my-server
← Wiki

1st Parachute Hussar Regiment

The 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment () is an airborne cavalry unit in the French Army, founded in 1720 by Hungarian noble Ladislas Ignace de Bercheny. It is stationed in Tarbes and is a part of the 11th Parachute Brigade.

Creation and different nominations

  • 1719-1720: By order of the Regent Philippe, the Count of Bercheny recruits 174 Hungarian exiles in Constantinople for service in France. These become the Regiment of Bercheny Houzards.
  • 1791: Units of the French Army are named after their function of arms and numbered in terms of their seniority. The Regiment of Bercheny becomes accordingly the 1st Hussar Regiment.
  • 29 Floréal an IV in the Republican Calendar (18 May 1796): The regiment received half of the 13th Hussar Regiment ().
  • 1815: The regiment is dissolved.
  • 1816: Creation of the 1st Hussar Regiment of Jura.
  • 1824: Redesignated as 1st Hussar Regiment of Chartres.
  • 1940: dissolved following the Armistice of 22 June 1940 with Germany.
  • 1945: recreated by the political resistance during World War II and designated Reconnaissance Regiment of the 25th Division.
  • 1946: designated as 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment in the 25th Airborne Division (25<sup>e</sup> Division Aéroportée on the occasion of the regiment's voyage to Algeria.

History since 1946

Campaigns

Composition

The 1<sup>er</sup> RHP consists of:

  • Command and Logistics Squadron (ECL)
  • 1st Squadron, Air-transportable armored (1er Escadron)
  • 6 VBL
  • 3 AMX 10 RC
  • 6 VAB C20
  • 2nd Squadron, Air-transportable armored (2e Escadron)
  • 13 VBL
  • 12 ERC 90 Sagaie
  • 3rd Squadron, Reconnaissance and Anti-Tank (ERIAC) (only unit fully parachutable, both men and equipment) (3e Escadron)
  • VBL
  • VBL reconnaissance, 7.62&nbsp;mm AA-52 machine gun
  • VBL anti-tank, MMP anti-tank missile
  • VBL support, 12.7&nbsp;mm M2 Browning machine gun
  • VBL command
  • 4th Squadron, Air-transportable armored (4e Escadron)
  • 13 VBL
  • 12 ERC 90 Sagaie
  • 5th Squadron, Reconnaissance and Anti-Tank (ERIAC) (5e Escadron)
  • VBL
  • VBL reconnaissance, 7.62&nbsp;mm AA-52 machine gun
  • VBL anti-tank, MMP anti-tank missile
  • VBL support, 12.7&nbsp;mm M2 Browning machine gun
  • VBL command
  • 6th Squadron, operational reserve (6e Escadron)
  • 11th Squadron, training and education (disbanded on 14 January 2011 and restored in 2025)
  • 2 GCP Teams

Equipment

Vehicles

Weapons

  • MILAN anti-tank guided missile (24)

Traditions

Except for the Legionnaires of the 1<sup>er</sup> REG, 2<sup>ème</sup> REG, 2<sup>ème</sup> REP that conserve the Green Beret; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.

The Archangel Saint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on September 29.

The prière du Para (Prayer of the Paratrooper) was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.

Insignias

Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army; the Insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.

Regimental colours

Regimental song

Based on the melody of the revolutionary Polish song Whirlwinds of Danger :

Original version

Decorations

Honours

Battle honours

Regimental commanders

Ancien Régime

  • 1720 : de Bercheny
  • 1722 : de Bonnaire
  • 1744 : de Nordmann
  • 1749 : de Totte
  • 1751 : de Bercheny (2), fils du précédent.
  • 1762 : de Polleretsky
  • 1762 : de Bercheny François Antoine Ladislas (1744-1811), son of the former.
  • 1762 : de Sombreuil
  • 1771 : de Humbert
  • 1776 : de Thumery
  • 1785 : de Pange
  • 1789 : Henri Roland Lancelot Turpin de Crissé

