13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
The 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion (French: 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère, 13e DBLE), was created in 1940 and was the main unit of the 1st Free French Division, Free French Forces (FFL). From the coast of Norway to Bir Hakeim, to Africa then the Alsace, while passing by Syria and Italy, the 13th Demi-Brigade would be part of most of the major campaigns of the French Army during the Second World War.
| 13th Half-Brigade of the Foreign Legion | |
|---|---|
| 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère | |
Regimental Insignia of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion | |
| Active | 1940 – present
|
| Country | France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Mechanized Infantry |
| Role | Security Assistance Desert Warfare |
| Size | ~1300 men |
| Part of | 6th Light Armoured Brigade 6e BLB 3rd Division |
| Garrison/HQ | La Cavalerie, France |
| Nickname(s) | The Demi Brigade (English) Phalange Magnifique (Magnificent Phalanx) |
| Motto(s) | More Majorum à la manière de nos Anciens (fr) |
| March | Nos képis blancs (Sous le soleil brulant d'Afrique) |
| Anniversaries | Camerone Day (30 April) and Christmas |
| Engagements | World War II
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Thomas Riou |
| Notable commanders | Raoul Magrin-Vernerey Dimitri Amilakvari Gabriel Brunet de Sairigné Jules Gaucher Bernard Saint-Hillier |
| Insignia | |
| Beret insignia of the 13 Demi Brigade | |
| Abbreviation | 13e DBLE |
After having been engaged in Indochina from 1946 to 1954, the 13e DBLE joined the Algerian War, and left in 1962. The 13e DBLE was based until 2011 at Quartier-Général Monclar in Djibouti, in virtue of an accord between France and the Republic of Djibouti in 1977. During 2011, the unit moved to the United Arab Emirates. In 2016, the unit returned to France, based at the same camp where it was first formed (and took its designation on 27 March 1940) – Camp du Larzac.