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List of commanders of the Foreign Legion

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The following is a list of all of the commanders of the Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère)

Commanders of the Foreign Legion

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Commanders of Foreign Legion Command (COMLE)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaigns
11 Général de brigade Christophe de Saint Chamas 2011 201x  France
10 Général de division Alain Bouquin 2009 2011  France
9 Général de brigade Louis Pichot de Champfleury 2006 2008  France
8 Général de brigade Bruno Dary 2004 2006  France
7 Général de brigade Franscheschi 2002 2004
6 Général de brigade Bernard Grail 1999 2002
5 Général de brigade Christian Piquemal 1994 1999
4 Général de brigade Bernard Colcomb 1992 1994
3 Général de brigade Raymond Le Corre 1988 1992
2 Général de brigade Jean Louis Roué 1985 1988
1 Général de brigade Coullons 1984 1985

Commanders of Groupement de la Légion étrangère (GLE)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaigns
Général de brigade Coullons 1982 1984
Général de brigade Paul Louis Joseph Lardry 1980 1982
Bernard Goupil 1976 1980
Gustav Fourreau 1973 1976
Marcel Letestu 1972 1973  France

Commanders of the 1st Foreign Regiment

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Commanders of the 1st Foreign Regiment of the Foreign Legion (1841-1856)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaign
9 Colonel Martenot de Cordoue 1855 1855
8 Colonel Levy 1855 1855
7 Colonel Vienot 1854 1855
6 Colonel Bazaine 1851 1854
5 Colonel Lesueur de Givry 1850 1851
4 Colonel Émile Henry Mellinet March 15, 1846 December 2, 1850  France
3 Colonel Mouret 1843 1846
2 Colonel Despinoy 1842 1843 Algeria
1 Colonel de Mollenbeck 1841 1842

Commanders of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment

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No. Rank Name Command began Campaign
Commandant(Major) Jeanpierre 1955 1956
Lieutenant Colonel Brothier 1956 1957
Lieutenant Colonel Jeanpierre 1957 1958
Lieutenant Colonel Brothier 1958 1959
Lieutenant Colonel Dufour 1959 1960
Lieutenant Colonel Guiraud 1960 1961

Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment

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The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment existed from 1939 to 1940 and 1946 to 1962; during its existence the regiment was led by ten different officers.

Rank Name Command began Command ended
Lieutenant-Colonel Baldini 1961 1962
Lieutenant-Colonel de Coatgoureden 1960 1961
Lieutenant-Colonel Ogier de Baulny 1957 1960
Lieutenant-Colonel Legendre 1955 1957
Lieutenant-Colonel Renucci 1953 1955
Lieutenant-Colonel Berchet 1952 1953a
Lieutenant-Colonel de Chazelles 1948 1952
Lieutenant-Colonel Lennuyeux 1946 1948
Regiment disbanded in 1940. Regiment reestablished in 1946.
Commandant (Chef d'Escadrons) Billon 1940 1940
Colonel Farine 1939 1940

Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment

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The 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment is the youngest of all the regiments of the Foreign Legion having been established on July 1, 1999.

No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaign
6 Colonel Philippe Kirscher 2009 ---
5 Colonel Chavanat 2007 2009
4 Colonel Boucher 2005 2007
3 Colonel Fradin 2003 2005
2 Colonel Autran 2001 2003
1 Colonel Nebois July 1, 1999 2001

Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment

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Commander of the 2nd Foreign Regiment

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Following the Crimean War, the elements of the two regiments which had participated in the war returned to Algeria and were consolidated into a single regiment thereafter referred to as the 2nd Foreign Regiment.

No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaigns/Battles
4 Colonel Pierre Joseph Jeanningros 1862 1862  France
3 Butet 1859 1862
2 1859 1859
1 Colonel Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières 1856 1859  France

Commanders of the 2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion (1841-1855)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaigns/Battles
9 Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières May 29, 1855 1855  France
8 Colonel de Caprez 1851 1855  France Crimean War
7 Cœur 1851 1851  France
6 Colonel Jean-Luc Carbuccia 1848 July 17, 1851 Bastia
5 de Noue 1848 1848
4 Colonel François Certain de Canrobert March 31, 1849 1848  France Algeria
3 Colonel Caries de Senilhes 1844 1848 Algeria
2 Patrice de Mac Mahon 1843 1844  France
1 Colonel Caries de Senilhes 1841 1843

