The 5th Foreign Regiment (abbr. 5th RE, ), nicknamed the "Regiment of Tonkin" (), is a regiment of the Foreign Legion of the French Army created under the Third Republic. The history of this regiment is marked by its participation in World War II, the Indochina War and the Algerian War. The regiment is based in Mayotte since 2024. __TOC__
Creation and different designations September 1, 1930 : Creation of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (abbr. 5th REI) from the Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion. July 1, 1945 : Dissolved for the first time. Its units are regrouped at the corps of the Marching Battalion of the 5th REI (). November 1, 1949 : The regiment was reconstructed from elements of the 6th REI and the 4th REI. October 1, 1963 : The regiment became the 5th Mixed Pacific Regiment (). July 1, 1984 : Designated as 5th Foreign Regiment (). June 30, 2000 : During the reorganization of the French Army, the 5th Foreign Regiment was dissolved. The regimental colours were entered into the French Foreign Legion Museum. June 1, 2024 : The 5e régiment étranger is recreated from the Détachement de Légion étrangère de Mayotte.
History Indochina Prior to the Second World War Because of the decrease in army troop numbers during World War I, the necessity of reinforcement in Tonkin was highlighted and four battalions of the Foreign Legion were routed to the Far East and formed the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment.
Partly made up of existing units that had been station in Tonkin since 1883, the regiment was created on July 17, 1930, and was put into effect on September 1, 1930.
The regiment was established from the 1st, 7th and 9th Battalions of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment that had been previously deployed to Indochina from 1920 to 1927. Garrison duty in French Indochina proved to be a fairly peaceful assignment for the legionnaires until the outbreak of World War II with the notable exception of the Yên Bái mutiny in 1930.
Lacking both human and material resources, the regiment was maintained provisionally under the previous operation of its field corps as part of the ephemeral Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion () issued from the 1st Foreign Regiment.
The regiment was not fully formed until April 1, 1931. Colonel Debas, regimental commander of the DBLE, was designated as the head of corps.
The formation in 1931 was as follows:
Headquarters staff at Vietri The regimental band and the transmission section at Tong 1st Battalion at Tong 2nd Battalion, at Dap Cau a section at Sept Pagodes a detachment at Phu Lang Thuong 3rd Battalion 2nd company at Tuyen Quang 9th company at Yen Bay (where the mutiny of the same name took place) 10th company of the 3rd battalion at Vietri 4th Battalion at Vietri Special section at Ha Giang
The regimental colours were received on May 7, 1932, at Son Tay. On September 7, 1932, the 4th Battalion was dissolved. With the regiment down to only three battalions, the units were regrouped in Hanoi.
In 1936, General Buhrer considered the expansion of the regiment's field of action. The command envisaged the possibility of exterior actions and provided two supply routes. This allowed for the movement of strategic motorized vehicles depending on the needs of the situation. The first supply route linked Hai Phong to Phong Saly and the second linked Tonkin to the south of Indochina.
The 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment rotated its battalions to execute major construction works, one of which was the strategic route between Campha and Tien Yen. The legionnaires were in charge of the supervision of local inhabitants, but also contributed to the construction of pasture centres in Mont Bavi and Khang Kay (Laos), as well as the expansion of those in Chapa and Tam Dau.
World War II 1940 : While the Vichy government authorized the Japanese Army to pass through Indochina, the latter invaded Tonkin. The 2nd Battalion fought at Lang Son. 1941 : During the Franco-Thai War, the 3rd Battalion fought in Cambodia, near Battambang and the 1st Battalion near Pailin. 1945 : The regiment formed part of the defense against the Japanese Army.
In 1939, the command post was garrisoned at Vietri. The 1st Battalion was garrisoned at Tong, the 2nd battalion and the motorized detachment at Dap Cau, the 3rd Battalion at Tuyên Quang. In September, the declaration of war in Europe did not provoke any particular agitations. Nevertheless, anticipated dispositions in relation to general mobilization were put into action.
In 1940, the command post of the regiment, the 1st and 3rd Battalions moved to Cambodia. The 2nd Battalion assured a part of the garrison of Lang Son and Dap Cay, while the motorized detachment joined Cao Bang. Japanese forces eventually mounted the attack on Lang Son in 1940. On September 22, the 2nd Battalion was attacked by elements of the Japanese Army as they withdrew from China across the Tonkin border. Accordingly, the 2nd battalion, in garrison at Fort Brière de l'Isle, mounted defensive measures under the orders of Commandant Marcelin. A cease fire was then agreed.
The 2nd battalion participated with the DML to the pursuit of contingents that were terrorizing the populations. The effort was carried through until January 15, 1941. Accordingly, the fanion of the 2nd battalion was decorated with the Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam. In 1941, the command post of the regiment went back to Việt Tri. The 1st battalion I/5e REI was at Tuyên Quang, the II/5e REI was at Tong, the III/5e REI at Sept Pagodes and the motorized detachment at Lang Son.
Accordingly, territorial struggles followed with attacks along the Mekong and the western-frontier of Cambodia. The Siamese troops, very well armed, launched their efforts on January 16, 1941. A violent combat opposed the legionnaires at two battalions supported by tanks and aviation. In front the defensive resistance of the Régiment du Tonkin, the aggressors unfolded. The 3rd battalion endured over twenty killed and a dozen wounded. The armistice was signed end of January and accordingly territories were attached to Cambodia and Laos.
