted to captain in 1937 and stayed in Syria
until 1941. On 18 June 1940, General Charles de Gaulle
made his Appeal of 18 June and "invites the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who would come there to put themselves in contact with [him]". In July 1941, Rémy joined de Gaulle and the Free French. He became Chef d'Etat-major (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) for Syria
.
On September 25, 1942, he organized and took command of the 1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains (RMSM), not to be confused with the 1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains (RSM, First Regiment of Morrocan Spahis), who were loyal to Marshal Philippe Pétain
. The 1st RMSM fought in the French Free actions in Northern Africa, notably at El Alamein
and near Médenine
in Tunisia
. Rémy's forces were organized for reconnaissance as British "Flying Columns". This Flying Column was constituted of 314 men and was equipped with – notably - 24 armored cars and 14 tanks.
Rémy then organised the integration of the 1st RMSM into General Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division (2e DB). He was promoted to colonel and joined the 1st RMSM London in during April–May 1944. As part of the 2e DB, hey fought in the Battle of Normandy
and then marched on Paris
. He was wounded in Normandy and once more at Fort Mont-Valérien
. On August 25, 1944 the 1st RMSM liberated Versailles
.
He continued to serve until the end of the war at Adolf Hitler
's Berghof
in Berchtesgaden
.
In 1944, he was made a Companion of the Liberation
and on August 7, 1945, the 1st RMSM was also awarded the same title.
After World War II
, Rémy was sent to Oran
where he fulfilled various tasks for the French Army
. In 1951-1952 he was commandant for Algerian armored forces and cavalry
. In 1952, he returned to France, in Toulouse with the same responsibilities for the local military region.
He died at Larrey Hospital in Toulouse, of complications caused by his war injuries. A street in Toulouse has been named after his name.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, October 3, 1899 - Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, August 15, 1955) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, a member of the Free French, and a Companion of the Liberation
Ordre de la Libération
The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
.
Biography
Rémy joined the Russian ArmyImperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at the age of 17. He subsequently joined 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...
in 1919. He remained in the Army of the Orient as a non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
until 1924 when he was sent to the Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
Officer School.
In 1925 he became a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and was sent to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, then part of France. He served a few years in France and then went to the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
where he took part in peace-keeping operations.
Rémy was promoted to captain in 1937 and stayed in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
until 1941. On 18 June 1940, General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
made his Appeal of 18 June and "invites the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who would come there to put themselves in contact with [him]". In July 1941, Rémy joined de Gaulle and the Free French. He became Chef d'Etat-major (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) for Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
On September 25, 1942, he organized and took command of the 1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains (RMSM), not to be confused with the 1er Régiment de Spahis Marocains (RSM, First Regiment of Morrocan Spahis), who were loyal to Marshal Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
. The 1st RMSM fought in the French Free actions in Northern Africa, notably at El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
and near Médenine
Medenine
Medenine is the major town in southeastern Tunisia, south of the port of Gabès and the Island of Djerba, on the main route to Libya. It is the capital of Medenine Governorate.- Overview :...
in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Rémy's forces were organized for reconnaissance as British "Flying Columns". This Flying Column was constituted of 314 men and was equipped with – notably - 24 armored cars and 14 tanks.
Rémy then organised the integration of the 1st RMSM into General Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division (2e DB). He was promoted to colonel and joined the 1st RMSM London in during April–May 1944. As part of the 2e DB, hey fought in the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
and then marched on Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was wounded in Normandy and once more at Fort Mont-Valérien
Fort Mont-Valérien
Fort Mont-Valérien is a fortress in Suresnes a western Paris suburb, built in 1841 as part of the city's ring of modern fortifications...
. On August 25, 1944 the 1st RMSM liberated Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
.
He continued to serve until the end of the war at Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's Berghof
Berghof (Hitler)
The Berghof was Adolf Hitler's home in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany. Other than the Wolfsschanze in East Prussia, Hitler spent more time at the Berghof than anywhere else during World War II. It was also one of the most widely known of Hitler's...
in Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden
Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...
.
In 1944, he was made a Companion of the Liberation
Ordre de la Libération
The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
and on August 7, 1945, the 1st RMSM was also awarded the same title.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Rémy was sent to Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
where he fulfilled various tasks for 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...
. In 1951-1952 he was commandant for Algerian armored forces and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. In 1952, he returned to France, in Toulouse with the same responsibilities for the local military region.
He died at Larrey Hospital in Toulouse, of complications caused by his war injuries. A street in Toulouse has been named after his name.
Decorations
- Grand Officier of the Légion d'HonneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Companion of the LiberationOrdre de la LibérationThe Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
- Croix de guerre 1939-1945Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France)The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II.-Recipients:...
(9 mentions) - Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...