Commanders of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment

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[1]

No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaign
30 Colonel Benoît Desmuelles 2012 201x  France Mali- Operation Serval
29 Colonel François Plessy 2010 2012  France
28 Colonel E. Bellot des Minières 2008 2010  France Afghanistan- Task Force Altor
27 Colonel B. Houdet 2006 2008  France Chad- Operation Epervier
26 Colonel Paulet 2004 2006 RCI Opération Licorne
25 Colonel Maurin 2002 2004 2002-2003: RCI Operation Licorne
24 Colonel Alain Bouquin 2000 2002  France 2001: Kosovo - Mitrovica
23 Lieutenant-colonel Prevost 1998 2000 1998: Chad - Operation Epervier
1999: Bosnia - Operation Salamander and Operation West Star
1999: Senegal - Operation Caya
22 Colonel Benoît Puga 1996 1998  France 1996: Brazzaville - Operation Malebo
1996 - 1997: Bangui - Operation Almandin II
1997: Brazzaville - Operation Pelican
21 Colonel Bruno Dary 1994 1996  France 1995 - 1996: Bosnia - Operation SALAMANDER
1996: Chad - Operation EPERVIER
20 Colonel Chicken 1992 1994 1992-1993: Somalia - Operation Restore Hope
1992-1993 : Former Yugoslavia - UNPROFOR
1994: Chad - Operation Epervier
19 Colonel Gausseres 1990 1992 1990: Rwanda - Operation Noroit

1990-1991: Chad - Operation Epervier
1991: Iraq - Operation Daguet
1991: Djibouti - Operation Godoria
1992: Djibouti - Operation Iskoutir

18 Colonel Coevoet 1988 1990 1988: Operation EPERVIER

1990 : GABON - Operation Requin

17 Colonel Wabinski 1986 1988
16 Colonel Germanos 1986 1988 1986: Chad - Operation EPERVIER
15 Lieutenant-colonel Janvier 1984 1986 1982: Lebanon - Operation Killer Whale
1984: Chad - Operation Manta
14 Colonel Guignon 1982 1984
13 Lieutenant-colonel Jean Louis Roué 1978 1980
12 Lieutenant-colonel Erulin 1976 1978 1978: Kolwezi - Operation Bonite
1978: Chad - Operation Tacaud IV
11 Lieutenant-colonel Brette 1974 1976
10 Lieutenant-colonel Goupil 1972 1976
9 Lieutenant-colonel Dupoux 1970 1972
8 Lieutenant-colonel Jeannou Lacaze 1967 1970  French Indochina 1969 : Chad - Operation Tacaud 1
1967: Arrival in Calvi
7 Lieutenant-colonel Paul Arnaud de Foïard 1965 1967  France
6 Lieutenant-colonel Caillaud 1963 1965
5 Lieutenant-colonel Chenel 1961 1963
4 Lieutenant-colonel Darmuzai 1960 1961
3 Colonel Jacques Lefort 1958 1960
2 Chef de bataillon Masselot February 1958 April 1958
1 Lieutenant-colonel Devismes 1955 1958

Commanders of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment

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Commanders of the 3rd REI from 1945 to Present

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaign
Colonel Bourdoncle de Saint-Salvy 2009 ---

Commanders of the 3rd REI between 1920 and 1942

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaign
8 Colonel Levêque 1941 1942
7 Colonel Lales 1939 1941
6 Colonel Mantoz 1936 1939
5 Colonel Brillat-Savarin 1932 1936
4 Colonel Michet de la Baume 1928 1932
3 Lieutenant-colonel Blanc 1926 1928
2 Lieutenant-colonel François 1925 1925
1 Lieutenant-colonel Paul Frederick Rollet 1920 1925  France

Commanders of the 4th Foreign Regiment

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Commanders of the 4th Foreign Regiment

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin
Colonel Mistral 2009 Present
Colonel Pau 2007 2009
Colonel Roqueplo 2005 2007
Colonel Kochin 2003 2007
Colonel Thiebault 2001 2003

Commanders of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment

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Commanders of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1931-1945)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended
Colonel Jean Belloc 1943
Colonel Marcel Alessandri 1941 1943