French Revolution and First French Empire

Colonels wounded and killed while commanding the 1st Hussars during that period:
  • colonel Stengel, wounded April 21, 1796 during the battle of Mondovi, died from his wounds on April 28.
  • chef de brigade Bouglon-Duclos, died of fever.
  • chef de brigade Carrowe killed during the battle of Rovero on September 6, 1796.
  • colonel Rouvillois, wounded on December 19, 1806.
  • colonel Juniac, wounded on February 6, 1807.
Officers killed and wounded while serving in the 1st Hussars Regiment between (1805 and 1815):
  • Officers killed : 5
  • Officers dying from wounds : 6
  • Officers wounded : 57

First Restoration et Second Restoration

  • État-major du régiment nearing 1815
  • colonel Auguste-Ambroise-Joselin de Verdière
  • lieutenant-colonel : Armand-Louis, chavalier de l'Orme
  • chefs d'escadrons : M. Vidal de Léry et Jacques-Victor de Suzainnecourt
  • major : Joseph-Antoine, vicomte de Lodin du Mauvoic
  • capitaines adjoint-majors : Pierre de Vigneras et Alexandre Pothée
  • lieutenant-trésorier : François Vial
  • capitaine d'habillement : Jean-Pierre Carmignac
  • sous-lieutenant porte-étendard : Michel-Rémi Renaud
  • aumônier : Jean Didier
  • chirurgien major : Jean-Baptiste Hermaut
  • chirurgien aide-major : Antoine-Claude Marchal, dit Lafontaine
  • 1824–1830
  • colonel : Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans, duc de Chartres, futur duc d'Orléans

1830-1848 : July Monarchy

Second Empire

  • 1854 : colonel comte Lion
  • 1856 : colonel Moucheton de Gerbrois
  • 1864 : colonel de la Jaille
  • 1867 : colonel prince de Bauffremont

1870-1914

World War I

  • 1914 : colonel Leps
  • 1914–1918 : colonel d'Amade

Interwar period

  • 1926 : colonel Robert
  • 1931 : colonel Aubry de la Noé
  • 1932 : colonel Malcor

World War II

  • 1939 : colonel Rabany
  • 1940 : colonel de Groulard (wounded in 1940, died from injuries sustained in 1947)

From 1945 till present

  • 1946–19xx : colonel De Gastines
  • 1952–1953: colonel Teyssou
  • 1954–1956 : colonel Bertrand de Quénetain**
  • 1956–1958 : lieutenant-colonel Hebrard
  • 1958–1960 : lieutenant-colonel Jean Compagnon
  • 1960–1962 : colonel Gautier
  • 1962–1963 : lieutenant-colonel Teule
  • 1963–1964 : colonel Donnart
  • 1964–1966 : colonel de Boifleury**
  • 1966–1968 : colonel Laflaquiere
  • 1968–1970 : colonel Jean Combette***
  • 1970–1972 : colonel Boissau
  • 1972–1974 : colonel Delmotte**
  • 1974–1976 : colonel Morel
  • 1976–1978 : colonel Gouttenoire***
  • 1978–1980 : colonel Berge
  • 1980–1982 : colonel Varret
  • 1982–1984 : colonel Genest
  • 1984–1986 : colonel Gobillard****
  • 1986–1988 : colonel d'Astorg
  • 1988–1990 : colonel Le Mière***
  • 1990–1992 : colonel Valentin****
  • 1992–1994 : colonel Hubin
  • 1994–1996 : colonel Duhesme
  • 1996–1998 : colonel Maes*
  • 1998–2000 : colonel Duquesne***
  • 2000–2002 : colonel de Bavinchove*** ( CEM ISAF in Afghanistan )
  • 2002–2004 : colonel Delort-Laval** ( Director of the War School since August 2011 )** (division since 2012)
  • 2004–2006 : colonel de Marisy
  • 2006–2008 : colonel de Lapresle*
  • 2008–2010 : colonel Villiaumey
  • 2010–2012 : colonel Langlade de Montgros
  • 2012–2014 : colonel Peltier
  • 2014-.... : colonel Aumonier

(*) Officers subsequently promoted to brigade generals.<br /> (**) Officers subsequently promoted to divisional generals<br /> (***)Officers subsequently promoted to corps generals<br /> (****)Officers subsequently promoted to army generals

Notable Hussars

Gallery

See also

References

External links