The 21st Marine Infantry Regiment (French: 21e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine, 21e RIMa) is

a unit of the French military issued by filiation from the 2e RIC.

Contents

 1Creation and different nominations

 2History
o 2.1Moroccan Campaign
o 2.2World War I
o 2.3Interwar period
o 2.4World War II
 2.4.1June 1940 at Villers-en-Argonne
 2.4.2Other combats
o 2.5Post War
 3Mission
o 3.1Foreign Missions
 4Organization
 5Traditions
o 5.1The Anniversary of the Troupes de Marine
o 5.2Motto
o 5.3Slogan
o 5.4Insignia
o 5.5Regimental Colors
o 5.6Decorations
 5.6.1Citations
o 5.7Honours
 5.7.1Battle Honours
 6Regimental Commanders
o 6.1Regimental Commander of the 21e RIMa
 7Notable servicemen
 8See also
 9References
o 9.1Sources and bibliographies

Creation and different nominations[edit]

 1831: creation of the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e RIMa (garrison of the 2nd Marine
Infantry Regiment).
 1900: the 2e RIMa was designated 2nd Colonial Infantry Regiment 2e RIC (garrison of the
2nd Colonial Infantry Regiment).
 January 17, 1901: creation of the 21st Colonial Infantry Regiment 21e RIC.
 July 1940: the regiment disappeared.
 September 1, 1940: creation of the 21e RIC within the cadre of the armistice army.
 November 8, 1942: dissolution.
 November 1, 1944: the 4th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment 4e RTS was designated as
21  RIC.
e

 March 22, 1955: dissolution.

 May 16, 1955: creation of the 21e RIC.
 December 1, 1958: the 21 Colonial Infantry Regiment 21e RIC was designated as 21st
Marine Infantry Regiment.

History[edit]
Moroccan Campaign[edit]
Designated as the 21e RIC on January 17, 1901. A brief passage in Morocco justified the
regiment's colonial vocation.

World War I[edit]

left arm insignia, sou-sofficiers model with anchor of the marine infantry.

In 1914, the regiment garrisoned in Paris and belonged to the 5th colonial brigade of the 3rd
Colonial Infantry Division 3e DIC. The 21e RIC was principally engaged Champagne, on
the Somme and the Chemin des Dames and was cited in the Order of the Day four times. On
November 24, 1918, the regiment was awarded the Fourragere with colors bearing the Médaille
militaire.

Interwar period[edit]
Throughout the course of twenty years of peace, the 21e RIC accompanied the 23rd Colonial
Infantry Regiment 23e RIC with whom both regiments shared their first experience. Both units
maintained a high tempo of training. The two fraternal regiments relay equally the duties of
services around the respective garrisons in Paris which revolved around: honorary detachments,
parades, award of decorations and national funeral procession of Marshals Joseph
Joffre and Ferdinand Foch. From 1920 until 1939, the 21e garrisoned in Paris with the regimental
staff and the 2nd Battalion headquartered in Clignancourt, the 1st Battalion in Ivry-sur-
Seine then Saint-Denis and the 3rd Battalion at Bicêtre Hospital. Cadres of the regiment retake
accordingly the rhythm of deployments in Outre-mer territories. Overseas service postings
included the Levant, Madagascar, French West Africa, Algeria, Morocco, China, and missions
alongside the Czechoslovakian and Polish militaries. During some months as many as thirty
officers left the regiment for colonial service.

World War II[edit]

