French Marine Regiment Marche de Tchad  RMT Badges

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Régiment de marche du Tchad

The Régiment de marche du Tchad (RMT, “Ad hoc Regiment of Tchad” ) in a mechanised unit of the French Army, belonging to the Troupes de Marine. It is garrisoned north of Noyon, and is part of the 2nd Armoured Brigade.

The Regiment employs 1 200 people, both military and civilian personnel. It is composed of

• a Command and Logistics Company (CCL, “Compagnie de Commandement et Logistique“)
• an Exploration and Support Company (CEA, “Compagnie d’éclairage et d’appui“)
• a Training Base Company (CBI, “Compagnie de Base d’Instruction“)
• four Combat companies

History

The Régiment de marche du Tchad was formed in July 1943. It became the infantry regiment of the 2nd Armoured Division.

The RMT was formed grouping personnel from mainland France belonging to the Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais du Tchad, as well as other elements from mainland France or from Europe who had joined the Allies in North Africa. For instance, its 9th company, commanded by captain Raymond Dronne, was nicknamed La Nueve because it was mainly formed with veterans from the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War. The 9th Company was actually formed in Chad (1941), before the regiment as a whole.

Liberation of Paris

When a large number of Paris citizens rebelled against the Germans on August 20, 1944, Charles De Gaulle requested from the supreme command of the Allies that french troops liberated the capital.

At 21:22 hours the night of August 24, 1944, the 9th Company burst onto the center of Paris by the Porte d’Italie. On entering the Town Hall Square, Spanish tank “Ebro” fired the first shots against a large group of German artillery and machine guns. After civilians took to the streets singing La Marseillaise, to his surprise became aware that the soldiers that had liberated them were all Spanish. After, the French commander of the 9th Company, Raymond Dronne, demanded the surrender of German Dietrich von Choltitz.

While awaiting for the final capitulation, the Spanish took to assault the Chamber of Deputies, the Hotel Majestic and the Place de la Concorde suffering just one casualty. At 3:30 on the afternoon of August 25, the German garrison of Paris surrendered to the Spanish soldiers who took von Choltilz as a prisoner, while other units also entered the French capital.

The next day, August 26, Allied troops entered Paris in triumph. Spanish soldiers marched past the Notre Dame and then escorted General Charles De Gaulle by the Champs Elysees. The Spanish soldiers of the Division Leclerc marched carrying banners in the colors of the Second Spanish Republic.

The Régiment de marche du Tchad is often associated with the pledge made by Leclerc, then a colonel, never to cease fighting before French colours would fly over the cathedral of Strasbourg.^[2] It took part in the Liberation of Alençon, and most famously in the Liberation of Paris, being one of the first units to enter the city when the ninth company escorted a tank platoon of the 501e RCC (501e régiment de chars de combat). It later took part in the Liberation of Strasbourg, in November 1944.

The 9th Company distinguished itself in battles in France and Germany, and was one of a number of allied units to reach the Kehlsteinhaus (Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest”) in the German Alps (1945).

Elements of the Régiment de marche took part in Uzbin Valley ambush. The tenth soldier killed that day belong to the RMT.

Honours

Because of the circumstances of its formation, the RMT inherited the honours of the Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais du Tchad; hence, its flag is inscribed with the names of three battles in which its parent took part: Koufra (1941), Fezzan (1942), and Sud-Tunisien (1943). The three other names are those of battles in which the RMT itself took part as such: Alençon (1944), Paris (1944), and Strasbourg (1944).

The RMT was awarded the Ordre de la Libération (“Order of the Liberation”) on 12 June 1945, and the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with 4 palms; it also sports the Presidential Unit Citation (USA) awarded to the entire 2nd Armoured Division. Consequently, its men wear the fourragère of the Médaille militaire with an sphere representing the Croix de guerre 1939-1945, and the fourragère of the Ordre de la Libération, since 18 June 1996.

Because the patron saint of the Troupes de Marine is God Himself, all internal ceremonies of the RMT are concluded by the line “Et au Nom de Dieu, vive la coloniale !” (“and in the name of God, long live the Colonial”). It was first uttered by Charles de Foucauld when he saw colonial troops arrive to his rescue when, as a missionary, he found himself in trouble with local tribes.

Flag of the regiment

He is a Companion of the Liberation since June 12, 1945 and is also decorated with the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945, awarded with four flippers and the Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to the U.S. 2nd Armoured Division. He is entitled to use the forage in the colors of the Military Medal ribbon with olive-colored ribbon of the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 and since 18 June 1996 to feed the colors of the ribbon of the Cross of the Order release. See the list of companions of the Liberation.

Notes

1. In French military parlance, Régiment de marche refers to regiments built of units originally belonging to other regiments. The term was common during the First World War, when infantry regiments capable of fighting were organised around survivors of several destroyed regiments
2. “Jurez de ne déposer les armes que lorsque nos couleurs, nos belles couleurs, flotteront sur la cathédrale de Strasbourg“