Commanders of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment

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Commanders of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1939-1941)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended
3 Lieutenant-colonel Delore October 1941 December 31, 1941
2 Lieutenant-colonel Ferdinand Barre December 20, 1939 October 1941
1 Colonel Imhaus October 1, 1939 December 20, 1939

Commanders of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (1949-1955)

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No. Rank Name Command began Command ended
3 Chef de Battalion Georgeon July 7, 1955
2 Lieutenant-colonel Rossi
1 Lieutenant-Colonel Babonneau René April 1, 1949

Commanders of the Old Legion

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The Old Foreign Legion was established on March 9, 1831 and for the next several years the Legion quickly cycled through a number of officers until it was deployed to Spain to fight in the First Carlist War, after that deployment the pace of the change of leadership slowed down as the Foreign Legion enjoyed the leadershiper of able and skilled officers. However following taking catastrophic losses in Spain the French government at the time thought it best to disband this organization.

No. Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaigns/Battles
Lieutenant-colonel Andrè Camille Ferray
Colonel Joseph Conrad (French colonel) November 1836 June 2, 1837† Algeria
First Carlist War
Battle of Barbastro
Colonel Jean-Louis Lebeau First Carlist War
Colonel Joseph Jean-Nicolas Bernelle  France Algeria
First Carlist War
3 Colonel
2 Colonel Michel Combe April 1, 1832 September 1832
1 Colonel Baron Christophe Anton von Stoffle 1831 April 1, 1832   Switzerland

Commanders of 13th Demi-Brigade

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Rank Name Command began Command ended Country of Origin Campaign
Colonel Burkhart July 29, 2008
Colonel Marchand July 29, 2006 July 29, 2008
Lieutenant-colonel Henry Billaudel 2004 July 29, 2006
Colonel Chavancy 2002 2004
Colonel Jean Maurin 2000 2002
Lieutenant-colonel Debleds 1998 2000
Lieutenant-colonel Emmanuel Beth 1996 1998
Colonel JP Perez 1994 1996
Colonel Ibanez 1992 1994
Lieutenant-colonel Le Flem 1988 1990
Lieutenant-colonel Champeau 1986 1988
Lieutenant-colonel Rideau 1984 1986
Lieutenant-colonel Vialle 1982 1984
Lieutenant-colonel Loridon 1980 1982
Lieutenant-colonel Gillet 1978 1980
Lieutenant-colonel Jean-Claude Coullon 1976 1978
Lieutenant-colonel Paul Lardy 1974 1976
Lieutenant-colonel Jean Pêtre 1972 1974
Lieutenant-colonel Alexis Bounfils July 14, 1970 July 17, 1972
Lieutenant-colonel Gustave Fourreau 1968 July 14, 1970
Lieutenant-colonel Hugh Geoffrey 1965 1968
Lieutenant-colonel Robert Lacôte 1962 1965
Lieutenant-colonel Dupuy de Querezieux July 11, 1961 August 23, 1962
Lieutenant-colonel Albéric Vaillant February 7, 1961 July 11, 1961
Lieutenant-colonel Robert Roux 1958 1961
Lieutenant-colonel Maurice Senges 1957

Commanders of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

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Rank Name Command began Command ended
Lieutenant-colonel Schiffer 2009 Present
Lieutenant-colonel Compin 2007 2009
Lieutenant-colonel Broda 2005 2007
Lieutenant-colonel Denis Belivard 2003 2005
Lieutenant-colonel Patrick Munoz 2001 2003
Lieutenant-colonel Patrick Esteve 1999 2001
Lieutenant-colonel Mauguen 1997 1999
Lieutenant Colonel George Bernard Bon 1995 1997
Lieutenant-colonel Henri Cormier 1993 1995
Lieutenant-colonel Bernard Dufour 1991 1993
Lieutenant-colonel Philippe Bouvattier 1989 1991
Lieutenant-colonel Bourgogne 1987 1989
Lieutenant-colonel Caseneuve 1985 1987
Lieutenant-colonel Savalle 1983 1985
Lieutenant-colonel Pingault 1981 1983
Lieutenant-colonel Bargoin 1979 1981
Lieutenant-colonel Sabarrere 1977 1979
Lieutenant-colonel Racaud 1976 1977
Captain Grandjean 1973 1976

References

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