In 1945, the 5e REI held the garrisons of Viét Tri, Tong, Tien Kien, Lang Son and Hanoï, with other elements in the surrounding garrisons. The Japanese considerably reinforced within liaison means on the ensemble of the Indochinese territories, were equipped with modern arms. In 24 hours, they rendered themselves masters in their element of all the garrisons. At Ha Giang, Yen Bay, and Cao Bang, French forces disappeared. Certain elements were successful in joining the forces that were marching towards the frontier of China. The 9th company which was designated to guard the command post succeeded in filtering through. The last elements of the 5e REI reached the frontier of China. They joined Tsao Pa on May 2 after having hiked 1500 km in 93 days. On place, they benefited of the benevolence of général Pechkoff, former Legion officer and representative of France at Tchong King.
Marching battalion of the 5e REI, BM 5
On July 1, 1945, the regiment was dissolved. The remainder of the force were regrouped in a marching battalion BM 5, which the units of traditions kept the fanions of their battalion. In February 1946, the legionnaires were authorized to cross the Tonkin frontier, to push the Viet Minh, their new adversary, approaching Son La. They were stopped by the accords of Hanoi. Linked to the exterior world only by radio and parachuting, they succeeded in June to reach the province of Sam Neua, which they protected against looters. On November 1, 1946, the BM 5 was dissolved. On December 12, 1946, the remainder embarked on the Sontay in direction to Algeria and the maison mère of Sidi bel-Abbès.
Indochina War At the moment were the war in Indochina was developing, the 5e REI was set back on foot in Tonkin on November 1, 1949, from the V/4th Foreign Infantry Regiment and effectifs from Sidi bel-Abbès. On April 12, 1950, at Haiphong, lieutenant-colonel François Binoche received the regimental colors from général Alessandri, commander-in-chief of Tonkin. The new mission of the 5e REI was to defend the frontier north-east of Tonkin, and principally the axe route which linked the Mon Caï sector to the Delta.
Trials of small holding posts were exercised. On November 26, 1949, the 1st battalion was found engaged in combat in the RC6, where the post of Cho Bo and Hoa Binh were menaced and the post of Suyut was encircled. The legionnaires replied back on February 22, 1950, through an operation.
The 2nd battalion, was dispersed in small detachments on the principal posts of Tien Yen, Dam Ha, Ha Coi et Mon Caï. The unit along with the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3e REI participated to the disarmament of various contingents passing into Indochina. On April 16, 1950, an operation was launched, to which the 1st battalion participated with. This operation was followed by another, south of Hanoi. The Viet-minh pressure accentuated on the frontier with China. Following the attack of May 25, 1950, again Dong Khe, command sent the 2nd battalion to reinforce the status mission dispositif.
On September 16, rebels launch an offense in Cao Bang which fell. The posts of Na Cham and Dong Dand were evacuated under the protection of the battalion in rear-guard. The unit collected the debris of colonnes Charton and Lepage as well as the echeloned garrisons along the pressure axes of the Viet-minh (Battle of Route Coloniale 4).
The 1st battalion mounted the assault from Mon Caï side and retook position at Tan mai on October 20, 1950. Ten days later, the unit reoccupied Dinh Lap and saved la bande côtière. Facing the length of the disaster, the triumph was modest.
At the end of 1950, the regiment wa echeloned on the RC 18 and the frontier zone in the region of Mon Caï. In December, the GM 6 was created from elements of the regimental command company. The unit made way to meet the 174 Viet-Minh regiment which was marching on Dhin Lap. The harassment was continuous all along the column. The 2nd battalion endured 50 killed and 50 wounded. The last couple of days of this dreadful month were marked by the clearing operation of Binh Lieu led by the 1st battalion, which after having owed in front of the important means of the adversary, managed to recuperate the wounded and reoccupied the post for a couple of hours finding only three killed and two wounded.
At his arrival to Indochina, général Jean de Lattre de Tassigny decided to create a fortification belt around the Delta. Since the beginning of 1951, the 2nd battalion committed to the task and was joined by the 1st battalion already in works in the region of Vinh Yen and Vietri. Until the month of November, the life of the pioneers () followed, opening of routes, ambushes, harassment and regulated attacks.
The 3rd battalion was integrated into GM 4 within the cadre of an operation. The 1st battalion distinguished savoire faire during two other operations. Combats around the river developed. The III/5e REI, implanted in the sector was attacked in vain. The end of the year 1951 witnessed the end combats around the river where the Viet-Minh was panting. Nevertheless, the 304th division controlled the RC6 and hoped to make Hoa Binh a renewed version of Cao Bang.
The battle commenced in the night of January 7 and 8 1952 and the unfolding of Hoa Binh started on February 23, 1952. The I/5e REI joined Xuon may and the lines of cemented posts. The rebels were masters of the mountainous regions where they rested camps, armouries and depots. The troops of Tonkin were reduced to garrison in the Delta. The cement belt was not enough to prevent infiltrations. The "pourrissement" of the Delta developed. This first "reduction" would be, the fief of the Régiment du Tonkin until the end.