On May 10, 1940, the 21st Colonial Infantry Regiment of colonel Cazeilles was part of the 3rd
Colonial Infantry Division which reinforced the under-sector of Montmédy.
June 1940 at Villers-en-Argonne[edit]
In June 1940, the town of Villers-en-Argonne was the scene of fierce fighting and was virtually
destroyed by bombing and fire. On 11 and 12 June, the residents were evacuated from Villers as
the front line was hard pressed. The men of the 2nd Battalion under Major Varrier were
entrenched in an arc around Villers by 13 June, with the rest of the regiment in a line to their
east. Their mission was to prevent access to the Forest of Argonne, the road from Villers
to Passavant-en-Argonne, and the gap south of Villers, a front three kilometers long. The
battalion command post was at Villers. The Regiment as a whole was commanded by Colonel
Cazeilles from Montdesir farm (west of Passavant) to the east of Villers.
The unit received reports that German motorized and armored troops were approaching. The
2nd Battalion set up their anti-tank guns (5x 25 mm and 4x75mm) and machine
guns in roadblocks around the town. The 6th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment 6e RTS had been
in contact with the enemy west of Villers in the direction of Braux-Saint-Remy and had retreated,
reforming south of the 2nd Battalion positions in woods west of the village. On the morning of
June 13, villages to the north, northwest and west of Villers were burning. At 1130, Major Varrier
personally conducted two patrols on foot in front of Villers to the village of Ante and another by
motorcycle to the Villers railway station (1 km west of the village) at 1330.
At 1430, two German tanks attempted to infiltrate on the left of the battalion in front of the 7th
Company (Captain Allegrini) on the Ante road. Both tanks were knocked out by hits from 25 mm
guns between 300 m and 200 m from the company's position. A wounded German was captured
and his papers passed to the regimental command post. The 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry
Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division retreated, passing Villers on its way.
During the evening, the Germans advanced to within 2.5 km. A company, commanded by
Captain Marchenoir, of the 18th Light Infantry Battalion of Africa, was made available to Major
Varrier on the night of June 13 to 14, to strengthen the western side of Villers. Considering the
situation on the spot, Varrier decided to position them facing north and personally positioned the
company on the ground intending to avoid encirclement. On the morning of the 14th, enemy
movement across the front of the Battalion indicated that contact with enemy infantry was about
to occur. Enemy aircraft, flying at low altitude, strafed the positions of the 2nd Battalion and the
village of Villers during the morning.
Around 1330, the Germans begin to bombard the village and continued heavy artillery fire until
1500. Despite losses caused by the artillery, the 2nd Battalion remained steady under fire. The
first shells were fired at the village, which within a few moments was heavily ablaze and was
completely destroyed by the end of the bombardment. German infantry moved behind cover to
about 800 m from the village and at 1500, the enemy, singing and shouting, probed the positions
of the 2nd Battalion. The main effort occurred west of the village, falling on the 5th Company
under Captain Charvet and the 6th Company under Captain Paganel. At the same time, with
artillery support, the Germans pushed through the woods, on the flanks of the battalion, pressing
on Captain Allegrini's 7th Company in an attempt to encircle its position. The 2nd Battalion
received the attack steadily and their rifle, machine gun and grenade fire inflicted severe losses
on the attacking infantry.
The Germans renewed their attacks for several hours, with close air support and artillery fire,
until 1800. At points during these attacks, elements of the 5th and 6th Companies in the woods
were engaged in very close range fights. During these attacks, Major Varrier requested artillery
support. A battery of 155 mm howitzers located 9 km behind the battalion were able to give the
requested support. Despite calling in target and ranging information on a telephone and only
having a 1:50,000 scale map, this fire was effective.
By 1900, the battle was over and the 2nd Battalion was in high spirits and ready to hold its
ground. However, Varrier was called to see Colonel Cazeilles at the regimental command post.
The colonel expressed his satisfaction and congratulations, but communicated an order of
withdrawal at 2130. Returning to his command post, Major Varrier gave the order to withdraw.
The withdrawal was made very difficult by continuing contact with the enemy and darkness and
was finally accomplished by 0245 on the 15th. After the last units passed, Varrier ordered a
Lieutenant of Engineers and four men to come with him and blow the bridge over the Aisne, the
Pont aux Vendanges between Villers and Passavant. The bridge was destroyed at 0255.
Following the orders they had received, the 2nd Battalion moved 15 km southeast of Villers and
reformed between Triaucourt and Charmontois L'abbé along a 4 km front. The 2nd Battalion and
the regiment as a whole were disappointed to have given up the ground they had held in the face
of serious attack but their continued movements south were necessary to protect and cover the
retreat of other units.[1]
Other combats[edit]
 On June 15, 1940: the regiment disappeared in total along with the regimental
commander, colonel Cazailles.
 On September 1, 1940: recreation of the 21 Infantry Colonial Regiment 21e RIC in
the Armitistice Army.
 November 8, 1942: dissolution
 November 1, 1944: the 21e RIC was recreated from the 4th Senegalese Tirailleurs
Regiment 4e RTS at the corps of the 9th Colonial Infantry Division 9e DIC, the first army
of général Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. Combats included the battles of the Mines de potasse
d'Alsace, the Colmar Pocket, the liberation of Ensisheim, of Leimersheim and of Rastatt.
 général Vial commande the 1st Company of the 21e RIC from 1944–1945. leading his
unit during an attack on Saint-Barbe in Alsace on February 1945, he was severely wounded
and lost his sight.
 April 2, 1945, the 21e RIC crossed the River Rhine near Leimersheim (Palatinate).
 The regiment was cited three times, the 21 Colonial Infantry Regiment added to the
regiment's fourragere, the olive color of the croix de guerre 1939–1945.
Post War[edit]
 From November 1, 1949, to April 8, 1955, the regiment's status passed to a Marching
Battalion of the 21st Colonial Infantry Regiment BM/21e RIC. Following the liberation of
France and the Allied invasion, the regiment's battalions served in Indochina where the
regiment was recreated on November 1954 from three African marching battalions of
the CEFEO. Dissolved again on March 22, 1955, the regiment was recreated on May 16,
1955, as 21e RIC. On December 1, 1958, the regiment was designated as 21 Marine Infantry
Regiment in Germany FFA.
 Following campaigns in Indochina from September 1945 to July 1954. Relaying each turn
in Cochinchine, in Annam and in Tonkin while cited twice, the regiment was awarded the
fourragere with colors of the croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures.
 In 1956, the regiment departed to Algeria, partook in the Suez Crisis, then pursued
missions in Kabylie until 1962.
 The regiment returned to metropole in 1963 and garrisoned in Aisne.
 Since 1963, the regiment belonged to the 8th Infantry Division until 1980. Garrisoned in
Fréjus in 1980, the regiment integrated the 31st Brigade in 1981, which packed squadrons
of AMX 10 RC, the 21e was a mixed regiment, the only in France, composed of 2 squadrons
of AMX 10 RC, 2 companies of VAB, one Artillery battery, one company of reconnaissance
and support VAB, one command company VAB and one instruction company. The regiment
composed with the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2 e REI, the units of the 31st Brigade. The
brigade was dissolved in 1984.
The regiment as well as the museum of the Troupes de marine is garrisoned at Fréjus, the
previous garrison of the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment. The regiment is part of the 6th Light
Armoured Brigade.